Torsion bars

[wedgerulesstreet]

Hey,i am thinking about using p5249154, torsion bars which are for 1/4 or 1/2 mile circle track racing. Can i use these for regular driving around town? They are much cheaper than most other torsion bar sets. I have a 67 dodge dart with a 400 in it.Is it ok to use these bars , what do u guys think ?

[moparrr07]

you CAN use them for the street but its highly unrecommended, these bars are very stiff, basically eliminating any suspention movement, with a bb i would use a 1.04 at the very most, that will give you nothing but street driving or handling, no weight transfer to the rear

[wedgerulesstreet]

Thanks for the info. Are the bars you suggest available thru Dodge dealer still? It seems junk yards are in short supply on any Dart parts for big blocks. I see you are doing the 400 conversion. Nice. Aluminum haeds will keep the weight down. Also cash in the wallet!

[karfixer]

Check out www.firmfeel.com they have tooled up for their own t-bars, and still carry some of the MP bars. HTH, Steve

[moparrr07]

i would also strongly advise not buying used torsion bars, because not only are they much softer than they were from the factory but they are also alot more inconsistent,

[375InStroke]

How does a torsion bar get softer over time?  Doesn't steel get harder when it is flexed?

[Jim_Lusk]

Spring steel gets weaker. I have bought used bars with good results, but the price better be right. You won't find them (heavy duty torsion bars) in a wrecking yard, though. Alan has the 1.14" bars in his Barracuda (383/4sp) and for the short time he drove it he liked them.

[wedgerulesstreet]

I got a set of bars but no luck getting the old ones out. I feel like taking a torch to them! Only problem is if I cannot get these out, will I get new ones in? Am I overlooking something? I have tried the lock plyers and ball peen hammer. No luck!

[Jim_Lusk]

Have you loosened the adjuster bolt completely and removed the retaining clip at the rear of the bar? If so, then a lifetime of corrosion has them stuck. If you are going to scrap them, cut them.

[*DB*]

You can also try removing the lower control arm pivot nut & forward control arm nut at the K-frame, then prying the lower control arm back, pushing the T-bar out. That's how I usually do it, & only one time did I come across a bar that wouldn't come out (& a saws-all fixed that), when parting out about 20 cars some 20 years ago.

[moparrr07]

we just put two sets of the biggest vice grips we could get on their, next to each other and got a 5 lb sledge, if that wont take it out, torch it, make sure you take the adjuster bolt out like everyone else has said

[GON_RACIN]

You can also try removing the lower control arm pivot nut & forward control arm nut at the K-frame, then prying the lower control arm back, pushing the T-bar out.

   Thats how I did my last set that didnt want to budge.

[wedgerulesstreet]

HEY THANKS EVERYONE. I WILL CUT THEM AS I DID LOOSEN AND NO JOY. LOOSENING ARM ALSO GOOD IDEA HOWEVER EVERYTHING IS SO OLD I AM AFRAID I WILL DESTROY HALF OF IT TAKING IT APART. THEN I WILL BE LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS TILL I AM REALLY OLD AND COMPLETELY DECREPID. I NOW APRECIATE ANY MACHINE THAT HAS BEEN FULLY WORKED TO NEW CONDITION!