Sway bar tutorial
I have a '69 Dart Custom stock k-member and non-sway lca (that I will add boxing plates to the undersides of and hopefully sway bar brackets). But not just looking to get info for my benefit. I think a collective thread would be good for all as a one-stop reference. At the very least, if it's already somewhere let's get it together here as relevant post/thread links, not just a search of 'sway bar' or whatever. A thread could be dead months ago with a good post on the 5th page and someone might remember it. Still, a discussion would be useful. Maybe this could turn into a sticky at some point.
Basically.
And this is a dead end for me:
So you want to add factory brackets to your LCA's? Or add brackets that might come with an aftermarket kit?
If you are going to add factory brackets, just swap the entire LCA's over. Put new LCA bushings in replacements and reinforcement plates if you like. The LCA reinforcement plates are not necessary for a mild upgraded suspension. But if you can weld yourself and make the plates yourself it's cost effective (1" wide plate just as effective).
There are aftermarket conversion sway bar kits that give you good LCA sway bar tab replacements. Firm Feel, Hotchkis, and Helwig. Hotchkis sway bar tabs are welded onto the LCA. The Firm Feel and Helwig are bolt on. All three of those brands are hollow tubular sway bars. But Helwig offers are solid one also for a little less money than their tubular kit.
The Addco 67-72 A-body aftermarket sway bar kits have very poor LCA sway tab hardware, very poor sway bar to k-member attachment hardware, and the general fit is not as good as the three other brands listed above. Addco's are also the least expensive ones you'll find for sale in general.
I don't think the Hotchkis 67-72 sway bar kits use the factory LCA tabs. So don't bother to add factory tabs to your LCA if you buy that kit. Their kit moves the tab inward to a new spot. Nice thing with that is it gives you room to mount your disk brake calipers in the forward position easily if you choose.*
The Firm Feel and Helwig kits give you options to use the factory sway bar tabs or use provided well built hardware to mount the LCA sway bar tab. If you use their provided LCA tab hardware you can mount the caliper in the front easily.*
*You can mount the caliper in front with the factory 67-72 sway bar tabs IF you run shortened sway bar end links.
So look at those three brands: Helwig, Hotchkis, Firm Feel. Look at the details of their construction, installation instructions, and hardware. Then choose the one that fits your budget the best.
I personally would not spend the time and money putting factory sway bar tabbed LCA's on the car if you are going with one of those three better quality kits.
