Oh, Wow !!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Already Gone** · 06-22-2005, 04:06 PM

I just finished installing a front stabilizer (sway) bar on my 72 long box this morning. I did it myself and the biggest problem was getting the rivet out. I ground it to nothing and pounded on it with a hammer and punchg for at least an hour and it didnt budge. I took it to my buddys shop and it took it out with the the air punch and even that took about 30 seconds to loosen up with that power on it. I used the ECE frame connectors for lowered trucks as I plan to lower mine in the future. I also used ECE's urethane bushing & clamp kit and had a 1 1/4 inch bar from a 79 3/4 ton truck. Other than the rivet problem the whole job took about 2 hrs. What I really like is that with those higher brackets on my stock height truck you can't even see the sway bar looking straight at the front of the truck from 30 feet away. You can just see a bit of the shiny new clamps. My thanks to "Texas Firefighter" Kevin for sharing the idea and install proces with us on this site. Oh yea, I could tell the difference in the truck just driving it around to the front of the house. I took her for a little hoot and the truck handles lots better with the bar on it.

farside847 · 06-22-2005, 05:15 PM

I was told that installing a sway bar on a stock height truck with the lowered brackets put the bar at the wrong angle and would not work properly. But, I have not tried it myself...

**Already Gone** · 06-23-2005, 01:05 AM

I've driven the truck a little more since this morning and it works great. When I ordered the bushings and brackets from ECE I told them I was going to be lowering my truck and it could be a year or two before I did it and they didnt mention anything about the bar not fitting properly at stock height and with good reputation the staff at ECE has I'm sure they would have mentioned me if they thought there would be a problem.

Alexis · 06-23-2005, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farside847

I was told that installing a sway bar on a stock height truck with the lowered brackets put the bar at the wrong angle and would not work properly. But, I have not tried it myself...

dude, just lower your truck and you won't have that problem.

lngbed71 · 06-23-2005, 05:05 AM

I bought the lowed truck brackets, mine is lowered about 4". I thought I would need them, as it turns out, I didn't. Everything lined up just right using the non-lowered brackets, and man what a difference in the ride too!!

**special-K** · 06-23-2005, 06:32 AM

They mostly help with clearance.

farside847 · 06-23-2005, 12:12 PM

I love my sway bar, esp on the freeway!

**Already Gone** · 07-07-2005, 11:10 AM

After daily driving the truck with the sway bar on for a few weeks now and getting the feel of it I have to say for the low cost involved this is one of the best suspension changes you can do to your truck. I can do cloverleaf access ramps at 30/35 MPH wth harrley any lean and other than the sway bar and the 235/70R15 rubber the truck is stock. The truck also rides better and feels more stable on the street going over bumps and lane changing etc. Now the question I am asking myself is ,do I need a rear sway bar ? The staff at ECE say you do not, especially on a lowered truck which is in the plan for mine and they do not even sell one. I am looking for feedback from anyone that has installed a rear sway on a 67/72.

neonlarry · 07-07-2005, 02:11 PM

I like mine, made quite a difference.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=swaybar

**Already Gone** · 07-07-2005, 04:45 PM

Thanks NeonLarry for the link. I found my front bar on my first outing in search of one. Its a 1 1/4 bar from a 79 3/4 ton 9000lb camper special truck and i had it powdercoated and bought the install kit with the poly bushings from ECE. I guess i go hunting for an old Iroc and see what I can get drum up for a rear bar. Will I run into any diifficulty with the rear bar when I lower my truck. I am thinking of a 2 1/2 dropped spindle in front with maybe a 1" lowered coil and either a 4" or 5" rear spring drop and Super track bar from ECE.

Gary · 07-07-2005, 08:48 PM

I lowered mine 4/2 and added sway bars and I am happy, I plan to eventually raise the rear just a smidge by adding bags sometime in the future.

1STtimePRo'71 · 07-07-2005, 10:51 PM

What if you dont have power steering? Would a swaybar be good then?

neonlarry · 07-08-2005, 07:49 AM

I have a 2½\4 drop and no problems.

06-22-2005, 04:06 PM	#1
Already Gone 70+ ( Old Skool Club ) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,Canada Posts: 9,144	Oh, Wow !!! I just finished installing a front stabilizer (sway) bar on my 72 long box this morning. I did it myself and the biggest problem was getting the rivet out. I ground it to nothing and pounded on it with a hammer and punchg for at least an hour and it didnt budge. I took it to my buddys shop and it took it out with the the air punch and even that took about 30 seconds to loosen up with that power on it. I used the ECE frame connectors for lowered trucks as I plan to lower mine in the future. I also used ECE's urethane bushing & clamp kit and had a 1 1/4 inch bar from a 79 3/4 ton truck. Other than the rivet problem the whole job took about 2 hrs. What I really like is that with those higher brackets on my stock height truck you can't even see the sway bar looking straight at the front of the truck from 30 feet away. You can just see a bit of the shiny new clamps. My thanks to "Texas Firefighter" Kevin for sharing the idea and install proces with us on this site. Oh yea, I could tell the difference in the truck just driving it around to the front of the house. I took her for a little hoot and the truck handles lots better with the bar on it. __________________ 1972 C10 Custom/Deluxe 613 Highlander 406/700R4 1999 White Tahoe LS 4x2 with Z56 Police Package 1992 K1500 GMC Suburban Members I have personally met: MusicMan70 - HeavyD - ChewyChevy67 - StingRay -71SWB4x4 - 67 Burb - DeadheadNM - too much stuff - bc65 - das601 " Circumsatances Do Not Change Responsibility " " The Sky is not the Limit, Your Mind is." Marilyn Monroe .. RIP Charlie Watts 1941 - 2021

