Rear Sway Bar for 63 Starfire?
#1
Rear Sway Bar for 63 Starfire?
Has anyone ever added a rear antiroll bar to the early 60s full size cars? I would like to do so on my 63 Starfire but looking at the weird lower control arms I'm not sure. If you have done it, let me know how, thanks.
#6
I'm not aware of any rear sway bars for the early 60's Olds big cars. I do know some (maybe all?) early 50's Olds had factory installed rear bars, but their frame and rear suspension were different. '65-70 Olds rear suspension and frames are also different, so I doubt the later bar would fit either.
If you measure between the lower control arms, you might be able to find a later bar with similar measurement that could be adapted with fabricated mounting points.
#7
http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/...=rear+sway+bar
#8
#11
I mocked up my 69 GTO swaybar just to see what I came up with on my 63 Starfire. It kinda fits, but looks a little mickey mouse to me because it doesn't curve around the pumpkin. The lower control arms are two halves bolted together, that makes it difficult drilling bolt holes to mount it. It can be done though. Just not sure if I like it. I'd probably have some tube bended correctly. Some pics:
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P1010596.jpg
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P1010601.jpg
P1010596.jpg
P1010597.jpg
P1010598.jpg
P1010599.jpg
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#12
An A-body rear bar should have a slight "V" to it. In fact, it almost looks like you have it upside down. Also, consider the rear bar from a 73-77 A-body. These bolt to the bottom of the lower control arms instead of the sides and might work better.
#13
I was thinking the same thing Joe. I have one of the 90's Caprice 9C1 rear bars which have the same mounting dimensions as the mid-70's A-body piece. The Caprice bar hugs the axle housing better than the earlier ones. I can measure the distance between the mounting points and post it later today.
#15
I had a heck of a time finding one for my old '65 Starfire, finally did find a factory piece from a late '60s former CHP car (took approx 1 thousand "do you happen to have?" E-mails and phone calls, found it by chance from someone selling some front disc brakes from the same car on Ebay some years back).
The Starfire is long gone, but I kept that swaybar, and its now under my '65 Jetstar I. Before I found the factory piece, I tried the ADDCO piece (POS, looked like *ss and didn't fit) and even a 73-77 swaybar setup that bolts on fromunder (also would not fit (FAR TOO NARROW); guy who sold it to me said it works on similar era big Ponchos).
In the pics above, it does not look to me like there is a provision to even mount a swaybar on that '63, the way the control arms are stamped. Also, I'd wonder if they'd be strong enough to handle a swaybar (can you even box them, what with those bottom bolts)? It sounds like adding a swaybar to your car could be even more heartache that I experienced.
Here's some pics of my later big car swaybar, both off the car and on and a similar one on a friend's J1:
The Starfire is long gone, but I kept that swaybar, and its now under my '65 Jetstar I. Before I found the factory piece, I tried the ADDCO piece (POS, looked like *ss and didn't fit) and even a 73-77 swaybar setup that bolts on fromunder (also would not fit (FAR TOO NARROW); guy who sold it to me said it works on similar era big Ponchos).
In the pics above, it does not look to me like there is a provision to even mount a swaybar on that '63, the way the control arms are stamped. Also, I'd wonder if they'd be strong enough to handle a swaybar (can you even box them, what with those bottom bolts)? It sounds like adding a swaybar to your car could be even more heartache that I experienced.
Here's some pics of my later big car swaybar, both off the car and on and a similar one on a friend's J1:
Last edited by aliensatemybuick; June 15th, 2011 at 08:33 AM.
#17
I do understand, and thought I addressed that in paragraph 3 above. Just thought it topical to post my experience....esp. since some were recommending use of the 73-77 bar in the '63, and I have no reason to suspect it would work any better in the early cars than it did mine (the earlier cars are pretty wide too).
#18
I do understand, and thought I addressed that in paragraph 3 above. Just thought it topical to post my experience....esp. since some were recommending use of the 73-77 bar in the '63, and I have no reason to suspect it would work any better in the early cars than it did mine (the earlier cars are pretty wide too).
#19
Another thought. This might be a situation where the aftermarket-style bar might be the better choice. I'm thinking of the bar that bolts to the rear axle housing with two pivots and has links that go up to the frame. Think of how the front bar is mounted, but in reverse.
#20
Agreed. Removing the stock bolt-together bars and having square-tube pieces fabricated to match the center-to-center length and accept stock bushings seems like the best route if you're serious about improving handling.
The link-style bar is an option assuming you can find one with the right width to fit the frame. It's likely that brackets would still have to be fabricated for the end links. Remember the brackets need to be very stiff or they will flex instead of the anti-roll bar, reducing it's effectiveness.
The link-style bar is an option assuming you can find one with the right width to fit the frame. It's likely that brackets would still have to be fabricated for the end links. Remember the brackets need to be very stiff or they will flex instead of the anti-roll bar, reducing it's effectiveness.
Last edited by copper128; June 15th, 2011 at 10:50 AM. Reason: added info
#22
I'm thinking that at worst you would need to fabricate mounts for the upper links and maybe change the length of the links themselves.
#23
The early cars have two-piece LCAs that bolt together, as you saw in the photos. You bring up a good point about the bending stiffness of the stock arms. When bolted together they actually form an "H" beam, which is much less stiff in the up/down bending plane than a box or an I-beam. Making new arms from rectangular tube would be the best bet.
#24
Here are the 2 sway bars I have. The one with the gentle bow to it is for a 71-76 B/C-body. The one with multiple bends is from a late 90's Caprice police car, but fits both 73-77 A-body and 77-96 B/C-body.
The measurements are:
The measurements are:
- front hole, ctr-to-ctr: A-body 41 1/4" B-body 43 5/8"
- rear hole, ctr-to-ctr: A-body 43 3/8" B-body 45 1/2"
- overall width @ widest point: A-body 46 1/2" B-body 48"
#25
Here are the 2 sway bars I have. The one with the gentle bow to it is for a 71-76 B/C-body. The one with multiple bends is from a late 90's Caprice police car, but fits both 73-77 A-body and 77-96 B/C-body.
The measurements are:
The measurements are:
- front hole, ctr-to-ctr: A-body 41 1/4" B-body 43 5/8"
- rear hole, ctr-to-ctr: A-body 43 3/8" B-body 45 1/2"
- overall width @ widest point: A-body 46 1/2" B-body 48"
#26
Thanks Copper 128 for the bar dimensions. That Caprice bar looks familiar, I had a 95 9C1 and a 95 Impala SS, great handling big cars. I contacted BMR Fabrication for dimensions on their 77-96 B-body LCA's, they make two different lengths. I'll let you all know what I find out.
#27
I hope it works out, but think it's a longshot they'd just happen to be the same dimensions as your 63 Starfire.
For the $200 BMR price tag you could probably go a long way toward having a pair made.
Last edited by copper128; June 17th, 2011 at 06:33 AM.
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