Will new torsion bars correct that POS, bucket-o-bolts feel I have?
The first place to look is your wheel alignment.
Next is the tires.
Partially true. Examine carefully the front end for wear / worn parts, broken / damaged parts and especially stuff like rust damage.
These cars were never known for going extreme distances on ball joints. New, Chineseo replacements don't help
This takes two people, no beer, and not rushing. Get down where you can look from several angles. Front, each side, through the engine bay looking down. Have one person move the wheel back and forth at various speeds and distances. You want to strike a rythum where you can easily see "play."
Look for play up / down in the idler, or wiggle / play in the idler bushings.
Look for loose steering box, bad bearings on the pitman shaft, looseness of the arm or ball stud.
Looseness on the tie rod ends
Read the factory manual. Check lower joints by jacking up under the lower arm. This is detailed in the shop manual
Tires make a TREMENDOUS difference. My favorite story was years ago a place I worked, the boss had bought a new eighties Dodge 1/2 ton. It got to the point, needed 1 pair of tires. I took it to the tire store and bought two. Beginning at about 45, and getting pretty bad at 60-65, it felt as if it was absolutely going to swap ends!!! Two new tires had turned it into an incredible beast to keep on the road!!! These were all radial tires
