Which front sway bar?

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K.O. SWINGER

Meeting in the alley since 1976
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So I'm trying to tighten up the suspension on the front of my 340 swinger. I want to upgrade the sway bar and I'm looking for the best direct replacement. I've kind of settled on the QA1 any other thoughts?
 
I’m running the FF one. Only thing was had to drill one hole in each side of the K as the brackets are trianglated. And ran as stock.
 
The QA1 bar only works with their K Member.

Hotchkis, Addco, Firm Feel and Hellwig make bars. What are we working on?
 
The QA1 bar only works with their K Member.

Hotchkis, Addco, Firm Feel and Hellwig make bars. What are we working on?
Okay I went back and read specifications and you're absolutely right for use with their k member. Thanks! I'm working on a 1970 340 swinger with original sway bar. I run 7 in front rims and 225 50 front tires, I would like to stiffen it up.
 
Okay I went back and read specifications and you're absolutely right for use with their k member. Thanks! I'm working on a 1970 340 swinger with original sway bar. I run 7 in front rims and 225 50 front tires, I would like to stiffen it up.

Depending on what your looking to get out of your ride. Might look at a set of T bars, new or recondition. I’m running 1.0 FF bars, and rear sway bar. Car handles really well now. I’m looking at adding a panhard bar to the rear end as was done back in the day for T/A cars, maybe over kill for the street, but soon with be autoXing..
 
Get a Hellwig sway bar. They are of good quality and stand behind their product. They had a wrongly bent batch and I called them up, they had me measure a few things and immediately sent me a replacement sway bar. This was about 4 months after purchase but they didn’t question that, just made it right.
 
I'm working on a 1970 340 swinger with original sway bar. I run 7 in front rims and 225 50 front tires, I would like to stiffen it up.
The pre 73 bar was quite long, went all the way around the K member, long end links attached at the end of lower arms too. The big block builds with that design did get a fatter stabilizer bar and they got larger torsion bars too. If you'll do heavier torsion bars and high end shocks first you might be happy with the stabilizer bar you have.
 
The Hotchkis bar does not use the factory sway bar tab location, you'd have to remove the factory tabs and add the Hotchkis tabs. The Hellwig 5906 will work with the factory tab locations (the 55917 will not, it uses a similar tab location as the Hotchkis to allow for wider front tires). Addco and Firm Feel should both use the factory tab locations.

I have both Hellwig and Hotchkis bars, both of those companies make great products.
 
As previously mentioned, Hotchkis isn't a direct factory replacement. It's a huge bar!

Honestly, if you already have a sway bar, I'd go with bigger t-bars and good shocks first (Hotchkis, QA1, or Bilstiens). Update the sway bar after you have those componets.
 
As previously mentioned, Hotchkis isn't a direct factory replacement. It's a huge bar!

Honestly, if you already have a sway bar, I'd go with bigger t-bars and good shocks first (Hotchkis, QA1, or Bilstiens). Update the sway bar after you have those componets.
The Hotchkis bar is a larger diameter because it is hollow. And being hollow means that it is lighter, and that takes weight off the front end. Which is already heavy on A bodies.
 
I've had an Energy Suspension bar, which is a direct replacement with more stable K-frame brackets for 15 years and it has worked like a dream.
 
Go empty your wallet if you want. I used the Addco bar on mine. I actually got it from a member here. Their hardware is crap, that's why they offer cheap prices. The bars are fine. I got the bar and got some heavy duty greaseable mounts and link kits from Energy Suspension and still came out cheaper than the other guys. You'd still have less involved buying the Addco bar new and the Energy Suspension stuff. But again, it's your money.
 
The Hotchkis bar is a larger diameter because it is hollow. And being hollow means that it is lighter, and that takes weight off the front end. Which is already heavy on A bodies.

its larger diameter cause it’s got about the same arm length as factory 67-72 but it attaches to the middle of the LCA. Which deceases the effective roll stiffness.
 
The Hotchkis bar is large and has a different look to it. The center core support brace will likely need to be altered if used. On the a body's it seems to be a hybrid of the early and late style sway bar. Mounted forward like early. Sway bar end links mounted inward like late. The brackets are nice. And the bar is nice.
The Hellwig I think uses OEM tabs. And would be an easier install If upgrading to a heavier bar. As it's a bolt in. It has the bend to clear core support brace. Has closer to a stock look other than size and finish.

IMG_20210510_212303960_HDR.jpg
 
Go empty your wallet if you want. I used the Addco bar on mine. I actually got it from a member here. Their hardware is crap, that's why they offer cheap prices. The bars are fine. I got the bar and got some heavy duty greaseable mounts and link kits from Energy Suspension and still came out cheaper than the other guys. You'd still have less involved buying the Addco bar new and the Energy Suspension stuff. But again, it's your money.
I looked at that bar but I believe it to be the same diameter as my factory bar and didn't know if it would really give me much improvement over my current setup. But I welcome your thoughts on that.
 
I looked at that bar but I believe it to be the same diameter as my factory bar and didn't know if it would really give me much improvement over my current setup. But I welcome your thoughts on that.
I've never seen a factory bar an 1 1/8 in diameter. Of course that certainly doesn't mean they didn't make one.
 
I've never seen a factory bar an 1 1/8 in diameter. Of course that certainly doesn't mean they didn't make one.
No you're absolutely right I think my bar comes in just a little under a inch I didn't realize that was a 1 .1/8 bar.thanks for bringing that to my attention.
 
Picture shown is Hotchkis. It's Big. The Hellwig looks closer to stock. If I had an original 340 car I would go Hellwig or similar. Does not take much diameter to make a big difference. When the bar reach is the same.
 
No you're absolutely right I think my bar comes in just a little under a inch I didn't realize that was a 1 .1/8 bar.thanks for bringing that to my attention.

I believe factory is 7/8 or 15/16.

IIRC, One of those is B-body size and the other is A-body.
 
X10 on the Hellwig. I put their front bar on my 69 B'cuda...had a question on the hardware provided. Called them and an actual person answered, connected me to another actual person who answered all my questions and sent me what I needed at no cost....no questions asked. Decided to put their rear bar on....this time I had questions on the install. Called...they transferred me to an actual person who had obviously actually performed the install on these vehicles...he knew EXACTLY what I was asking and EXACTLY how to remedy the situation. Excellent product with fantastic customer service!!
 
I believe factory is 7/8 or 15/16.

IIRC, One of those is B-body size and the other is A-body.

My 340 car has a 7/8" bar. I believe at least some 383 A-Bodies got the 15/16" bar.

Edit: I think I was wrong. The parts manual for '68 & '69, and '70-'71 are only showing one bar each year. 2535533 is for 1968, and 2535534 is for '69-'71. I don't know the diameter of the later bar, but for the four years listed there's only one A-Body sway bar each year.
I'm pretty sure I got it wrong because Energy Suspension shows bushings for both sizes as applying to 1968 Barracudas.
 
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