Anyone know of any other options for a rear sway bar for a '65 Riviera, besides what is offerred by Addco. I have seen how the Addco bar mounts and I am not really pleased with the method. I would rather find a bar that mounts directly to the lower control arms. I don't mind doing some fabrication, as I already planned on boxing the control arms anyway. Thanks Doug
Doug, I have an Addco rear sway bar on my '64 Riv. I purchased in '68. I also did not like the way it mounted & hanged SOOOOO low. I mounted mine under the coil springs on top of the lower control arms. No boxing & very LITTLE work to modify. Give ma a call at the shop. Have your car up in the air or on ramps to see what I'm talking about at the same time as we're talking.
Thanks Tom I am hoping to take some much needed vacation next week so I should be home during the day to call you. Yes, I did not like the way it looked like the bar would hang so low. Did you need to use the adaptor plate in your install or mount the bar directly to the control arm? I was hoping to find something that would mount directly. Just noticed you are in Stamford, CT. Work brings me to Bridgeport often - I might need to swing by to meet you in person Thanks again
Doug, I mounted the plate UNDER the coil spring. The bolt that holds the spring also holds the adapter. Then the bar bolts to that. You need to make a small mod on the rear-end, but as far as I'm concerned, NO BIGGIE.
I'm not particularly fond of the Addco bar's mounting either.. Their mounting plates sucked. Ended up having to make a couple mounts out of angle iron to mount it to the LCA's.. Mounted the bar upside-down for clearence... Now I'm going to mount it with links mounted to the frame and bushings mounted directly to the axle tubes for a more effective setup ala more modern OEM setups (think HRparts setup also).
Tom, after reading your first post I thought you were going to describe mounting the plate between the spring and control arm. What was the mod to the rear end - I assume it was for clearence? 87GN, would like to see an example of what you have in mind for your future mounting. I have only seen bars mounted directly between the lower control arms Thanks
Well, I finally picked up the Addco rear sway bar and attempted to mount on top of the lower control arms; where the spring seats. Unfortunately, it looks like the bar is not wide enough to reach across the two control arms (see pictures). If I try to move it back further where the distance between the 2 arms is less, it will hit the rear end. I wonder if the design has changed since Tom bought his. Anyone else make this mod before? I still don't want to mount the bar under the arms as it hangs too low, so I am thinking of fabricating new, wider mounting plates. Before I do that does anyone think the clearence between the bar and backside of the rear end is to tight (see picture)? How about between the u-bolts and the axle tubes (see picture)? Thanks Doug
So it looks like there has been a design change over the years and the bar is not as wide. I mocked it up under the control arms and it hangs too low (see picture). I am going to make larger mounting plates and move it to the top of the control arms. Anybody see any issues with this approach? Thanks
Doug, the bar doesn't look as wide in comparasion to the one on my '64. I would call to see if they sent you the correct bar. The original part number from Addco was #460. I had to cut a little "Channel" in the brace on the rear for mine to slide in place. Another option would be to heat the bar. The plates with bar should get bolted down by the bolt that holds the coil spring in place. Tom T.
Thanks Tom Mine was part #934, which is the correct part, per the Addco catalog. It is listed as 62-65 Riviera/Wildcat. Part #460 is listed as 61-64 Buick Full Size Station Wagon. I looked at this part number on the Summit Racing website, but the picture appeared to show a front sway bar (had frame mounts and end links). I see #460 cuts off at 1964; is there a difference between the rear end in a Riviera between '64 and '65? I will contact Addco and see if they can provide any technical advice. I ordered mine from Summit, so I will also need to figure out if I can return it considering I already mounted the bar to the mounting plates Thanks again
Doug, I have given that part number, 460, to many different people & they have all thanked me mucho for the info. I do NOT believe there is any diff, between '64 & '65 Riv. rears. I could give you one of Addco's past engineers phone number if nec. as he has started his own business some years ago after he left Addco if that becomes nec. I know his $$$ are more, but you get the CORRECT part. I got my bar back in the 60's from J.C. Whitney which just so happened to be an Addco bar. The 1st. one that was sent was incorrect. I called the Addco number & got John who then gave me the J.C. Whitney part number. Tom T.
Thanks Tom I definately appreciate the advice. At this point I am waiting to hear back from Summit, as to whether I can return the bar I have for a full refund; since I did begin to assemble it. My plan it to return the #934 kit and purchase the #460 kit and mount on top of the arms. Once I get this all settled, I will report back with some pictures of the new bar
Addco sent me the mounting instructions for Part #460 (see attached). It looks like this bar mounts to the side of the control arm and opposed to the original bar I received which mounted on the bottom (part #934). They also indicated the bar it 37.5 inches eye to eye, which is definately wider then the #934 bar and I believe will work better; as it reaches across the 2 control arms at the rear most point. Tom, does your mounting bracket look like those shown in the #460 instructions? If so, I don't see how I can mount this on top of the control arm; under the spring. I was expecting a flat mount like the #934 with a wider bar. I already sent my original bar (#934) back to Summit and was hoping to order the new bar (#460) soon. Thanks Thanks
So I attempted the other sway bar (part#460) and it will not work either. The mounting method is different from part #934, as it mounts to the side of the LCA instead of the bottom. I was hoping I could adapt it somehow to mount directly to the side of the LCA instead of using the supplied brackets, but the bar is too wide. Although Addco indicated the bar is 37.5" eye to eye, at it widest point it is 39-40"; therefore, it hits the LCA/shock mount and would be too wide to fit between the LCA's Back to the drawing board
I was under the impression that the #934 was an older design, and the #460 was the new version. I've never even seen the #934 listed in any recent Addco parts books. I'm hoping I have better luck than you - I just ordered a #460 for my '62.
The Addco catalog lists #934 as for 62-65 Riviera and Wildcat. #460 is listed for 61-64 Full Size and Station Wagon. I assume you will be OK as I believe your Invicta falls under the definition of full size
That's what's odd though, the '62-65 Wildcat is the same as a full-size. I've also seen literature that says the #460 is also for Riv's of the same vintage. The #934 also lists for the '59-'64 Impala, which is kind of interesting. Hopefully you can get your situation figured out.
Where did you see the literature that lists #460 for the Riv? I have tried both the 934 and 460 and neither fit well. The 934 has a flat mount, but hangs too low and the 460 has a side mounting plate which only fits under the LCA as well; thus hanging too low. If I tried to mount the 460 on above the LCA it will interfere with the spring. Tom T. mentioned he had the 460, but it had a mounting plate similar to the 934. Sounds like I need a 460 bar, in width, that mounts up like a 934. I plan on reaching out to Addco again to see if they can help solve my issue. By the time I am done paying shipping back and forth on these bars, I could have bought a second set.
I originally thought it was from their website, however I can't locate it right now. Like I said, whatever document I found make no mention of the #934 bar, I didn't even knew it existed until I started reading this thread. It only listed as the #460 for the fullsize cars and Rivs. Summit's website also lists the #460 for the Riv. I know it's too late now since you already returned the #934, but it looks like from the pics if you just fabbed up new longer mounting plates it would have worked? I'll measure my bar when I get it next week, that should at least confirm if the problem is your setup or the sway bar itself.
Doug, send some pics. I don't know how many actually bought the #460 bar & installed it, but I was given alot of praise from some in getting them what they needed. After looking at pics & you holding or somehow fabbing the bar up into place both in the upper & lower positions I have no clue what you have gotten. Maybe there was a design change for some reason??? With the way I mounted MY bar it sat under the coil springs when I was finished as I also did not like the bar hanging so low. Tom T.
