1960 Torsion Bar Suspension Sway Fix

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Originally Posted by tdeming

Not to hijack this thread, but does anyone have a good source for rebuilding the front end ball joints and tie rod ends?

When you say rebuild the ball joints do you mean the big ball looking things at the end of the axle? I've heard of people just welding those up and sanding them down as needed. If you mean the little cups and seals etc. I have the part numbers in my build thread where I tore mine apart. Quad4x4.com has most of the hard to find things like the little brass bushings.

[1960HDGMC]

I spoke with the son of the Cambria Spring Companies owner. He said he could make the springs at his current Dayton Leaf Spring company. But he needs blueprints or a surviving setup from a truck, from which to take measurements. Please ask around if anyone knows where one might be located. It will be returned unharmed after the measurements are taken. This is a good chance to get a great cure for these 1960-62 Chevy and GMC torsion bar front ends. Thanks, Greg Mead

[Funky61]

A new link from the other forum;

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=659224

[1960HDGMC]

Thanks Funky, This is a great story. I wish he had followed up the install with an assessment. I will never understand why no one ever adapted a sway bar for these T Bar trucks. It seems to be the missing link that caused many clip swaps over the years. I am very much inclined to attempt this setup. I bet a factory swaybar setup from a donor truck would also do nicely. Thanks again for the link, Greg Mead

[1960HDGMC]

Hey Funky, Well good things come to those that wait. Joe Pass from the thread you posted, finally got to road test the sway bar. He posted yesterday that it works great. He also added a sway bar to the back axle. I am going to order the Addco 117 and try to emulate his install. From what I gather, the end link style is better suited to this type suspension than the direct connected type. And it is adjustable, where the bolt on style is not. The 1 inch thick spacer blocks he fabricated from aluminum are the only missing piece to make this kit work with the 60-61 Torsion Bar trucks. I can not believe no one has stamped a couple of brackets for this purpose. The ones from the later model trucks are designed to mount with the back foot going up with the arch of the frame. Where the 60-61 trucks are still rather flat where the brackets would connect to the frame. I may try to get a machine shop to make me a couple of level brackets. They serve to move the bar 1 inch from the frame, so it clears the power steering gear box and the front bumper brackets. This should be relatively painless. I will update next month when I get the Addco kit. Thanks again for all the help, GM