Are 1 inch torsion bars too stiff for the street?

[Blakcharger440]

I want to improve the handling of my 70 Charger RT to be more stiff like modern muscle cars like the stangs and camaros but I do not want it to be too stiff like a Indy car.
Are the 1 inch torsion bars too stiff for street driving. I am thinking modern muscle cars have fairly stiff spring rates.

I will have a 1 1/8 front swaybar with a 7/8 inch rear sway bar also.

[Brock Samson]

you should probably begin reading all the posts on the chassis and suspension forum...
good luck with that...

[bull]

I doubt it would matter too much. I think the regular B-body bars are .87 and the R/T bars are .92 so I seriously doubt another .08 would be that noticable. Are you talking about after market torsion bars?

[deputycrawford]

I am running .960 torsions in my 69 Charger with a 383. I also have the KYB shocks and the 1 1/8 inch front sway bar kit, Every bushing on the entire car is new (rubber). I can turn a corner and make my passenger hit his head the the side glass. I have not tried the 1 inch torsions but would not want too. The .960's do transfer more road feel through the steering wheel but the handling is worth it. I hope this helps.

[8WHEELER]

For street driving I would suggest .96 bars, 1in and larger bars most of the time are to stiff and you will
regret it. There were two guys that were on the old site that liked the 1in bars, but in general
they are to stiff for the street, I run .96 bars as well, I loved the ride and it handles great.
Dan

[bull]

Is it .96 on the R/Ts then and .87 on the standard cars?

[8WHEELER]

The stock 440HP and Hemi bars are .92, I have to admit I don't know off hand what the 383 or 318 cars had
probably in the book, but its out in the garage 

Dan

[Mike DC]

       
Torsion bar rates for 2nd-gen B-bodies:
(This might be the same for 1st & 3rd gens, but I'm not sure.)

---------------------------------------------------

stock B-body (and possibly V6 Chargers?) =  .88"

stock V8 Chargers, 318 & both kinds of 383s =  .90"

Charger R/T 440s & 426 Hemis =  .92"

       

[bull]

V6?

[8WHEELER]

\6   

[Nacho-RT74]

on 73/74 only there is one T bars size stock... what could it be ?

[74ChargerSE]

For '74 there were three (3) sizes

6 cyl.     .90
V8        .92
Police     .94

The last one was probably and option for the Coronet B bodys, but will fit if you find one it will fit

'73 and '74 used 43.6" bars, which is why we can never find them 

[Nacho-RT74]

I'm talking about V8 B bodies only...there is not difference between BB ans SB T bars... not even /6 as stated on 74 Mopar parts catalog

Oh ok, so mine is .92... it looks to be nice then.

on my 74 catalog doesn't say anything about police cars just STANDART and HEAVY DUTY, but both says same PN

[74ChargerSE]

I'm not sure of the part numbers.  I guess Heavy Duty = police.

I am getting the dimensions from the Chassis Service manual.

Hope that helps,

[Blakcharger440]

Yeah Bull, I was referring to aftermarket torsion bars. It doesnt seem that the step up from .96 to 1.00 would be all that dramatic. I will probably try the 1.00 bars and if I dont like em I can always swap em out! 

[Chryco Psycho]

using Physics formulas very little increase in OD can dramaticaly increase stiffness , a customer bopught a set of the 1.22 bars & they did not deflect at all / only the tire sidewall had any give , the control arms might as well have been welded in place , having said that 1" should be fine on the street Ralley Mike uses over a 1" bar & finds it too soft at 140 MPH

[javakmcharger68]

When installing the torsion bars. The left & right bar are put on from which piont of view. Drivers seat or looking at the car from the front? Thanks

[Nacho-RT74]

All right and left sides location on a car are from drivers point of view

no matter which end to front or rear... but both are labeled as R or L or maybe the last three digits of PN, where odd numbers are right side and even numbers are left side...

for example 888 right side, and 889 is left side.

but normally, end labeled is installed to front side.

just talking about a probably next question

[BORDERBUM]

I have the 1.112 on a 69 Charger with 440/727 combo.  Ill tell you that cornering has improved so much that I might not need my seatbelt!!  The car came factory with a 383, so after the 440 went in cornering went out the window, as I almost did as well!    I love the big bars, but let me get a few more miles on them before I preach them.