Beefer B-body torsion bars with a 426 Hemi

[hemi68charger]

Hello All,

As some have been following, I'm in the process of gathering parts and components for the installaion of my newly acquired 426 Hemi into my Daytona. I was thinking of replacing the original, and possibly fatiqued OEM torsion bars, with the MP .96 over the OEM .92...

Any experiences out there with this? I would assume the bigger bars will give me a stiffer ride up front and handle the increase weight of the motor. I will be getting the 2 1/8 TTI headers instead of the 2 1/4 versions, so I should have a little bit more clearance. With the headers, there's all the interaction between header tubes, torsion bars, starter, power steering gearbox, tranny lines, etc...

[Ghoste]

It can't hurt and I don't think it'll be an issue as far as header fitment.  

[Mike DC]

 If you want a really noticeable difference in the stiffness then it will take a little more than the 0.96" bars.  I like the 0.96" ones but they don't feel a whole lot stiffer than stock.  The upside is they ride over bumps almost as smoothly as the stockers too.   

[HPP]

Most guys pursuing handling in these old boats are using 1.12 to 1.22 bars with big blocks.  As a simple cruiser, you may want to consider 1.0 as a minimum starting point, especially with the elephant on the nose. I'd also recommend a step up to the Bilstein shocks to accompany them as the additional rate of the 1+ bars requires additional control and the valving of the Bilsteins is such that they not only improve the performance of the suspension as a system but they also improve the ride quality in spite of the big step up in rate.

[Back N Black]

I have the .96 torsion bars with 1 7/8 TTI headers and they are very close to the torsion bars and hit some times when i put it in gear.

[Ghoste]

Really?  I would not have guessed that.

[hemi68charger]

I have the .96 torsion bars with 1 7/8 TTI headers and they are very close to the torsion bars and hit some times when i put it in gear.

That's why I planned on getting the .96's with the 2 1/8 TTI headers...... Hopefully, I won't have contact problems.......... Thanks for the input, it is what I'm looking for...

Cheers, 

[Mike DC]

   
If several hundredths of an inch makes a difference in clearance with the exhaust then you've got a clearance problem, period.  It shouldn't be that close no matter what size bars & pipes you are running. 

   

[hemi68charger]

   
If several hundredths of an inch makes a difference in clearance with the exhaust then you've got a clearance problem, period.  It shouldn't be that close no matter what size bars & pipes you are running. 

   

That's the part I don't know, hence the post...... I would rather err on the side of too much space than too little... Don't want to spend A LOT of money only to find out something's wrong......

[1974dodgecharger]

I have the .96 torsion bars with 1 7/8 TTI headers and they are very close to the torsion bars and hit some times when i put it in gear.

auto or manual?

I have hotchkis 1.1 and they do not hit anything...mine is manual.

[myk]

I have the .96 torsion bars with 1 7/8 TTI headers and they are very close to the torsion bars and hit some times when i put it in gear.

Ugh seriously?  What size bars did the 383 cars run?

[JB400]

I have the .96 torsion bars with 1 7/8 TTI headers and they are very close to the torsion bars and hit some times when i put it in gear.

Ugh seriously?  What size bars did the 383 cars run?

.88

[myk]

Great.  Another variable to consider in my header-or-not debate.  I would agree that the .96 bar probably doesn't do much more than the .88; it's 1" or more, or nothing.  What's the downside of running a bar that's too thick?

[HPP]

.96 don't feel bad for a small block car. With the Hemi, I think it will feel undersprung, but I'm used to a lot more spring rate under cars than most.

Yes, headers and T-bars sometimes have a close relationship. However, mushy motor mounts, hammered mounts, or even a slight variation in the exact location they are tightened into can influence this relationship. 

A bar that's too thick without adequate shock control will ride like a truck.

[green69rt]

TBs are pretty quick to change out, just try the ones you have and see what happens??  Then move up.  Search this forum for opinions.  Personally I think once you get > 1.0 you get to a noticeably stiffer ride.

[myk]

.96 don't feel bad for a small block car. With the Hemi, I think it will feel undersprung, but I'm used to a lot more spring rate under cars than most.

Yes, headers and T-bars sometimes have a close relationship. However, mushy motor mounts, hammered mounts, or even a slight variation in the exact location they are tightened into can influence this relationship. 

A bar that's too thick without adequate shock control will ride like a truck.

So, the appropriate shock should be purchased with the thicker bars.  What shock for what sized bar?  I'm running a 440 btw...

[1974dodgecharger]

hotchkis shock with hotchkis bars 

.96 don't feel bad for a small block car. With the Hemi, I think it will feel undersprung, but I'm used to a lot more spring rate under cars than most.

Yes, headers and T-bars sometimes have a close relationship. However, mushy motor mounts, hammered mounts, or even a slight variation in the exact location they are tightened into can influence this relationship. 

A bar that's too thick without adequate shock control will ride like a truck.

So, the appropriate shock should be purchased with the thicker bars.  What shock for what sized bar?  I'm running a 440 btw...

[Back N Black]

I have the .96 torsion bars with 1 7/8 TTI headers and they are very close to the torsion bars and hit some times when i put it in gear.

auto or manual?

I have hotchkis 1.1 and they do not hit anything...mine is manual.

Auto transmission, what header on you car?

[Mike DC]

 
0.88" was the standard B-body size, but the standard V8 Charger size in the 1960s was 0.90".  R/Ts got 0.92".


IMHO the 0.96" bars are basically a good streetable stock-replacement type of bar for a 440 or Hemi car.  Pretty much everyone agrees that the stock T-bars on these cars were on the soft side originally, even aside from trying to build a cornering machine.  (And the heavy rear leaf setups on the RTs were too stiff in comparison.)   

[1974dodgecharger]

I have the .96 torsion bars with 1 7/8 TTI headers and they are very close to the torsion bars and hit some times when i put it in gear.

auto or manual?

I have hotchkis 1.1 and they do not hit anything...mine is manual.

The nasty hookers lol....with 3inch pipeing back collector
Auto transmission, what header on you car?

[Cooter]

The .960 bars in an E body were a noticeable difference with 440 & 4 speed.

[hemi68charger]

The .960 bars in an E body were a noticeable difference with 440 & 4 speed.

Those have been ordered and waiting at the dealership for me to pick up...     Thanks for your reply......