suggested next modification....
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 0
From: yes
suggested next modification....
a front helwigg sway bar, I just put a 1 1/8" sway bar on the front of my truck feels a LOT better one of the best $125 I've spent also it was for a 73+ but it bolted right up to my 68. I put a rear 1 1/8" on two nights ago and had to pull the shocks since they were too big in diamter for the bar so I'll have to see how it works with a smaller shock.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
suggested next modification....
I would love to have some on the front of my truck. Do you feel that they need to be installed both front and back? What is the line of thought on it?
I guess since the 65-79 are basically the same on the front, it's no wonder they fit easily.
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John
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quiet of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
I guess since the 65-79 are basically the same on the front, it's no wonder they fit easily.
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John
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quiet of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 0
From: yes
suggested next modification....
I'm not sure exactly what the reasoning is with them, but it seems like vehicles made for good cornering have them on front and back. I would kind of tend to thing with a big block in front that putting one on the front makes the most difference, and I really noticed the difference with the one on the front. the back I didn't notice TOO much, but it did feel different, I think that I never ran it with shocks (going in to hopefully get some that'll work today) made it not feel as good as the front install that let me keep the shocks it already had. I'm putting my digital camera on the charger right now and I'll try to take some pics of how it installs later this afternoon
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 0
From: yes
suggested next modification....
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 28-Oct-01 AT 03:27 AM (EST)[/font][p]ok have some pics, one is of the rear sway bar, the other two are for the front. P.S. I think the only real problem I had with the rear was that and the shock thing. you can see that I had to take the vent off remove the block that the vent tube used to clamp down so that the U-bolt for the sway bar mount could bolt on a straight part of the bar. But I also think this could be a Dana 60 specific problem since does the 9" use a vent tube in the same location?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx
suggested next modification....
FE427TP,
Thanks for the post man, I've really been looking into swaybars latley, after I went around some turns on the way to my cousins house. I've been looking at LMC's "no-name" swaybars for 67-72 and they are $175. JC-Whitney has "Helliwig" swaybars for 73-79 trucks for $134, this is the kind you got right? Now that I've read your post, I think I'm gonna go with the "Brand-name" cause you said it will fit.
Just wondering, The book says it is a complete bolt on without even having to drill on the 73-79 trucks. Did you have to drill or anything to get them on your 1968? Is your truck a F-100? cause mine is a 1967 F-100 and I know the frames are like identical.
P.S. I'm refering to the front swaybar only, I'm not worried about the rear, cause I've heard they don't do much.
Thanks in advance, Matt
Thanks for the post man, I've really been looking into swaybars latley, after I went around some turns on the way to my cousins house. I've been looking at LMC's "no-name" swaybars for 67-72 and they are $175. JC-Whitney has "Helliwig" swaybars for 73-79 trucks for $134, this is the kind you got right? Now that I've read your post, I think I'm gonna go with the "Brand-name" cause you said it will fit.
Just wondering, The book says it is a complete bolt on without even having to drill on the 73-79 trucks. Did you have to drill or anything to get them on your 1968? Is your truck a F-100? cause mine is a 1967 F-100 and I know the frames are like identical.
P.S. I'm refering to the front swaybar only, I'm not worried about the rear, cause I've heard they don't do much.
Thanks in advance, Matt
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 0
From: yes
suggested next modification....
Summit has the sway bars for $125 and I think like 6 bucks handling and free shipping. The closest thing I could say to a problem I had with installing the fronts was the poly bushings had to be pushed right up to the corner as close as I could get them for the bracket that bolts on the frame to go on. Also you need a floor jack to compress the bushing enough to get the plate on. it's kinda a hook thing, the first pic shows it, you jack it up then slide that metal plate under the hooks and bolt the plate to the frame, the pressure holds everything in place. but anyways I had to really jack up on it to get the metal plate in, I guess that just means a better fit. I think that after having done it once if I did it again and if I was using air tools instead of hand tools I could do it in about 30 minutes tops, it was a pretty easy install.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
suggested next modification....
John,
From what I understand, if you just do one sway bar, do the front. It makes more of an improvement, but it is also safer. If you only do the rear sway bar, you will increase understeer. If you only do the front, you will increase oversteer. (And oversteer is fun!) My truck is really pretty balanced right now, and I don't have any sway bars. The new rear springs really tightened up the back end -- especially with a trailer. I will probably add a front bar sometime in the future.
Matt
From what I understand, if you just do one sway bar, do the front. It makes more of an improvement, but it is also safer. If you only do the rear sway bar, you will increase understeer. If you only do the front, you will increase oversteer. (And oversteer is fun!) My truck is really pretty balanced right now, and I don't have any sway bars. The new rear springs really tightened up the back end -- especially with a trailer. I will probably add a front bar sometime in the future.
Matt
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
suggested next modification....
I used the Hellwigs front and back from JCW and had no problems at all putting them on. They work great on my 9" 1/2 ton.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: texarkana, tx
suggested next modification....
Hey Beartracks -
You think I need to put some of these on harrison - the Hellwig thig-a-muhbobs? I do a lot of low altitude cruising around lake Altoona and there are lots of hills and turns...the corvettes keep taking me down and passing me in the no-passing lanes...would the sway bars just bolt right on to my 74 custom 100? (remember, it USED to be a 6 cylnder....)...or should I get the 6" of slop out of the steering first?....
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
You think I need to put some of these on harrison - the Hellwig thig-a-muhbobs? I do a lot of low altitude cruising around lake Altoona and there are lots of hills and turns...the corvettes keep taking me down and passing me in the no-passing lanes...would the sway bars just bolt right on to my 74 custom 100? (remember, it USED to be a 6 cylnder....)...or should I get the 6" of slop out of the steering first?....
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
suggested next modification....
Sway bars reduce weight transfer from side to side. 90% of your weight transfer is in the front of the truck. Too large a sway bar will cause the vehicle to slide in corners. Sway bars can also allow e vehicle to squat in corners. Actually lowering the vehicle in a corner. Ford trucks have a tendency to lean over in a corner and sway bars are the answer for that problem. A rear sway bar is excessive for a long bed. Buy a sway bar for the front and good set of adjustable shocks for the rear and you'll have quite a dynamic setup. Ford trucks don't race that well, I hope anyone racing corvettes knows when to fold'em.
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher