I finally bought some new control arms for my '69 Special. When I was looking at the sway bar (Addco), I discovered that it would not fit on the new control arms! On the Addco bars, there is a bracket that goes inside the sway bar, which can't be used on a boxed control arm. Does someone make a sway bar for use with a boxed control arm? (Or, does someone make an aftermarket sway bar that attaches to the factory mounting points? Maybe a repro of some sort?) -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
You can get a new 7/8" GM rear bar complete with hardware to bolt up to your boxed arms from Year One. Use part number 9011NA, its like $110.00 complete. Just ran out, but should have some more in about two weeks from now. Mike T
Mike- I just called Year One last night, the tech I spoke with said that they no longer offered one that worked, and that I should try to contact Hotchkis. (I did contact Hotchkis, and they said that their sway bar only works with their control arms, I would have to modify my arms to get them to work with the hotchkis sway bar) I wonder if he was referring to a 1" bar (I bought an Addco about 10 years ago from Year One, but it won't work with boxed control arms). In actuality I am using new control arms from www.HRpartsnstuff.com but he says that I can use any sway bar that will work with a boxed OEM control arm. Thanks, -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
Bob, Sorry, but I have no idea why anyone would tell you that or why you would even need to talk to someone in the tech department. The part number I gave you is a new GM 7/8" bar, works with the original GM boxed lower control arms and it is available. Just order part #9011NA. It comes with bar, bolts and shims need to install a factory rear bar. I apologize for any confusion. Mike T
I just installed a 1" Addco rear sway bar on my 70 Skylark. I had the original arms boxed. I am not positive but it seems to me if you order a bar for non boxed arms you get tubes that fit inside the control arms for the mounting bolts to go thru so the control arm won't collapse when you tighten everything up. Guess I can't see why the bar itself would be any different.
My Addco included some bracket so the sway bar mounts to the bracket, below the arms. Then the bracket goes up in the "U" and bolts into the holes where your bar apparently bolts. I might just have a very old design, who knows. -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
My control arms already had the holes for the sway bar. Bar fits inbetween the control arms and mounts to the inner side rails.
Have half a pickup bed full of factory ('64-72) rear 7/8" bars. These are all nice ones off 20 years of partscars from TX, OK, NM. Can send pics, if anyone likes... $70 a piece + actual UPS or will trade for '70-72 TransAm 7/8" or 73-74 TransAm 13/16" factory rear bars. Hope this didn't sound too much like an AD ou: Roger
A brand new GM rear sway bar (7/8) from Flow Chevrolet is just $55.50 plus shipping. The part # is 394926, Just go to thier website there will be a small window at right center. Just type in the part number and you will go right to it. Same one as the resto catalogs sell at half the price. http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/
WOW! Wish I'd known about that before I bought the one from PST for $139 that's on there now... Will make a note of it! Thanks, -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
Bob, what diameter bar did you buy from PST. I have the 1.25 inch front and was thinking about the 1 inch rear. Did you get a reasonable improvement in handling or traction?
I got the 1" swaybar. I can't say that I really notice a marked improvement over the 7/8" bar, but there is definately an improvement over having no bar (which I've been driving for a few weeks). Then again, I have pretty junky shocks, stock tires, etc., and mine is certainly no G-Machine... -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
