Hello,

I'm getting ready to install a factory sway bar on my 1972 Cutlass 'S' and need to know a few things:

(1) Does anyone know the correct size & length of the mounting bolts ?

(2) I checked my manuals & can't tell if I need a bushing between the control arms, Mine are not boxed and I can't seem to find any pictures or info on this,


Any help would be great,

Thanks
Jamie

 

The control arms will need a box plate welded into each. That plate will be bent up and around the bolt holes to act as bushings. The plates are available at most Olds and Chevelle sites.
The factory used boxed contol arms when adding a sway bar - had a different part number.
Do you have the shims for the bar? You must use them to eliminate any space between the bar and the control arms.

 

As Rob mentioned, you'll need to "box in" your lower control arms with a metal insert or plates you can buy aftermarket. As far as the bolt size goes, not sure. But, you can buy a kit (see example below) that includes bolts, shims, and spacers (I didn't use the spacers with boxed arms) for under $20 USD.

2dc2_3.jpg

 

heres a pic showing all the stuff (edit except the shims shown above) Rob is talking about

this "kit" is availbile from OPGI and others most places sell the individual parts as well

 

http://www.muscle-factory.com/shopdi...s+and+bushings

this kit seems reasonably priced too!

 

Thanks for all the info, I think I'll just go back to the parts car I got the sway from and get the boxed arms and rebuild those. I want to stay all original

 

I installed one on my 72 Convertible a while back. It has open control arms but was factory pre-drilled fior the bar and was a simple install. Actually I read about the install in the Pontiac Club Smoke Signals magazine, of course aimed at Pontiac A bodies. Their article said nothing about needing to box the arms, just to use either a piece of iron pipe as a sleeve inside the control arm to shim it, or even a stack of hardened washers. I used the washers because I could find no one who sold the iron pipe. Lots of PVC, but no iron. and they stressed NOT to use PVC or any substandard material as a shim. The pipe or the washers prevent the sides of the control arms from bending when you tighten the bolts. The bolts torqued down fine, and I have had no issues with the install since I did it a year or two ago. Definitely felt the difference going around a corner.

 

Thanks for the info, I was thinking about spacers, some people must have added the sway bar back in the day after they bought the car new, I can't see the dealer replacing the arms or welding in brackets.

Does this seem correct ? Would a dealer install a bar back in the day without the boxed arms ?

 

It is possible. The sway bar will add twisting torque to the control arms so reinforcement is important to avoid fracture and failure.
If you found a Cutlass in a bone yard, get the two lower contol arms and the springs if they look original. They were all part of the FE2 performance suspension.

 

the kit stb shows has the spacers that go in unboxed arms w it look at his pic