Installing shocks and rear sway bar.

[Dino]

Sinec I was preaching 'plan before you start' in another thread maybe I should listen to my own advice.

Hence this post!  I have new shocks and a sway bar and would like to know exactly what to do before I start.

I have new front and rear Edelbrock IAS classic shocks and I have a rear sway bar.  3/4" I think, came with the car it's still new in the box.  Probably addco, looks like this but I think my bar is gold, not black.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ACO-919/?rtype=10

Anyway for the front I'm just jacking up the car, remove, replace, rinse and repeat.  I don't think there's anything special to be done but please correct me if I'm wrong.

But what about the rear?  Do I remove the shocks and install the bar first?  Do I replace the shock first then do the bar?  I intend to raise the car so the shocks are the same length as the new set so they're as loose as possible.  Is this the way to go?  I have one decent jack and 4 stands, do I need anything else?  Yes the fridge is filled with beer, I'm good there!

[MSRacing89]

I would just get the shocks on the car for now.  With what your build looks like, I do not see a need for a rear sway bar.  Are you running larger front Torsion bars, larger front bar, etc?  If you just throw a rear bar on without thinking about the reasons for doing this, it could actually make the car feel very uneasy and unbalanced.  

[Dino]

I would just get the shocks on the car for now.  With what your build looks like, I do not see a need for a rear sway bar.  Are you running larger front Torsion bars, larger front bar, etc?  If you just throw a rear bar on without thinking about the reasons for doing this, it could actually make the car feel very uneasy and unbalanced.  

I totally forgot to mention that didn't I?  Yes I have a front sway bar.  1 1/8" thick.
I don't know about the torsion bars, the whole thing came out of a 71 squad car so I'll have to find out what size they are.

[MSRacing89]

The heaviest production torsion bar for that era would have been .920".  So I still think, IMHO, that no rear bar is needed in your case.  I would focus energy elsewhere........I say the beer in the fridge!

I run 1.12 bars and all kinds of other suspension mods with a ¾" rear bar........sometimes I still unhook it at competitions depending on the track surface.

[Dino]

The heaviest production torsion bar for that era would have been .920".  So I still think, IMHO, that no rear bar is needed in your case.  I would focus energy elsewhere........I say the beer in the fridge!

I run 1.12 bars and all kinds of other suspension mods with a ¾" rear bar........sometimes I still unhook it at competitions depending on the track surface.

Energy focus shifted to beer!  Thanks for setting me straight.   

How's this sound for a plan:  I'll do all the shocks and see how she behaves.  If later on I do install the sway bar and it's too harsh I'll unbolt it and shelve it.

I probably should get new wheels and tires first as well because no matter what I do, these 14" bicycle tires are one hell of a botlleneck.

[MSRacing89]

Yeah, there are so many things you can do before you have to worry about a rear bar.  Tires, wheels, subframe connectors, tubular uppers, lightened motor, tuned/ balanced rear springs, adjustable shocks, bigger brakes, etc,etc.   Its more of a gimic unless you really plan on pushing the car.

These cars already create so much front roll that if you throw a rear bar at it, it can be down right scary unless you balance it out in other areas.  In a iron headed BB configuration, you are probably looking at around 56% front weight........not a likely candidate to introduce oversteer by installing a rear bar.  You will like those IAS's.  I ran them before we went to adjustable Ridetechs.

[Dino]

I have to admit, since I'm doing nothing but regular traffic driving I don't think I need beefier anything.  Shocks are old and worn so they have to go, tires look as they would fit better iunder a Fiat 500 and steering is a complete joke so those need to be fixed but with those mods done it may be just fine.

The fastest I go in this car is passing speeds on the highway, everything else is cruising somewhere between 30 and 60.

I'll do frame connectors when I restore it as I want to weld them along the floor boards and that'll be a bit more fun with the body flipped on a rotisserie.

Thanks for all the advice!