My old 72 U code Supreme had a factory rear sway bar and boxed lower control arms. I just noticed my current 72 U code has a sway bar but no boxed control arms. Is this correct?

 

With a rear sway bar, there should also be boxed lower control arms.

 

That's what I was afraid of.😡 Thank you.

 

With a factory sway yes boxed lowers

 

And all U code cars had the rear sway bar, correct?

 

Not necessarily. U coded VIN is an indicator of the presence of the L-75 455 engine, as well as V in the VIN, depending on which transmission you got. It required M20 or M40 transmission, and you got dual exhaust.

FE2 Suspension package got you sway bars, and better springs, shocks, control arms, and wheels.

The 72 442 was a lot of appearance stuff AND the FE2. The H/O was an automatic 442 and a U code car (most of them).

So, I think it is possible to have a U code, non-FE2 car, but I would consider that option unlikely to occur.

 

The FE2 suspension was an option on these cars.

 

And, if it did have the FE2 option, unless you owned the car from the day it left the factory and showroom, there's no telling what any previous owner may have done regarding the sway bar and control arms.

 

You most likely know this, but they did/do produce/sell a Lower Boxed Control Arm Conversion kit for A-Bodys (1964-1972). You'd most likely recognize this type of kit - it doesn't necessarily resemble a true boxed lower control arm but many do in fact convert using these kits. They get welded into the open lower control arms.

 

... or if you have legitimate paperwork showing how it was ordered.

 

 

Just trying to determine what is original and/or correct. Will the trim tag denote the FE2?

 

No. You need a build sheet or window sticker or GM of Canada docs if applicable.

 

Any other clues to look for? I'm confident it's a real U code but puzzled by the lack of boxed arms. U code, non-air, buckets, console, rally pac, posi.

 

The engine selection is independent of the suspension unless it is an X code car. FE2 was an extra cost option on your car.

 

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that. I thought U code got the sway bar and boxed arms.

 

Read Posts 6 & 7, again.

 

Unless I missed the FE2 designator on my build sheet, I have a non FE2 U code '72 Supreme, so they're out there.

 

Back in the 60s & 70s we ran these cars hard on the pavement. It wouldn't surprise me in the least someone swapped the boxed control arms for a bag of Kush back in the day. People swapped out rear-ends like they were candy.

 

I ran unboxed lower trailing arms with a sway bar for a few years. One evening one of the lower arms snapped since the sway bar forces were just too great for the open (i.e. unboxed) arms.

Ever since then, I’ve used boxed rear control arms. I can recommend the Hotchkiss brand. They have served me well. I’ve said it here before, but I run Cutlass boxed rear arms on my big car to good effect.

I think I was on time to dinner, but it’s no fun losing control of your rear axles on the way to Christmas Eve.

Chris

 

I did, I was just clarifying my reason for the question.

 

That, at least, is easy enough to confirm. Look at the 5th position on your VIN.

 

I did that before I bought it, it's there. I was just thrown off by the arms as I thought they were standard. But I've learned that I was incorrect.

 

My current V Code Supreme does not have the FE2 suspension even thought it’s a W37 dual disc clutch car. Full Fremont build sheet showing that. I looked at a U Code Supreme in CT years ago that I should have purchased in retrospect - It also did not have the rear sway bar setup. Neither does my SX ragtop with full Linden build sheet. No reason to sweat it if your U cdoesn’t have it. It’s not that unusual.

Terry

 

Thanks for the information guys, I really appreciate it. I was wondering why someone would remove the boxed arms but it seems they were never there. Everything underneath looks correct, other than the added bar with spacers inside of the arms.

 

As others stated, the boxed arms and sway bar always go together as a set. They are both part of the FE2 suspension. This is independent of the Engine.
My guess Someone added a sway bar to a car that didn’t come with this option. I have a 1972 “U” code wagon and the prior owner told me he added Boxed Arms and sway bar.

 

...but didn't upgrade the lower control arms to boxed LCAs.

^^x2^^ I think that's the most likely scenario.

 

In my young and stupid days, my first car was the hand-me-down 68 Vista, and one of the first things I did was to install a rear sway bar from a wrecking yard (in 1974 you could still find them readily). As a 16 year old I was not smart enough to know about the boxed lower arms and proceeded to crush the LCAs while tightening the bolts. I ended up using spacers cut from iron pipe to prevent that. Not ideal, and much of the stiffness added by the bar was lost in twisting the open LCAs. Funny how a few classes in engineering school teaches you about those things.

 

Try arguing to someone how a supercharger is usually a net loss...