The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Sway Bar Sugestions ??

What would you experts suggest for the best choice for a front sway bar to install on a stock 52 Chevy and where to purchase? Does have a 261 but fully stock other than that. Your advice greatly appreciated.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1947_59_Trucks/CP179.htm
dg

I'm using the sway bar linked to by Denny. It made a huge improvement and was very easy to install.

I use same-year Panel truck Sway bars on my 1/2 ton trucks (Used - from Want Ad or Jim Carter).

I use the same one from the link above on my '37, it made a huge difference on it as well.

Just google '50 chevy truck sway bar, there is only manufacturer but lots of dealers to choose from.

Joe

Haven't installed one yet but also saw this one from performance online.
PerformanceOnline

I will install one when I get the truck back on the road

I used the same sway bar as Denny posted. It is an easy to follow installation. It does make a difference. $$$ well spent. Good luck!

Why not buy it from CPP direct and only pay $149 in stead of
buying it thru a dealer who charges $179. They're coming from
CPP in the first place.

dg

I have just put that kit Denny linked on my '40 but haven't driven it yet so can't comment on that. It comes with 2 pair of spacers that go on the long bolts. What is their purpose? Seems like I could have just not used any.

Dennis

Independent front suspensions use those long bolts to connect the sway bar to the lower control arms. Jeffrey

Joe, do I understand correctly that you used the 47-54 sway bar on the front of your '37? How was the install?


Has anyone put a sway bar on the back of a '37 yet? Any suggestions?

Back on this one. The spacers I'm talking about is maybe 3/8" and 1/2" long that goes on the long bolt. What I'm trying to figure out is what is their purpose? Am I trying to make the bar parallel to the ground or what? I guess I could call CPP but kind of figure the brain trust here could probably give a more accurate answer.

Dennis

they go between the two sets of bushings, one set goes on the frame then the spacer, then the other set of bushings goes on the bar. Mine came with instructions.

Could you post those instructions, mine didn't come with any
either and although it's a simple installation it wasn't clear
where the spacer bushings belonged at the time.
I also had to rework the holes for the U-bolts in the plates,
which I believe may be correct for a 1/2 ton but not the 3/4 ton.
dg

I don't have them any more, however I can get them, Dreamers is the place that owns the rights to them, CPP just makes them for them, and they just happen to be just down the street from me.

Hang with me as sometimes I have trouble explaining myself fully. I know where the spacer is supposed to go but don't understand what the purpose is for the spacer. Since there are 2 pairs of different heights seems like I could use either, both, or none. Must be some objective I'm trying to achieve so I know which to select. Make any more sense?

Dennis

you would probably do well just to call CPP, if it isn't explained in the instructions. (you did read the instructions right?) My guess is there is two different sizes to allow it to be used on more than one application. But I don't know for sure.

** Was about to order the swaybar from Classic Performance Products until I went to Google and punched in " Classic Performance Products Review" My-My there is one horror story review after the other, Scared me away. Anyone have any thoughts as to another swaybar for my 52?? Thanks

I purchased the CP169 rear sway bar kid 2 years ago, and it has been great for my panel. The sway bars are fairly simple, and probably made by one or two companies. My friend at a local "resto shop" ordered mine for me and cost $186 and it came from CPP. I have no complaints but I didn't have to deal with any customer service over a problem.
The sway bar was for the 1/2 ton pickup but I used it on my 52 panel. Boy, it sure stopped the rolling!!

Had my front CPP bar on for 6 years and about 14k miles.
Wonderful addition, made a completely different truck
out of the old gal. Solid as a rock in the turns now.

Can't imagine what sort of problem would warrant that sort of
review unless the installer had no mechanical skills what so ever.

Only problem I ran it to was that I had to open up the
mounting holes because I was putting it on a 3/4-ton rather
than a 1/2-ton like I suppose the majority are installed on.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I went to the CPP website and they have installation instructions for what looks to be every piece of equipment they sell.

Yep, install instructions for Advance Design trucks:
http://www.classicperform.com/tech_articles/SwayBarChevyTruck/SwayBarChevyTruck.htm

Tks
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Bowtie Bits LLC --- bowtiebits.com --- has the same swaybar for $139.00 {AD-475-CP179} plus shipping.

I installed the CPP sway bar kit earlier this week. Makes a big difference.

I encountered a few issues with the kit.

Two of the supplied bolts were supposed to be 1 3/4" long grade 5. The kit came with 2 3/4" long grade 8 bolts. (1" too long) No big deal - I happened to have some spare bolts of the correct length on hand.

The instructions do not mention the shock mounts. The shock mounts attach to the same axle U bolts that the plates for the new bar's links attach to. You have to remove the shock mounts and sandwich the plates between the axle and the shock mounts.

The holes in the plates that attach to the U bolts were poorly drilled. Simply re-drilling them on the drill press did not help as the spacing between them was out by at least 1/8". I had to elongate one hole with a file to correct the spacing. I used the shock mount as a template to mark where the hole should be.

No insurmountable issues, really.

Good job Gord!