The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 41 - 46 Stabilizer Bar

Hello!

I've often heard that 41 - 46 panel trucks were equipped with front stabilizer bars. I am considering doing some upgrades to my truck and was wondering if this would make a noticable improved to the handling.

Thanks in advance.

steering stabilizer ?

i installed a steering stabilizer on the front of my 57 and i love it.

leonard

Randy,

I dont even know what it would consist of. Any chance you can shed some light on it for us dim bulbs out here? All I know is that I take a ride in my car and I have to drive my truck. You certainly know when you hit a bump and if it is big you better have your hands on the wheel.

Tim

Sounds like you guys are talking about a steering damper,rather than an anti-roll bar.
Basically it's a shock absorber for your steering.
VW used them on their Bugs,and a lot of off road guys use them.
It's takes the feedback from those big 'ole wheels and tires and stops the shock loads transmitting back up the steering to your hands.It smooths the steering out,no end!
It wouldn't be too hard to retrofit this addition as there are kits available. Try looking at some off-road parts vendors.
Sorry none spring to mind at the moment.

here is a pic of my steering stabilizer.

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view&current=DSC01436.jpg

as jockbolter50 stated, it is basically a shock that mounts to your straight axle and your tie rod.

i got mine here from classic parts of america.

http://www.classicparts.com/1947-59-Steering-Stabilizer-Kit/productinfo/76-991/

hope this helps.

leonard

Or are you talking about a Sway bar? They did have them back then but I haven't ever seen one. I would like one for my '37, it really lays over going around corners! Joe

Randy, If you are talking about a stearing stablizer, you might want to check all your stearing componets first. Make sure your tie rod ends and draglink are in good condition and adjusted right. Also radial tires would help. I have all original style stearing componets on my truck and have no problems at all with any kind of bump stear.

Now if you are looking for an anti-sway bar I have been told that one for a 47 will fit the 41-46 frame with a few modifications. Any of the regular vendors would have them. I have thought about this upgrade myself but I'm not too sure about the modifications that would be necessary.

I hope this helps
George

Burbs of the era had "anti-sway" bars installed from the Factory. If you can't locate one of those, then pick up an AD sway bar kit from Jim Carter's etc. Ray Stanley(metalman) put onto my '45 GMC and it is the cat's [censored]. The trailing ends bolt into the axle with no mods. Then the front needs to be adapted to the frame. Ray made some plates up to put on the bottom of the frame horns.

http://oldgmctrucks.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/237106068/m/2271018851?r=4501002951#4501002951
If you're an OGMC site member, use the link.

"Chevrolet Shop Manual, 1942-48 Passenger Cars & 1942-46 Trucks" Page 3-19 and 3-20 has three paragraphs on the 1/2-Ton Panel Truck Stabilizer. http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1942_47/4247csm319.htm
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

My 1946 Chevy Suburban School Bus has a front sway bar. I thought it was an added accessory due to the fact that it was built to be a school bus from day one.

It required special hardware to mount it to the frame.