The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Front Sway Bar Install

I have an original style front sway bar that I want to put on my truck while I have the front end apart.
Does anyone know if the 1965 or 1966 Accessories Installation Manual has the directions/dimensions for the installation of a front sway bar. My 1964 manual does not.
I don't want to buy one if they don't.
Or does anyone know were the directions/dimensions can be found. I don't see them in my assembly manual.

They are in the assembly manual. The holes for it are already there on the truck. The Suburbans came standard with them, so look for that.
You say yours is original style. Is it original or not? Could mean a lot of difference in the headache you get trying to install it.
I believe the ends go into the holes in the lower control arm holes on the front of the arms. That is what is shown for the 60-61 trucks, but look in your section for your 64. It's in there.

K10, I have looked that manual over 4 times. Still all I can find is swaybar instructions on what I term pages 211 and 397. However these are for the torsion bar suspension, not the coil spring front end. Or at least that is what I think is the case.
As well the used swaybar that I bought looks nothing like the ones shown in the assembly manual. I think I have the correct one as the old bushings on it match what the parts catalogs show.
Problem is this, I do not have any pre-drilled holes so I am starting blind. I am sure that my parts (frame, lower A arm) are original. Just no holes pre-drilled in 1964.

My '65 does not have an anti-sway bar, but there are holes on the lower A-arms for the mounting brackets. I plan on getting the LMC kit in the near future, as it looks pretty straightforward to install...I don't have any manual.

cm

My 65 has a swaybar from the factory. Could get some pics if it stops raining. If you need pics let me know.

pics would work. It would be a good start.
Thanks

I'll try to get a pic thursday. Weatherman says Sunny. They lie alot out here. LOL!!!

Rusty64. Still gonna get ya pics. Rainy season here. Hopefully early this week.

I too would like to see pics. I don't recall ever seeing a factory swaybar installed in that era.

If it has front, did it also come with a rear swaybar?

I used one from a 73-87 C10, they are all over the boneyard, & no one knows it's not OE except a select few.

64fleetside, did you just put it where you thought it belonged or did you have measurements.
I believe that the frame and suspension is the same for 63 and up, however my research shows that swaybars were not available until 1965.
I believe that is why there are no holes drilled in my 1964 A-arms yet they are there on 1965 and up A-arms as well as the reproduction A-arms.
So maybe what I do is put the engine back in for weight/ride height and then mount the swaybar where it lays (I know roughly where the A-arm holes go).

Jon S. Just a front swaybar on my 65. It was an option listed on my build sheet so I know it's factory. Pics coming.

I measured a 67-72 & a 73-87, one hole on the frame mount lines up with a rivet holding the radiator x-member, drilled it out & temp mounted bar to locate the remaining hole in the frame. Most 66's I find have pre-drilled lower A arms, my 64 I had to drill the lower arms.

If you like to go around corners, grab a 1 ton or suburban front bar(larger diameter) & add a rear bar.

Sorry to take so long. Break in the clouds finally.
http://s992.photobucket.com/albums/af42/gotgasd/sway%20bar%20on%2065%20c10/

Hope this helps.

Looks just like the sway bar off my donor 91 suburban. Kieth

Here are a few of the factory front sway bar on my '66 Chevy C20 Custom Camper.

'66 Chevy C20 Custom Camper Front Sway Bar

'66 Chevy Custom Camper Front Sway Bar

I think the photos did the trick. Now I know where it mounts to the frame and then it will fall in place on the A-arms.

Actually, the mounting location on the lower A arms is important and where the bar lands on the frame rails, is where it falls.

4-5-6, I agree, however what I mean is that I will use the existing wear marks on the swaybar with its bushings to determine its location of not only the frame but the A-arm.
If I take the swaybar, its brackets and bushings and place the assembly up to the frame and A-arm, this should give me the left/right location on the A-arms and then from that its location to the frame.
But like I said, only once I have the engine back in the truck.
Thanks to everyone for their ideas, photos and comments.

Hey rusty64,
I have the same problem. A lot of guys on these truck forums all say that the holes are already in the lower control arm to attach the bracket for the sway bar. I have a 64 stepside that has been in my family since new and I can tell you for sure that there are no holes in my lower control arms from the factory. I don't think they even had sway bars on the 64 half ton trucks. What I plan on doing is finding a 65 or 66 locally and measuring the holes in one of them. I want those holes to be as close to exact as possible and let the frame bracket holes fall whereever. I will need to drill them also.
Dean