When is the best time to install an antisway bar?

[Guest]

I second or third that.

 

[ichthos]

Darn, I just about have the front suspension together. What if I pulled the wishbones back off and had them reinforcedd professionally?
Kevin

 

[Billm]

It might be a lot easier(than reinforcing) to make some kind of bracket that spans from the front flange to the back to stop the bending loads on the front one. The bending is the enemy not "ripping" of the metal. It could be a really simple beam and would probably make it safe and effective.
BillM

 

[ichthos]

Does anyone have a picture of what the inside of the wishbone looks like so that I can see what the reinforcements look like? It looks like Apple no longer is a possibility. Unless someone has another source, I think that option is out.

Obviuosly Bill, your solution would be the most practicle for me at this point. I do not understand what you are describing to me totally. Are you saying to get a piece of steel and place it inside the pan? How long of a piece of metal am I looking at?

Another not so thrilling scenario is that I buy two more pans already meant for the antisway bar. New, I am looking at about $500. Are used wishbones a possiblilty? What would I need to watch out for?

Kevin

 

[Billm]

Least expensive/easiest would be to get some used pans from a '72 (???) or later Midget from when swaybars were stock (anyone know the year) that have no cracks. Craigslist or some other.
BillM

 

[SilentUnicorn]

Does anyone have a picture of what the inside of the wishbone looks like so that I can see what the reinforcements look like? It looks like Apple no longer is a possibility. Unless someone has another source, I think that option is out.

Obviuosly Bill, your solution would be the most practicle for me at this point. I do not understand what you are describing to me totally. Are you saying to get a piece of steel and place it inside the pan? How long of a piece of metal am I looking at?

Another not so thrilling scenario is that I buy two more pans already meant for the antisway bar. New, I am looking at about $500. Are used wishbones a possiblilty? What would I need to watch out for?

Kevin

Here is a picture of the bottom of a spare pan i have.
Perter C at https://www.nosimport.com/ (NFI) may have pans.

M

 

[SilentUnicorn]

and another

 

[ichthos]

Thanks for the pictures and information. I didn't realize the braceing attached it to the center. Now I understand why I was cautioned about using regualr wishbones. Unless there is a place that sells the bracing I can weld in place, I don't think I could do this myself. I guess I will have to start looking for a place that sells used. Kind of a bummer that this will delay my restoration process. I was hoping to be on the road this summer.
Kevin

 

[Dug]

Kevin,
To change up the thread a bit, don't worry with a sway bar at this point. Work on getting the car going and then in a season or two of driving it see if you think you need the sway bar.
Don't let this slow down the bigger picture.
Repeat after me, "sway bars are for sissies". Say it enough and you’ll put the sway bar on the shelf for now!

Dug

 

[ichthos]

I considered that, Dug. Let's say I do drive it and add the antisway bar in two years. What if anything would I would I need to replace besides the wishbones at that time? At with that plan I could atleast I could take my time to find two good wishbones and be on the road for a while.
Kevin

 

[jlaird]

Nothing else is required that is no in the Moss Catalog for cheep.

 

[Dug]

Kevin,
That would be all you would need "if" the small tapered pin that locks the fulcrum to king pin "play nice".

Kevin, you owe it to yourself to keep pressing on.

Dug

 

[Billm]

I COMPLETELY agree with Dug!
Get it going and improve it as you go-
BillM

 

[ichthos]

Thanks for all the advice and information everyone. I learned a whole lot more than I thought I would. I agree - I want to be driving this summer. Back to the garage.
Kevin

 

[Guest]

I COMPLETELY agree with Dug!
Get it going and improve it as you go-
BillM

yeah, really, what benifit is a bar on a car the doesn't run?!?!?!?!

..It'll have zero roll w/o one.

 

[ichthos]

It is not that I don't trust the advice on the forum, but I guess I am just a "show me" guy - I wanted to see if there was someone that had witnesssed any problems with an antiroll bar without the reinforcement. Don't get me wrong, there had to be reinforcements for a reason. Once I saw a picture of the support gussets, it made sense to me why one would not add an antiroll bar without the reinforcements. In any case, after the advice given on the forum, I decided to take a closer look at a second Bugeye I own. Someone had added an antiroll bar without the support gussets. The result? The a-arms were both clearly bent in behind the home made support plates.

Kevin