I've went through all the old post about the Southwest T-bird front sway bar, and I think I can fix the hanging low problem. My question is for you guys that are using this on their cars if your tires hit the bar when you turn sharp, looking at some of the pictures straight on it sure seems like they would. By the way they are currently $364 with shipping ouch!
I've got them on mine, never had a problem that I'm aware of, but now you've got me curious as to how close they come at a full turn. When I get my car back, I'll have a look. And by the way, I've only ever heard one person complain about how low they hang appearance-wise. Yeah, they could hit on a steep driveway if you go too fast, again, not really a problem, and my car is lowered in the front.
I've considered a couple other options, the 59-64 Galaxie bigger aftermarket bar but you have to drop one of the lower a-arms to get it in, not doing that and the 58 Edsel good location and easy to mount, not sure it would be much better than the stock 57 bar with no aftermarket larger ones available. The picture with the blue oil pan is the 59-64 Galaxie and the one with the orange oil pan is a 58 Edsel.
Jeggs still lists the Addco 7/8 direct fit sway bar for 228.86 plus shipping. The one I got a couple of years ago actually measured 1 inch dia. It did take a long time to get.
Quote from: thomasso on 2024-03-10 21:30Jeggs still lists the Addco 7/8 direct fit sway bar for 228.86 plus shipping. The one I got a couple of years ago actually measured 1 inch dia. It did take a long time to get.
Is that the sway bar the one for the Thunderbird?
No, Its for the Fairlane. I believe the T Bird bar is link mounted, This one fits on the front of the control arms as original.
I used a 58 Edsel Ranger/Pacer front sway bar, the pics are about half way down on post # 128. Easy install, just need to fab up a bracket to weld to the frame to hold the sway bar bushings. The control arms already have the holes in them for the end links. I've not done any "sport" driving with the Ranchero to this point, it would serve no purpose as all I have to compare it to would be the Shelby and that is a no contest situation!
The Addco bar mounts up just like the original 57/58 bar. The T-Bird bar uses a mount that bolts between the frame and the front bumper brackets.
https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=6035.120
Quote from: 57chero on 2024-03-10 12:40I've went through all the old post about the Southwest T-bird front sway bar, and I think I can fix the hanging low problem. My question is for you guys that are using this on their cars if your tires hit the bar when you turn sharp, looking at some of the pictures straight on it sure seems like they would. By the way they are currently $364 with shipping ouch!
I have one on my car and I raised it up by simply re-drilling the holes in the mounting bracket. My car is lowered and the bar has grease fittings on the bottom of the brackets that hang down (6" clearance) and they have never touched anything. The tires also do not hit the bar even at full lock. I have 235/60-15 tires on 7" rims with a 4.25" back spacing. I think the bar could be raised even further by replacing the bolts with welded in studs, maybe as much as 2" total and if you redesigned the bracket, it could be raised even more. '59 bars are a different design altogether and I tried to adapt one for my car but without success.
Thats what I wanted to know, I'm using 7" wheels with a 4" backspace so it shouldn't be a problem and like you said I can raise it up .
One last question does the sway bar come out towards the front far enough to clear the part I have highlighted with yellow arrows If I raise it that far.
57chero
the pics you are referring to are my custom 300.
I have installed the kit from Southwest T-birds on both my 57's.... One car is now on the road..... Zero issues.... the car in the pics is still in progress. I have wheeled that 57 around the yard(pushing) and there is zero wheel/tire interference.
The SWT-Bird kit is a very easy straightforward install.Takes about 30-45 minutes.Instructions are simple.
Yes. the costs have increased... and now by double.
But lets remember... although we love our 57's..... We are in a very small minority.A 56 Ford has way more parts availability than a 57..... or 58. So.. thats partial reasoning on the cost.
I feel in the upcoming years. aftermarket parts will get even more expensive.... or be discontinued.
anyhow, back to the question at hand.
I have never experienced any "Rubbing", bumping or interference with the kits purchased by SWT-Birds.
I found it to be a dramatic improvement over the very weak stock Ford Factory sway bar..... I have taken my Black 57 custom with the said sway bar installed and purposely drove hard into off ramp corners with no ill effects.
Before the install..... with the factory bar and old bushings.... the car would dive into corners and list like the Lusitania..... now..... it corners like a go-kart....
I still would like to try a rear sway bar.. but haven't made that venture as of yet.
I personally think this is a "must" on our cars.
both my bars are the big 1 1/8 bars....
Seems the cost has dramatically increased..
https://www.larrystbird.com/product/a5482e-sway-bar-kit-1-1-8/
(https://i.imgur.com/xpSE9m5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GsIgmTm.jpg)
***EDIT***
Apologies..... I may have ordered my second sway bar from Larry's T-Birds as I have shown the link.
It was 2 years ago..... and my first purchase of the Sway Bar for my black 57 custom was about 7 years ago...
(Time flys!)
I do remember the first sway bar was about $200....(7years ago) and the last one now installed on my custom 300 was 2 years ago at a cost of $340......
