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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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Fabbed up some front sway bar mounts(PIC'S)
I spent the last few days fabbing up some front sway bar mounts for my 71 Blazer.
As some know our 4x4 Blazers and 4x4 trucks did not come with a front sway bar. A front sway bar from a late 70's-80's Blazer can be used.Just find the doner truck and take the bar,mounting bushings and the spring plates(they are a direct bolt on.) Here's the spring plates ![]() After making some templates out of cardboard I started fabbing up the mounts. I used 2x4 box tube .120 wall thickness.I also used 1/4" flat stock in places as well. ![]() After the initial cuts I marked where the sway bar would bolt to the mount. I then welded in two nuts on the inside of the boxed tube. ![]() After a little more cuttiing and rough fitting of the pieces,I tack welded the pieces together and made a final test fit. ![]() Once I was satisfied with the fit I welded up all the seams and ground my welds smooth. ![]() ![]() ![]() I repeated the process for the other mount. After these pic's were taken I ended up welding nuts to the mounts and painted the mounts black. Here's how it all turned out. In these pic's I didn't have the mounts permanently fastened yet.But they ARE in their final position. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Here's the beefy sway bar. ![]() ![]() ALL the pic's I took while making these mounts can be seen HERE I'll give Steve Chin credit as I based my mounts on his basic design.I just modified the design slightly and beefed them up a little. I welcome any comments,questions or critiques.
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE Last edited by BobbyK; 02-08-2005 at 10:34 PM. |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pampa, Texas
Posts: 1,554
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so i am guessing the mount for the sway bar is different on the 4x4's compared to the 2 wheel drives?
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/29620574751...mis&media=COPY |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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In the second to last pic you can see the bolt that is used to fasten the end of the sway bar to the threaded spring plate.
Ya it's different from the 2wd sway bar.
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE |
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#4 |
Young Gun wth Fast Inline
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,475
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The biggest part is, did it make a difference in the way it handles? was it worth it?
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1967 Chevrolet LWB with built 292! 415 ft. lbs of torque, 4 speed :O with 27% overdrive too, 3.73 Posi. Frame and body done... getting painted!!! |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Calgary, Alberta,Canada
Posts: 1,595
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Alot of things we do to our trucks aren't really worth it but that doesn't stop us!!
By the way..................nice workmanship on the mounts.
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I know what your thinking.......I have ESPN. ![]() Sometimes it's easier to do things the hard way. ![]() Fesler Built 1968 Chevy C10....Must resist the urge to mess with it!! ![]() ![]() |
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#6 |
huh?
![]() Join Date: May 2000
Location: Washington, Illinois
Posts: 5,692
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Awesome work Bobby, every post you make could go into the FAQ section
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Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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I haven't got it back in the truck yet.
The paint is still drying on the fabbed mounts and I'm cleaning up the sway bar still. I'll update with pic's.
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: "Under Montana skies."
Posts: 1,836
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Fantastic work. Simple, yet elegant, design.
![]() Any intention of welding in brackets to accept ORD's quick release set up that fits 73up frames?
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'71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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No,hadn't thought of it actually.
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: "Under Montana skies."
Posts: 1,836
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ORD's QR set-up is more of an off-road, rockcrawler articulation thing. Probably not needed if you won't be running on rough trails with lift springs. Thanks again for the pics. I want to copy your design one day.
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'71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: N.E. MO
Posts: 1,749
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Nice work! If I hadn't already put one on mine I'd probably be copying your design too!
I have quick release brackets that I made on mine. I'll post some pics later to go with your brackets!
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72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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I reinstalled the sway bar yesterday and took a drive.
It REALLY tightend up the handleing.It feels like you get "pulled" through corners now I also cleaned up the sway bar.Took about 6 hrs of sanding and polishing but I now have "blingin" front sway bar. I clearc oated it and reinstalled the urethane bushings.Turned out o.k. Here it is before ![]() And here it is after. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE |
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#13 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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Thanks, I am going to get this copied to FAQ if ya don't mind.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. ![]() We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck" |
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#14 |
F.A.S.T. president
![]() Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,883
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very nice work !!!!!!!!!
I couldnt help but notice your grinding wheel is on backwards in picture #4......or am I crazy?
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F.A.S.T. President and Founder Fabricators for the Advancement of Sawsall Technology "A fear of the Sawsall is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." ~Sigmund Freud, "General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi.
Posts: 1,771
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I didn't realize those cutting disc's were directional.Or are you looking at the part that screws on and holds the disc on?
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71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: "Under Montana skies."
Posts: 1,836
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Wow, Bobbyk, I'd have never thought a cast iron sway bar could polish up so well! I'm curious as to how well and long you think the clear coat will protect the finish.
I thought I'd post some potential upgrades. As much because I'm printing & bookmarking this thread, so these will be a reminder for me, too: ![]() ORD upgraded bushings They claim their bushings will deflect less than stock & maybe other poly bushings. I believe them. I have their greasable shackles. They came with much-too-hard black poly bushings. I prefer Energy Suspension's graphite-impregnated bushings. Energy Suspension Greaseable Swaybar Frame Bushings Greaseable helps with the squeaks. Get them with the graphite-impregnated bushings for even less squeak potential. Should work with 2wd swaybars, too. Or, if you already have both brackets/poly bushings and Bobbyk's fab skills, just drill and tap your brackets for a zerk fitting. ![]() ES Swaybar Endlink Bushings Again, go graphite. ORD's Swaybar Disconnect kit, 73-87(91) The QR retention bracket and relocated bushing brackets don't fit 67-72s without some welding or drilling and, of course, brackets to match both the 67-72 & ORD's kit. IIRC, ORD has some info on adapting their kit to 67-72s. I expect one could start with ORD's disconnect set-up in hand and fab brackets with it in mind. In any case, the swinging links should fit the 73-87 u-bolt spring plate that bobbyk used. So that part of the kit would be usefull for lifted 67-72s that don't have the right swaybar geometry to use solid mounts to the u-bolt plate like Bobbyk used. Adds some flexibility to a swaybar set up. Prevents a too-rigid set up from tweaking on the plates or frame. HTH
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'71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. Last edited by 4x4Poet; 02-11-2005 at 05:37 AM. |
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#17 | |
F.A.S.T. president
![]() Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,883
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Quote:
Since I didnt see the dish of the normal grinding wheel, I may have thought you put it on backwards for a specific reason. I can believe how nice you polished that sway bar. It looks almost like stainless.
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F.A.S.T. President and Founder Fabricators for the Advancement of Sawsall Technology "A fear of the Sawsall is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." ~Sigmund Freud, "General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: N.E. MO
Posts: 1,749
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Couple pics of my sway bar disconnects.
![]() ![]() ![]() Mine's just a tad dirtier than Bobby's! ![]() BTW, Swaybars are spring steel, poet. ![]()
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72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey |
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#19 |
"Trucks with Class"
![]() Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA
Posts: 8,132
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Nice welds, nice work...but, you have got too much time on your hands, polishing swaybars
![]() How fast can you make them now? And how much a pair? ![]() |
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