The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Tortion bar adjustments

Isn't it posable to adjust the ride by adjusting the torsion bars on a 62 pickup? If so how is this done. My truck has almost no give in the front suspention when I hit a bump or pot hole. Would like to losen it up a littel if possable.

It is indeed possible to alter the ride height. I have mine cranked down for an aggressive rake. I am not sure if you can pick up ride quality by doing this, perhaps if you raise the ride height it will soften the ride. Have you put new shock absorbers into the truck? That would help greatly with ride quality. My truck rides like a skateboard the way it's setup right now...

Thanks for the info. I was shure that there was some adjustments that could be made. No I haven't changed the shocks yet but plain to.

If you follow the torsion bars toward the back of the truck you will encounter a good sized nut at the rearmost part of them. This nut can be turned to adjust ride height. You will want to have a long bar...I used a breaker bar. It is not easy work but can be done in the driveway. I used a tape measure to measure the distance from the bottom of the fenders to the ground, to get the truck about the same on both sides...also count the times you rotate. I got mine way out of whack one time and had to readjust it.

Do you mean those square nuts that are on the top and bottom of the crossmember under the cab? Is that what I turn to adjust it? Mine seems to look too high in the front, would like to lower it some. Oh, by the way, I love your truck, I have a 61 too, but it has the eyebrow hood. Mine looks better from a distance, but I only wish the body on it was as solid as yours!!! I get lots of looks too when I drive mine:)

If you crank the bars up, it will increase the spring rate, not reduce it. While you will gain hight, the ride quality will suffer. Raising it will not "loosen it up".
This brings up a few questions as to what might be the cause of the harsh ride/no give. Is it riding on the bumpstops/suspension bottomed out? Is the ride hight at the correct specification? either of those could cause the problem.

Adam,

Before you try to turn the torsion bar adjustment nuts, PLEASE spray a good bit of pentrating oil on them several times over a few days. If not, you take a more than fair change of breaking the nut off. Which will be a real bear to replace. Also the special shapped washer (big old square thing, round top) is no longer made and you will have to use grade 8 washers if broken. Guess how I know this?

Uh, yeah, you broke it...man that would suck. I'm still unsure of which nuts to turn, I'll have to get back underneath to figure it out. I might post about this again...

Before you go under there and start grabbing things with a wrench, get yourself a factory shop manual! It'll EASILY explain how it all works.

I bought a '60 factory manual and the supplement for my '62, and it's come in real handy several times. I just pulled the whole front cross member and torsion bars out of a donor truck, to restore and swap into mine, and the manual was essential. It can be done without one if you know what you're doing. I've been around vintage cars for over 10 years as tech editor for a number of magazines, and still think a factory shop manual is a requirement.

-Brad

I was able to get replacement off a donor truck, but it still sucked. I can copy the section from my shop manul if you need it. Email me direct at [email protected]

Jake

Adam61- I think that those are the ones I mean...I am unfortunately at the office and not underneath my truck so I will check when I get home tonight...I love the Eye Brow hood, but mine came with the newer one on it and it has been on there for a long time. I almost wonder if it was swapped shortly after purchase. I kind of think that my truck was in a wreck that busted up the front end and ruined the hood and then they replaced it with the newer style. There is a welded repair on my frame and some of the front sheet metal is primered in black...which is unlike the rest of the truck...

Anyways, love those old Chevys!! The 61's are a truly unique truck...I have never seen one inperson that is the same as mine. Not a lot of the fleetside shortbeds around...

I dont think I've seen one like mine in person before either, until I found it. Seen a stepside here in Calgary, that's pretty much it. Mine's a longbox however, a little more common than yours, but still rare and wierd enough to get alot of stares, ha ha

Definitely the fleetside beds from those years are too cool! I actually found a 61 lonbed fleetside in the town i live. The guy wants $2500...I wish I had the money because I want one of each

Are you in the gallery Adam?

I am now!!