Mustang II front sway bar (anti roll bar)

WZ JUNK · November 13, 2016, 08:46:05 PM

The stock sway bar on my Mustang II front suspension is causing some problems. The factory shape has a bend a loop and a return bend in the center section that is now turned more downward than it was on the original car. I need a replacement that does not have this loop in the middle. It must be nearly identical in all the other dimensions, such as length, diameter, and shape but it needs to be straight in the center between the frame rails. I would appreciate some information on what other sway bar would replace this one.

John

enjenjo · November 13, 2016, 10:35:19 PM

S10. You have to heat the bends to adjust the angle a bit, but it's less than 1" per side. I have used them on several cars with a Mustang II front suspension, and they work good.

WZ JUNK · November 14, 2016, 07:37:28 AM

Quote from: "enjenjo"S10. You have to heat the bends to adjust the angle a bit, but it's less than 1" per side. I have used them on several cars with a Mustang II front suspension, and they work good.

I will pick one up at the salvage yard this week.

How is the best way to heat and bend it , without damaging the temper of the anti roll bar?

John

416Ford · November 14, 2016, 08:02:24 AM

John,
If it helps I have one of these two sitting on the self in my garage doing nothing.
SB-4148PM Front Sway Bar for 1941-1948 Ford (Pinto Mustang IFS)
SB-4148WP Front Sway Bar for 1941-1948 Ford (Wide Pinto Mustang IFS)

enjenjo · November 14, 2016, 11:09:41 AM

I just use a cutting torch. Just heat it to a nice red and let it air cool.

Charlie Chops 1940 · November 14, 2016, 09:08:15 PM

I used an F -body 1-1/4" front bar with a bit of reshaping on the old convert. Don't be afraid to cut and weld out on the ends.

Beck · November 15, 2016, 12:52:15 PM

John, I had a new chrome one somewhere from a 32 ford IFS kit somewhere. I stuck it away somewhere. I didn't install it when I built the car. I wonder if it was pitched in a garage cleanup? If your interested I will look for it. If I still have it, it's yours if you want it.

WZ JUNK · November 15, 2016, 05:28:31 PM

Quote from: "Beck"John, I had a new chrome one somewhere from a 32 ford IFS kit somewhere. I stuck it away somewhere. I didn't install it when I built the car. I wonder if it was pitched in a garage cleanup? If your interested I will look for it. If I still have it, it's yours if you want it.

Thanks to everyone. I picked up an S 10 at the salvage this afternoon. I plan to make it fit in the morning. I will update the post when I have it working.

John

WZ JUNK · November 16, 2016, 05:58:54 PM

It took longer to figure out how to make a jig to get the bends right than it took to do the bending. I have the new bar back on the car and I believe it will work. I will finish up the job in the morning. It is a tight fit around the rack and pinion, and other objects. It took a little trimming with the blue flame wrench to get all the clearance right. Some grinding will make it all look nice again. I had the wife do fire watch duty. I have a history of setting myself and other things on fire.

You can see in the picture with the bar on the jig that I have bent one end and I am preparing to bend the second. I let the first one cool, so that the bend would be stable, before I bent the second end.

John