Rear sway bar mounting

[ERASER5]

I am finally getting around to installing the rear sway bar I bought last year. I believe I have all the original parts and I will locate replacement bushings and U-bolts. My issue is that I have never seen a factory 67-72 rear sway bar mounted. The bar-to-diff mount is easy to see. The frame mount is the part I am not positive about.

Here are some pictures.

Sorry for the kink in your neck, I was trying to orient the sway bar.


The frame mount parts.


Close up of the frame connection.


So, the Z part is easy. Is the frame supposed to be sandwiched in between the other two pieces? Is the short L supposed to be inside the frame or under it? Why is it L shaped? I could just slap it in there, but I prefer it to be like factory. This baby will be controlling a lot of swaying weight from time to time.

Since I took the pictures, I have the right side parts and the sway bar painted (hammered silver just like the front sway bar). The left side parts will get done today or tomorrow just to keep parts in order. Left and right will swap, but I could get them backwards if I don't keep track. And that would lead to more scratched paint. Yea, it is a work truck, but it need to be clean at least for a little while!

[N2TRUX]

WOW! I didn't know they actually offered a rear sway bar from the factory for trucks. I knew Burbs and thought Blazers too, but didn't know trucks.

I have no idea, but have you tried putting the bottom L shaped piece under the from with the L facing up on the outside of the rail. It seems that would help prevent it from moving side to side by hugging the curve of the frame rail.

[cdowns]

i dont think that is factory GM but aftermarket HELWIG

it attaches to the rearend housing and those links with the metal pieces clamps onto frame foward of the rea of the coil rear suspension

i've run a couple of those for many milles over the years and they have worked real nice

you might google helwig and maybe can get instructions online

[ERASER5]

Helwig? Could be. I bought it from a parted out truck here on the forum, but sure, it could be after market. There are no identifier marks.

Coil? I may be in for some fabbing. I have leaves.

Oh well. I'll PM t korinek and see if maybe, just maybe he remembers removing the bar.

Thanks for the info. I'll post pics of the finished install.

[ERASER5]

I have an e-mail in to Hellwig. They do not have any pictures of actual parts with the model numbers. They have one picture to cover 52 models. I guess they are not picture whores like us.

My frame mounts look similar to the ones on Chevy Dude's '71 Lil Red. The "L" goes inside frame 90 degrees to the frame, the short flat under the frame, again,90 degrees to the frame, along with the "Z" turned to meet the end link. They just do a pinch clamp. I guess that has been working for years.

Bruce 88 converted his Hellwig clamp on sway bar to a bolt on.

So, I need to finish painting and get some bushings. The link bushings are easy. Just a click away. The sway bar bushing is another story. Hopefully, Hellwig will know something.

Cdowns, if you can recall, were the metal brackets on your rear sway bars freakishly thick? My bracket parts are 1/4" thick. As is the bushing cover. My front bushing straps are like sheet metal. These are like structural steel.

Thanks.