06-22-2005, 05:15 PM	#2
farside847 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 995	I was told that installing a sway bar on a stock height truck with the lowered brackets put the bar at the wrong angle and would not work properly. But, I have not tried it myself... __________________ 1971 Chevy C10 Shortbed Stepside, 307v8 3-on-the-tree

06-23-2005, 01:05 AM	#3
Already Gone 70+ ( Old Skool Club ) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,Canada Posts: 9,144	Never Heard That !! I've driven the truck a little more since this morning and it works great. When I ordered the bushings and brackets from ECE I told them I was going to be lowering my truck and it could be a year or two before I did it and they didnt mention anything about the bar not fitting properly at stock height and with good reputation the staff at ECE has I'm sure they would have mentioned me if they thought there would be a problem. __________________ 1972 C10 Custom/Deluxe 613 Highlander 406/700R4 1999 White Tahoe LS 4x2 with Z56 Police Package 1992 K1500 GMC Suburban Members I have personally met: MusicMan70 - HeavyD - ChewyChevy67 - StingRay -71SWB4x4 - 67 Burb - DeadheadNM - too much stuff - bc65 - das601 " Circumsatances Do Not Change Responsibility " " The Sky is not the Limit, Your Mind is." Marilyn Monroe .. RIP Charlie Watts 1941 - 2021

06-23-2005, 05:05 AM	#5
lngbed71 Nothing fits but the oil Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gaston, Indiana Posts: 424	I bought the lowed truck brackets, mine is lowered about 4". I thought I would need them, as it turns out, I didn't. Everything lined up just right using the non-lowered brackets, and man what a difference in the ride too!! __________________ Land of the free Because of the brave

06-23-2005, 06:32 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	They mostly help with clearance. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

06-23-2005, 12:12 PM	#7
farside847 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 995	I love my sway bar, esp on the freeway! __________________ 1971 Chevy C10 Shortbed Stepside, 307v8 3-on-the-tree

07-07-2005, 11:10 AM	#8
Already Gone 70+ ( Old Skool Club ) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,Canada Posts: 9,144	Still Wowed !! After daily driving the truck with the sway bar on for a few weeks now and getting the feel of it I have to say for the low cost involved this is one of the best suspension changes you can do to your truck. I can do cloverleaf access ramps at 30/35 MPH wth harrley any lean and other than the sway bar and the 235/70R15 rubber the truck is stock. The truck also rides better and feels more stable on the street going over bumps and lane changing etc. Now the question I am asking myself is ,do I need a rear sway bar ? The staff at ECE say you do not, especially on a lowered truck which is in the plan for mine and they do not even sell one. I am looking for feedback from anyone that has installed a rear sway on a 67/72. __________________ 1972 C10 Custom/Deluxe 613 Highlander 406/700R4 1999 White Tahoe LS 4x2 with Z56 Police Package 1992 K1500 GMC Suburban Members I have personally met: MusicMan70 - HeavyD - ChewyChevy67 - StingRay -71SWB4x4 - 67 Burb - DeadheadNM - too much stuff - bc65 - das601 " Circumsatances Do Not Change Responsibility " " The Sky is not the Limit, Your Mind is." Marilyn Monroe .. RIP Charlie Watts 1941 - 2021

07-07-2005, 02:11 PM	#9
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,745	I like mine, made quite a difference. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=swaybar __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

07-07-2005, 04:45 PM	#10
Already Gone 70+ ( Old Skool Club ) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,Canada Posts: 9,144	Thanks Thanks NeonLarry for the link. I found my front bar on my first outing in search of one. Its a 1 1/4 bar from a 79 3/4 ton 9000lb camper special truck and i had it powdercoated and bought the install kit with the poly bushings from ECE. I guess i go hunting for an old Iroc and see what I can get drum up for a rear bar. Will I run into any diifficulty with the rear bar when I lower my truck. I am thinking of a 2 1/2 dropped spindle in front with maybe a 1" lowered coil and either a 4" or 5" rear spring drop and Super track bar from ECE. __________________ 1972 C10 Custom/Deluxe 613 Highlander 406/700R4 1999 White Tahoe LS 4x2 with Z56 Police Package 1992 K1500 GMC Suburban Members I have personally met: MusicMan70 - HeavyD - ChewyChevy67 - StingRay -71SWB4x4 - 67 Burb - DeadheadNM - too much stuff - bc65 - das601 " Circumsatances Do Not Change Responsibility " " The Sky is not the Limit, Your Mind is." Marilyn Monroe .. RIP Charlie Watts 1941 - 2021

07-07-2005, 08:48 PM	#11
Gary Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Harvest, AL Posts: 544	I lowered mine 4/2 and added sway bars and I am happy, I plan to eventually raise the rear just a smidge by adding bags sometime in the future. __________________ Gary Harris 85 Silverado - 87 Grand National 2007 Ardmore Car Show

07-07-2005, 10:51 PM	#12
1STtimePRo'71 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake Crystal, MN Posts: 656	What if you dont have power steering? Would a swaybar be good then? __________________ -Cory 1967 2 Wheel Chevy

07-08-2005, 07:49 AM	#13
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,745	I have a 2½\4 drop and no problems. __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI



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