Upgrading the Swaybar

[Bob Riding]

I'm starting a new thread on swaybar upgrade possibilities, based on a recent thread by @keithb873.  As I stated before, I was perusing my various FB Mopar groups and I found a claim that a '55-'56 Imperial swaybar at 13/16" diameter, interchanges perfectly with the '49-'52 Plymouth swaybar which is 11/16" diameter.

You would need upgraded rubber bushings which I found online: Moog Suspension Front Stabilizer Sway Bar Bushing Kit K-6267

 

That seemed like an easy upgrade. I went to my local auto parts yard (he is an eBay seller too: Forthebeachonly) and found one for not much money.

 

Unfortunately, the claims are not accurate.  The Imperial swaybar is definitely wider than the Plymouth's. The shape is close and could work. I was thinking that I could shorten and then weld it into a shape that would fit, but online research was all over the place as to the advisability of doing that. 

 

• "Don't do it it will weaken the spring steel"
• "Go ahead and do it, just sleeve it and weld over the patch"
• "If you do it, TIG first, Then finish with arc welds" Never MIG!"
• "Do it without the sleeve, hot-rodders have been doing it for years without problems"
• "It's not spring steel, it's cold rolled steel so you can do it safely, and besides, if the weld breaks, you just put the stock swaybar back"
• etc, etc, etc...

Do we know what Chrysler made the swaybar out of and whether or not it's weldable? This may be one of those mods that is more trouble than it's worth 

 

 

 

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

I went this way given I had to physically relocate the stock sway bar with the modifications to the front of the chassis with install of a big block mopar and other mods for cooling, AC install and what not needing cosideration....simple bolt in unit what with a couple homebrew brackets....

 

 

[Eneto-55]

I would think that to weld it (if it is spring steel, and it almost has to be, doesn't it?) would be to get it cherry red in a forge before welding. Then re-temper it. Not the thing for most home shops. But then my only experience with welding is stick and torch. I have never used any of the 'modern' welders.  (But I did see a guy from Argentina weld up a broken exhaust manifold that way - that's why I mention it. Of course he didn't need to temper it, either. Back when I was 17 I dropped the one-way into the hard ground too soon after a turn, and snapped one of the 3-point arms on the tractor. My uncle welded it back, and added a plate on it, but it just broke again at the edge of the heat range.)

 

EDIT: Those MOOG sway bar bushing sets are a reasonable price, by the way. And, THANKS!

Edited August 22 by Eneto-55
spelling error

[Plymouthy Adams]

made of pasta but hardened by exposure to a nuclear reactor....😃

 

If you want to consider some source on the internet.......this is for you:

 

Heat treated SAE 5160 steel has been the standard material for sway bars for about the last 60 years

Edited August 22 by Plymouthy Adams

[Sniper]

Since it's heat treated it sounds like welding is contraindicated. But I am not a welder

[Loren]

Hi Bob,

The 50 Windsor chassis I saved from the scrap heap has a bar ( Sway Eliminator ) that is 0.744 inches in diameter and is a direct fit for a Plymouth ( at least on my 49 ).

It seems the Imperial was a wider car and had to have a wider bar.

A consultation with a spring shop would be in order. They routinely reverse the eyes on hot rod springs. Actually they don't reverse the eyes they re-arch the springs so the eyes are on the top instead of the bottom. It's more of a Blacksmith job than a metallurgy thing. ( That is they heat it up and bend it without any heat treat involved )

[Bob Riding]

On 8/24/2024 at 11:36 AM, Loren said:

Hi Bob,

The 50 Windsor chassis I saved from the scrap heap has a bar ( Sway Eliminator ) that is 0.744 inches in diameter and is a direct fit for a Plymouth ( at least on my 49 ).

It seems the Imperial was a wider car and had to have a wider bar.

A consultation with a spring shop would be in order. They routinely reverse the eyes on hot rod springs. Actually they don't reverse the eyes they re-arch the springs so the eyes are on the top instead of the bottom. It's more of a Blacksmith job than a metallurgy thing. ( That is they heat it up and bend it without any heat treat involved )

Thanks Loren. I called Jose at Globe Auto in Fowler, CA and he remembered you - he found 2 Windsors (one had a broken swaybar , so he pulled the other) It is as you said, a direct replacement for the skinnier stock bar.