Sheesh.... now they are $440 and shipping may be extra.... (big awkward box)
Not to attempt to take anything away from the SW style sway bar...several owners have positive feedback. But, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I have installed many brands on many makes but have installed only ADDCOs on '57s. I like the ADDCO because it installs in the original location, is lighter, is cheaper, is compact, is designed for '57s, and works great. I don't road race but do have a tendency to a little spirted driving. The ADDCO resists body roll very well. In an effort to support the 'more is better' logic, in addition to the front ADDCO bar, I also installed an ADDCO bar on the rear of the Raunch Wagon. Since the wagon was taller and heavier in rear, I thought the back side would need more control. With both ADDCOs and QA1 adjustable shocks, the Raunch Wagon could take on most anyone in its class. One caution on more control, be careful with what you wish for, with more control you may paid for it in loss of comfort. That is, more control usually means less cushy ride.
All good points, but my question I had is would the bar clear the area highlighted with the yellow areas if I were to raise it a little.
It will not clear on mine......not even close. In fact my sway bar is totally underneath/touching that "whatchamacallit"
I was afraid of that, looking at the picture its deceiving.
Quote from: gasman826 on 2024-03-13 08:43Not to attempt to take anything away from the SW style sway bar...several owners have positive feedback. But, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I have installed many brands on many makes but have installed only ADDCOs on '57s. I like the ADDCO because it installs in the original location, is lighter, is cheaper, is compact, is designed for '57s, and works great. I don't road race but do have a tendency to a little spirted driving. The ADDCO resists body roll very well. In an effort to support the 'more is better' logic, in addition to the front ADDCO bar, I also installed an ADDCO bar on the rear of the Raunch Wagon. Since the wagon was taller and heavier in rear, I thought the back side would need more control. With both ADDCOs and QA1 adjustable shocks, the Raunch Wagon could take on most anyone in its class. One caution on more control, be careful with what you wish for, with more control you may paid for it in loss of comfort. That is, more control usually means less cushy ride.
Quote from: gasman826 on 2024-03-13 08:43Not to attempt to take anything away from the SW style sway bar...several owners have positive feedback. But, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I have installed many brands on many makes but have installed only ADDCOs on '57s. I like the ADDCO because it installs in the original location, is lighter, is cheaper, is compact, is designed for '57s, and works great. I don't road race but do have a tendency to a little spirted driving. The ADDCO resists body roll very well. In an effort to support the 'more is better' logic, in addition to the front ADDCO bar, I also installed an ADDCO bar on the rear of the Raunch Wagon. Since the wagon was taller and heavier in rear, I thought the back side would need more control. With both ADDCOs and QA1 adjustable shocks, the Raunch Wagon could take on most anyone in its class. One caution on more control, be careful with what you wish for, with more control you may paid for it in loss of comfort. That is, more control usually means less cushy ride.
Gasman, are those Traction Master traction bars, or something else? And do they eliminate wheelhop 100%? On my 59, with a 428CJ and 4 speed, I get really bad wheelhop, even with a set of the good Lakewood "J bolt" traction bars and adjustable Calvert rear shocks. It doesn`t wheelhop at the dragstrip, with slicks, but with the street tires, on the street or dragstrip, it hops quite badly, and the traction bars have bent the front of my new (stock spec) leaf springs. So I was considering Traction Masters, even if they require some welding on the frame.
No, they are not Traction Masters. They are Traction Master style that I made but they are adjustable. Traction Masters are welded in place. IF they are off just a fraction, launches and hard second gear shifts may be less than straight. In some cases, I found Mustangs and some Galaxies would 'push' or rear steer. Both ends of mine have heims joints with swedge tubes which makes for adjustability. After installing mine, a hard second gear shift would generate a hard, rear kick to the right. A couple of quarter turns on the swedge tube and the rear stayed straight in place. Another benefit is really good weight transfer. Oh, and absolutely no wheel hop, spring wrap, or spring damage. The QA1 adjustables are also a big improvement.
Quote from: 59meteor on 2024-03-13 20:01Gasman, are those Traction Master traction bars, or something else? And do they eliminate wheelhop 100%? On my 59, with a 428CJ and 4 speed, I get really bad wheelhop, even with a set of the good Lakewood "J bolt" traction bars and adjustable Calvert rear shocks. It doesn`t wheelhop at the dragstrip, with slicks, but with the street tires, on the street or dragstrip, it hops quite badly, and the traction bars have bent the front of my new (stock spec) leaf springs. So I was considering Traction Masters, even if they require some welding on the frame.
I have Traction Masters on my car. They are longer than Gary's bars. I have no wheel hop at all but I also have 6 leaf springs. The 6 leaf springs raised the car so I put 1" lowering blocks on the car then I switched to 2" blocks (that would increase the tendency to axle hop I think). The issue is now that put the tires too close to the bar bolt head on the perch so I am about to switch back to the stock springs and lose the blocks. The Traction Master guy is the original fabricator I think and they may no longer be available. The bar front mount welds to the frame with the suspension fully loaded. They do occasionally bind though which is why the Cal Tracs were designed. I can give you dimensions and pics if you'd like to make your own (if you can't get them anymore).
Well, I took Gassn826 advice and put an Addco 7/8" factory replacement sway bar on my Ranchero and I'm glad I did it fit perfect, and they now have the correct urethan bushings with it, I just couldn't use the SW T-bird style one on mine because it sits to low, I didn't realize how wimpy the stock one was until I put this one on, very happy with my choice.
I'm glad you're happy with the ADDCO. It is also good to know ADDCO upgraded the bushings.