Add stabilzer bar with 1.03 torsion bars or not?

[Dibbons]

Getting ready to replace stock factory torsion bars with 1.03 diameter bars (PST) on a '72 Satellite Sebring Plus (318 auto). Will it make a big difference in ride/handling if I later add a front stabilizer bar or should I be satisfied with the simple torsion bar upgrade? Thank you.

 

[dangina]

always add sway bars especiallly on the front. Guys like to run without them on the rear for track days sometimes, depends on how you like your setup. The best deal I found for this upgraded is here:

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=16954

if you wait for a holiday, they even add another 20-30% off for these, You won't find a better deal anywhere else, trust me. I went and bought the heavy duty sway bar mounts from hotchkis for this bar but you don't have to.

I didn't care too much for Helwigs rear sway bar setup, I found the correct pipe size I needed and installed them through my frame and welded them in and used rod end endlinks. You can see it in my build thread under my sig.

 

[snakeoil24]

Go to Firm Feel for your torsion bars and stablizer. All Domestic product and built like a rock!

 

[SureGrip]

Wow, 1.03 bars with a 318?

think of the bars as a coil spring. 1.03 is Hemi/440 weight territory. My Brother used 1.03s in his 383 car and it was tooth-jarring.

The sway bar is completely independent. It has no effect on the up-down spring rate, but does help with 'flattening' cornering loads. With a fairly light 318, it's going to bounce like a little red wagon being pulled down the sidewalk.

Just my $0.02

 

[Dibbons]

I hope the ride is not too bad, but I want to keep the front up up a little because the speed bumps here in Mexico are "murder" on soft sprung cars. If it gets too rough I suppose I could lower tire pressures a bit.

 

[Burns69RT]

Jeez why not just do coil overs. With a 318 I don't see why. The car will look goofy with those t-bars and a 318.

 

[Dibbons]

With all the burritos I've been eating lately, I guess I was anticipating an eventual weight gain on the driver's side. Or if I pack the girls in like a Tijuana taxi, we'll be glad we increased that factory spring rate!

 

[Kern Dog]

Wow, 1.03 bars with a 318? It will be tooth jarring.

With a fairly light 318, it's going to bounce like a little red wagon being pulled down the sidewalk.

Just my $0.02

Wrong. Maybe the dental hygiene in Maryland is to blame. I have a 67 dart with 1.03s and a 360. It rides fine.
I have an aluminum headed 440/493 in the Charger. That engine weighs about the same as an all iron 318. My 1.0 bars were in the car for over 10 years and were fine. It was my cheap *** KYB shocks that made the car feel like I was on brick roads. I went with 1.15 torsion bars and Bilstein shocks. Firmer ride yet better on rough roads than ever before. A well designed shock will allow a smooth ride in bumpy conditions while firming up when the suspension travels further in its range.
People that shy away from larger torsion bars remind me of the same dudes that swear that exhaust manifolds flow just as well as headers....