Torsion bars!!!

Let’s hear what torsion bars that y’all are using and in what application.

Recommendations for a STREET/strip 69 Dart. Small block, aluminum heads, aluminum radiator, manual steering. With NO sway bar.

I’m not looking for a killer auto cross set up, or a .810 diameter drag race set up, but a good all around compromise.

PST 1.03 bars are a good price. Too stiff??

Discuss...

I run 1.12" torsion bars (300 lb/in) on my '74 Duster- small block, iron heads, aluminum radiator, manual steering, no AC, with Hellwig sway bars front (1.125") and rear (7/8"). While the car is set up for autoX, it's also my daily driver and primary mode of transportation and has been for several years and over 20k miles now.

I also ran 1.12" torsion bars (270 lb/in) on my '72 Challenger- small block, iron heads, OE radiator, power steering, no sway bars. It was my daily driver for about 8 years and over 70k street driven miles.

If the primary use of your car is on the street, the 1.03" bars from PST will be great. Wheel rate on those is ~230 lb/in. They should be used with high quality shocks intended for large torsion bars- Bilsteins or Hotchkis Fox shocks. Do that and you should find that the car both handles and rides pretty well. Not ideal for strip only use, but really you're not going to be losing much time compared to the benefits you'll see from improved handling everywhere else.

I did run my Duster around with 1" bars from Just Suspension (~200 lb/in) for awhile, and without a sway bar I found the car still suffered from a decent amount of body roll. And that was just with 225/60/15 Falken Ziex's on 15x7" cop wheels, nothing fancy. The ride was still way too soft for me, which is why I went up to 1.12's. I wouldn't recommend those to you since you're not looking for a corner carver, but even those matched with the correct shocks aren't as bad as people make them out to be. The 1.03" bars are a good all around torsion bar for street use.

Depends if you are road racing or drag racing.

I'm running the PST 1.03 bars in my 68 Dart and love em.

brian6pac said:

Depends if you are road racing or drag racing.

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He actually seemed pretty clear when he stated the intended use of the car- "I’m not looking for a killer auto cross set up, or a .810 diameter drag race set up, but a good all around compromise."

And also "STREET/strip". So, sounds like mostly street use with an occasional trip to the drag strip for a little fun. Honestly it's one of better descriptions I've read describing the intended use of the car.

I run PST 1.03 bars on my 66 Barracuda and I love them.

PST 1.03 bars and bilstein shocks on my 65 Dart one of my favorite upgrades

72bluNblu said:

He actually seemed pretty clear when he stated the intended use of the car- "I’m not looking for a killer auto cross set up, or a .810 diameter drag race set up, but a good all around compromise."

And also "STREET/strip". So, sounds like mostly street use with an occasional trip to the drag strip for a little fun. Honestly it's one of better descriptions I've read describing the intended use of the car.

Click to expand...

I shouldn't talk about traction because here in N.E.Ohio in the valley the roads never get hot even in the summer the trees cover them so with out a loose suspension you never get traction, My AAR wouldn't go anywhere with the .920 bars in the front, just spin the tires. With .830 bars, pinion snubber, sway bars with hyme joints 90/10, 75/25 was the best of both worlds on cold pavement. I could fly through the corners and out accelerate most from a standing start. If you tried that with your car set up for California you would end up in a ditch, I'm just saying what works for you wont work for me.

brian6pac said:

I shouldn't talk about traction because here in N.E.Ohio in the valley the roads never get hot even in the summer the trees cover them so with out a loose suspension you never get traction, My AAR wouldn't go anywhere with the .920 bars in the front, just spin the tires. With .830 bars, pinion snubber, sway bars with hyme joints 90/10, 75/25 was the best of both worlds on cold pavement. I could fly through the corners and out accelerate most from a standing start. If you tried that with your car set up for California you would end up in a ditch, I'm just saying what works for you wont work for me.

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I love you east coast guys that think California is nothing but beaches and warm weather. You’re idiots. I drive year round, and that means in temperatures far colder than your shady Ohio summers pal. I drive in conditions that your Mopar never sees cause it’s already in a garage sleeping for the winter.



You had **** tires and lousy shocks and went the wrong direction with your suspension set up because you were focused on straight line traction on a car born for corners. Truly unimaginative.

LOL

running just suspension 1" bars. all street car. i'd like to go larger to be honest. they are still a little too soft for me. much better then the 6 cyl ones that were in it though. lol..


for a good compromise i'd say either a .920-1" bar. just my opinion..

dusterdoug said:

Let’s hear what torsion bars that y’all are using and in what application.

Recommendations for a STREET/strip 69 Dart. Small block, aluminum heads, aluminum radiator, manual steering. With NO sway bar.

I’m not looking for a killer auto cross set up, or a .810 diameter drag race set up, but a good all around compromise.

PST 1.03 bars are a good price. Too stiff??

Discuss...

Click to expand...

I have the sway-a-way 1.08 bars. I like them. I think you need to honest with yourself about how you will use the car. When you say street/strip does that mean you will drive on the street most of the time and only hit the track a couple times a year? If that's the case, who cares how well it does on the track. Go for the better street handling.

racerjoe said:

I have the sway-a-way 1.08 bars. I like them. I think you need to honest with yourself about how you will use the car. When you say street/strip does that mean you will drive on the street most of the time and only hit the track a couple times a year? If that's the case, who cares how well it does on the track. Go for the better street handling.

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Bergmanautocraft.com. 1.08s in stock.