40+ year old torsion bars

[twodko]

Having just installed a disk brake conversion on my 69 last week I'm wondering about
those old bars. The front suspension on the car is in great shape with a new sway bar, bushings
etc.
Stock torsion bars are .92" diameter for a 440 car. What is the benefit of thicker bars?
New bars are cheap compared to a lot of things we replace on our cars, it's
just R&R labor.......or labour. 

I don't want a stiff ride but another inch in front end height would look
good on my car.

Bring it on guys.

[b5blue]

Got mine from Todd at Moparts, standard Mopar H.P.- R/T bars and springs. Set ride height per FSM and love it. Not too hard or soft ride.  (All stock Moog bushings.)

[HPP]

Torsion bars are springs and after 40 years, they will have given up some % of rate so they are even softer now than new. When new, our cars were undersprung about 10% of what a modern cars is, so a step up in spring rates will typically impart a more modern feel to most of our cars. However, application really should drive what change syou make to our car. If all you ever do is drive it like a granny to the show and shine and polish during the day, your current spring rates may be fine. If you like to drive it every chance you get, then you might benefit from modern alignment specs, bigger spring rates, and updated shocks.

[twodko]

My thoughts too. New KYB's so I know my shocks are good. The FSM has R/T torsion bars at .92"
and I'm thinking a move up to "performance" .96" bars might be the best choice for how I
drive the car. Car shows of course and at least a monthly weekend "scare the ricers" drive.

The front end doesn't necessarily looked "Foose'd" but it def needs a ride height tweak.
Summit Racing has .96" MOPAR Performance bars at $229.00.
Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Wish I thought if this sooner, last week's disk drake conversion
was a prime opportunity to have new bars installed.   

[c00nhunterjoe]

Firm feel's 1" bars if you plan on any "spirited" driving with a big block up front. 

[Back N Black]

My thoughts too. New KYB's so I know my shocks are good. The FSM has R/T torsion bars at .92"
and I'm thinking a move up to "performance" .96" bars might be the best choice for how I
drive the car. Car shows of course and at least a monthly weekend "scare the ricers" drive.

The front end doesn't necessarily looked "Foose'd" but it def needs a ride height tweak.
Summit Racing has .96" MOPAR Performance bars at $229.00.
Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Wish I thought if this sooner, last week's disk drake conversion
was a prime opportunity to have new bars installed.   

I have the .96 bars and happy with it.

[tan top]

  what the other guys say     

change them , 


  I put MP 1" bars in mine ,  don't see that size for sale now    or at least from Mopar

[Sublime/Sixpack]

twodko, If all you really want to do is raise the front end an inch why not just crank the existing bars up a bit. Maybe two rotations on each adjusting bolt.

[twodko]

Talking about cost effective! Sometimes the simplest solutions just do not occur to me!
Great idea, cheap and the most it'll cost me is an alignment. 

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Don't feel bad, we all overlook the obvious at one time or another.