1974 Fullsize Sway Bar Project

[J.J.]

A few months ago there was a thread here about finding a junkyard sway bar option. I had posted my attempt from a Wagoneer, which I do admit was half-baked at the time. In trying to re-orient the bar, it would not clear the drag link. Too bad as it was nearly a bolt on. Back to the drawing board and the local Pull A Part.

May I present my newest modification:

After taking the measurements, I found that it was 31 1/2 inches from center to center on my 1974 100. The search was on at the Pull A Part here in Nashville. After crawling and measuring many different options, I settled on a sway bar from a 1973 Blazer 4x4. It measured 31 inches from center to center, and I felt like that was probably close enough to make it work. $15 later and it was mine. The GM drag link setup is nearly identical to the IH as they both have the "push-pull" steering method. The end bars of the link bolt to the U-bolt plate.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1854.jpg

The drivers side of the link bolts to the inside of the spring pack

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1865.jpg

on the passenger side to the outside.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1864.jpg

It measured 28 inches from outside of the frame to outside of the frame. Since there isnt a stock crossmember under the motor at that point, and the stock GM one was not going to be used, I fabbed one up

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1851.jpg

IH had also done me the favor of having stock holes in the frame where the new crossmember could attach to

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1859.jpg

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1860.jpg

Since this truck has been lifted, a purchase of sway bar drop down brackets was purchased from Rough Country, along with new bushings from Moog

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1855.jpg

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1873.jpg

Some sweat, bolts, black paint, and a few hours later

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/103morningview/IMG_1869.jpg

We put about 60 miles on it since yesterday, at all speeds and conditions, and it works like a charm! Also to note, the u-bolt brackets had the Dana logo on them. So in short:

$15 1973 Blazer sway bar and brackets

$20 Moog bushings

$35 Sway Bar drop down bracket

$0 assorted scrap steel and bolts

= very cost effective workaround to a problem.

JJ in TN

[Mitch Neal]

Very nice JJ! Not a direct bolt in, but as close as it gets!:punk: Thanks for following up on this subject!

[trbixler]

Very nice swaybar, why didn't you post a week or two earlier and I would have used your solution. Again very nice, good writeup and photos.

[J.J.]

Thank you gentlemen. I hope that somebody can make it work for their project.

trbixler, what did you use?

JJ in TN

[Jeff Bade]

Make it work?

You mean you aren't going to sell me a kit?

[J.J.]

You mean you aren't going to sell me a kit?

I'll sell you a kit. Make that check out to.....:stuart:



JJ in TN

[trbixler]

JJ
ADDCO kit.

see the Dinosaur

http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102671

[Surf Caster]

very nice, learning about this stuff is pretty cool

[46binder]

Nice job! :punk: When I get around to do my axle swap on my T-All, I will do this, since I got the sway bar with my axles.

[VooDoo]

Very well played JJ! I pulled one of those with my 78 Heavy Duty D44 disc brake front axle and used the U-bolt caps pictured just in case I want to install it down the road. Nice to see that someone has already been there and done that. ;)