The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Sway Bars for a '62 1/2 Ton

Searching through the forums, I didn't find a reference about installing front and rear sway bars on a '62. Ideally, I'd like to use junkyard parts, but if all else fails, I will go aftermarket. Has anyone else made this addition? Suggestions are appreciated.
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Bill

Using after market with good results. Improved handling a bunch.

Where did you find a front bar for a '62?

I'm waiting to get the second prototype from my manufacturer, for a bolt-on '60-'62 front sway bar.

To my knowledge, nobody makes one otherwise.

-Brad

I'd be interested in one!

Ok, you might want to know what I ultimately did. I ordered the sway bar kit from LMC truck for my application; this included both front and rear bars. We had to fab and weld in two 2X2 square stock blocks on the front lower framerails that served as spacers to allow us to mount the front sway bar to the frame. Though welded on, we also through-bolted the sway bar mounts through the spacers and frame. It resulted in a very clean and functional installation. On the rear, we originally used the supplied bolts and sleeves and it all bolted right up. However, since we had lowered the truck about 3 inches all around, the rear sway bar bolts hung down dangerously. We picked up shorter bolts, shortened the sleeves and put it all back together. The overall change in handling is nothing short of miraculous! The truck is buttoned down front to rear on the highway and the handling in the twisties is superb. I had terrible understeer and lean and now I have an approximate 2~3 degree lean and I can make it easily over steer with the throttle. FUN!!! This is by far the single best mod I've made to my truck.

Very nice! I'd like to do the same, any pictures of the front installation? I'm getting ready to make an order from LMC, just may have to add the sway bar kit.

Thanks
Larry

Larry,
Hold that order and send me a PM. I have a deal for you on a set that I cannot use. Same set that LMC sells.

Jay

I will have the truck on the lift tomorrow and I'll make and upload photos on the sway bar installations. I think you'll all like how it worked out. I'll also be uploading photos of my new full flow oil system piping. I would also add that part of the reason that we had to install the 2X2 spacers is that we also installed a "71 C10 Power Steering Gearbox and pump on the stock '62 steering shaft. The additional length of the Power Steering Gearbox necessitated the extra 2 inches. If you're sticking with standard "Armstrong" steering, you can probably forget about the 2X2 spacers. I hope this explains what I did, why and what the results were.

brad got his next prototype, mounted and ran on his truck :

Sway bars for '60-62: I DID IT!! Woo-Hoo!

They should be ready in the fall sometime.

One photo and some details there.

-W

If you are frugal and have access to a welder you can easily fab supports on the front frame rail as mentioned before and weld a plate on each lower A arm. I used a front sway bar from a early 80's Blazer I think. It is 1 1/8" and made a huge difference. I paid $10 for it at a swap meet. Just make some measurements to make sure it will hit the A arm where you want it.
Rear sway bar came off a 3/4 ton dually where it bolted on to the rear axle and faces forward. I drilled the frame and used some early Mustang front connectors for it. Total cost was maybe $50.

Yup, as Woog said, I've got a prototype front bar on my '61 Suburban. This bar was custom designed for our '60-'62 Chevy and GMC torsion bar front suspensions.
This fits with the tight turning radius of our trucks, and full suspension travel.
It requires no welding, just four holes drilled in the frame for the saddle mounts.

I'm working for the money right now to get a batch ordered.

-Brad