Torsion Bar Options

[dodgedart360]

My '68 Valiant was a cylinder, now that I'm putting in a 360 what are my options in sizes for torsion bars? Would a Dodge Phoenix, ('68 Plymouth Fury) bars fit, they had both 318 & 383 motors here in Australia? Would they be the same length? A friend has a Dodge Phoenix and his bars look much thicker.

Hoping that somebody knows, thanks

[rumblefish360]

In the states, the Phoenix was a model discontinued early. I know there a variant in a line, but they are a earlier run car.
I'm not even sure of the platform they ran on.

In the States, a Fury was a B body. (They might have also made it to the C body platform. I don't know about that, but they did get reallly big!)

An "A" will not swap wiith a "B" on the bars.

You can purchase new bars from MoPar. I do realize this as something you may not want to do given the reason of cost added on to them for sending these bars down under.

[peg leg]

Log on to justsuspension.com or p.s.t.com and you may find what you need. Both good companies to deal with.

Ron

[jelsr]

The models are not the same down under but the A Body units are 36" long and the B Body units are 41" long. Keep in mind the shorter A Body units will be stiffer for a given diameter.

[dave571]

Depending on your goals, you could leave the slant bars in.

I'm not sure about earlier A bodies, but in later ones, the slant's and v-8 had the same bars.

Even if they are a little lighter, it will improve weight transfer/improve traction to use the lighter bars.

Generally, slant 6 bars are considered the lightest bars you can run on the street (mp drag race bars are lighter still)

I run a set of slant 6 bars in my 64 dodge 330(with a 440), and find it handles fine (for 64 B body...LOL)

[a440plus6®]

Originally Posted by dave571

Depending on your goals, you could leave the slant bars in.

I'm not sure about earlier A bodies, but in later ones, the slant's and v-8 had the same bars.

I run a set of slant 6 bars in my 64 dodge 330(with a 440), and find it handles fine (for 64 B body...LOL)

They are diff in earlier cars.
Drag racers use the 6 cyl. bars for a certain reason but I can't remember why.

[George G. Leverette]

If this is a A-body car, this is the way they were equipped in the USA.
Slant 6 Dia .83" Spring rate 92#
2bbl V-8 Dia .85" spring rate 101#
4bbl V-8 Dia .87" spring rate 110# (P5249149)
383 V-8 Dia .89 spring rate 120# (P5249150)
The P listed are available through the dealers at approximately half the price from other vendors. As a reference on my 74 A-body I run .92" diameter torsion bars. The bars give me the ride and handling I prefer. Remember the references were for the cars as sold 40 years ago, with the advent of gas shocks, radial ply tires and frame connectors increased spring rates are applicable for todays driving.

[dave571]

Originally Posted by a440plus6®

Drag racers use the 6 cyl. bars for a certain reason but I can't remember why.

As I stated, it improves weight transfer.

Lighter springs can react faster.
Hop up in the back of a 1 ton truck. Jump up and down. It's a lot like jumping on something solid, there is virtually no give.
Try the same in the trunk of small car. It's up and down all over the place.

Slant bars are considered by most to be the lightest you can run on the street. If the car is race only, you can go to the lighter drag racing bars

[DartGT66]

The joint between weight tranfer and spring rate is very easy to understand. If it takes 120 lbs with the heaviest springs to press the nose of the car down one inch, and 92 lbs with the softest, the same thing works the other way too. With the softer springs you need 92 lbs upwards force to raise the front 1", while heavier springs require more. So with a softer spring, your cars front end raises up easier than with heavy springs