Stock sway bar or Aftermarket?

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straightlinespeed

straightlinespeed

Sometimes I pretend to be normal
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I just installed a 72 down stock sway bar into my car. I came across a good deal on a Addco bar so I picked it up, just in case.. I know the stock bar is much smaller than that Addco bar, but is it worth going thru the hassle to swap it over?
 
You may want to check that out. IIRC, ADDCO made two front bar diameters for the 67-72 A-body. The larger diameter is 1.125 in diameter, the smaller is 1.00 inches, same as stock. You also may want to check out the distance between the "eyes" on the ADDCO bar. If the distance is the same as the stock bar, great. Some of their bars required the use of flimsy tabs that bolted to the lower shock mount. Ugh!
 
I put a Hotchkis (spelling?) front sway bar on my 69 Barracuda fastback. The improvement in handling was very noticeable. My car used to wallow through traffic circles, now it carves them up. You will need to do some welding.
 
2 Darts said:
You may want to check that out. IIRC, ADDCO made two front bar diameters for the 67-72 A-body. The larger diameter is 1.125 in diameter, the smaller is 1.00 inches, same as stock. You also may want to check out the distance between the "eyes" on the ADDCO bar. If the distance is the same as the stock bar, great. Some of their bars required the use of flimsy tabs that bolted to the lower shock mount. Ugh!
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I will double check the size. If you saying its the same width of the stock bar use it, because it will go to the tabs? I noticed it came with those shock bolt brackets/tabs, but it came with a whole bunch of different brackets.

Jim Lusk said:
Stock bar is smaller than 1" (.88" for small block or .92" for big block).
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Yep, that sounds like Torsion bar sizes.

harrisonm said:
I put a Hotchkis (spelling?) front sway bar on my 69 Barracuda fastback. The improvement in handling was very noticeable. My car used to wallow through traffic circles, now it carves them up. You will need to do some welding.
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I've googled this bar and ran across some links about welding etc... It did come with all those different brackets that are suppose to bolt in, but I have not tried to mount this yet.

Sounds like you had the stock bar at first then switched to Hotchkis bar later... I didnt have a bar at all last year and it was pretty bad going thru those round a bouts.
 
I'm going to run one of the hollow Hellwig bars on the front of my Dart as soon as budget allows. Dave is a sponsor here and their bars are a total bolt on for my car.
 
I got lucky (I think) I bought a stock 66 V8 front sway bar from a 66 Barracuda and put it on my 66 Valiant Sedan, Wow ! Made a big deference for my none sway bar early A body.
 
BrianT said:
I'm going to run one of the hollow Hellwig bars on the front of my Dart as soon as budget allows. Dave is a sponsor here and their bars are a total bolt on for my car.
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I got such a good deal on this one, that is why I bought it.. I've looked at the others though...

memike said:
I got lucky (I think) I bought a stock 66 V8 front sway bar from a 66 Barracuda and put it on my 66 Valiant Sedan, Wow ! Made a big deference for my none sway bar early A body.
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Im curious to feel the difference this summer! I cant wait!
 
memike said:
I got lucky (I think) I bought a stock 66 V8 front sway bar from a 66 Barracuda and put it on my 66 Valiant Sedan, Wow ! Made a big deference for my none sway bar early A body.
Click to expand...

I put a factory bar on my 73' Dart. I can't evaluate its effectiveness because I did it as part of a total vehicle under carriage upgrade; new rubber bushings, gas shocks, BBP rear axle, BBP disk brakes, 205/60-15 tires, 15x7 wheels, and an aggressive front end alignment. Talk about a transformation!
 
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