The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 55 (2nd Series) Suburban - Front Sway-Bar

Just bought my 1955 (2nd Series) Suburban in May. When my 11yr old son saw the first photo it made him think of the Beach Boys and surfer dudes. He came up with the name "Dude" and it stuck. It is a shame that my garrage isn't tall enough to let us put an old wooden long board on a roof rack up top. I'll go along with whatever it takes to keep him interested and so far he is planning on Dude being his someday.

I have spent many years since high school refusing to drive anything but late model cars that did not need worked on. I never knew how much I missed getting my hands dirty working on a car or truck most every weekend. Dude is very solid and straight with only a few rust bubbles near one rear wheel and minor rust at the door steps. One fender is a little warped due to a stupid battle by the PO with a chain blocking a driveway (Apparently Dude Won!) and there are very minor signs of panel repair behind the drivers side door, the paint is glossy down one side but not the other. The PO admitted a fender bender but the body guy did very good work on the repair. The frame is solid and straight and most everything (Except the Rear End) is still original or at least replaced with original style. The wood floor is even still solid as is all but the very back end of the rubber covering. The Interior was cleaned up several years ago with ALL THREE ROWS of seats being rebuilt, powder coated, and reupholstered (Upholstery and Headliner is showing age now but that is easy work to fix). Runs great (Drove it from 1500 miles from Southern CA to Central TX 3 days after purchase) and well taken care of given the years but the engine, transmission, & rear end leaked oil like crazy from every gasket & seal. I have gone through 8qts of oil just since May. We have enjoyed Dude through the summer and made several short trips around TX since. Now that the temperature is finally cooling off we are making progress toward turning Dude into the truck it should be. The front clip is off and the engine is going back together after a rebuild. The 4-Speed transmission and the Fo#d 9" rear end will get rebuilt professionally while we focus on the suspension, interior, and complete stripping of the 3+ coats of paint that have been applied over the years in preparation for a professional paint job in the original Beige color. It may be a lofty goal but we hope to have it all back together w/AC added in time to make a Griswold Family trip back to CA, up the coast to OR, and back to TX via the northern route by next summer (or maybe the next).

I never knew about Stovebolt.com until we began to research trucks and look for our project. This site is wonderful and you guys are the best. I have had numerous questions both before and after the purchase and most every time we have been able to find the answer just by searching the forums. I am especially impressed with the amount of activity and the willingness of the users to help others with their problems. I have never seen a forum on any topic where questions are not only anwsered but anwsered by people that actually know what they are talking about. This site is fantastic and the great people using it are what make it work. Finally I have found something on the internet that is truly positive. Thanks to all of you for your input and assistance.

Can any of you help me out with information on where to locate bushings and connector links for my front sway-bar. I have found a few post regarding the AD sway-bar but from what I can find the Task Force sway-bar is completely different. Jim Carter has the bushings for the AD but not for the TF. My bushings are deformed and probably would cause the bar to be ineffective if it were in fact connected. It is not connected because the lower end of one of the connector links has the end of the pin worn off by years of friction after the small bushing in the connector rotted away. Are the bushings in the connector links replaceable or does the whole link have to be replaced? Can the pins that connect to the frame and sway-bar be replaced or are they pressed into the bushing and thus come with a replacement connector link? Does anyone know where these parts can be purchased or does the entire assembly have to be replaced with aftermarket?

Thanks for all of your help!

as far as I've been able to find, there are no direct reproductions of any of the TF panel/burb antisway bar pieces - I've heard the Taurus, about 1989, has similar bits that can replace the links but haven't got around to confirming that, my panel project is still in waiting

Bill

You can also post in the wanted section here as well on the website.

Bill,

I was at the Auto Parts store yesterday and had them pull up photos of the Tarus links. Looked at 88 thru 90. The links were entirely different.

Burb'r

Since you're in Texas, I'd call Jimbo. He parts out old trucks. He's on here periodically and also ebay's parts too.