sway bars and streight front axels ?

Thanks 40cpe for your comments. I don't want to go as far as transplanting a modern IFS... I kinda like the OG look of the f1 and wish to keep it close as I can to that. I could live with it as it is now but I think I want to try just a bit more before I give up......Still looking for tech and parts.....
 
The subject regarding sway/anti body roll bars, in what ever name you want to call them, is as I have stated, the most misunderstood, bantered around term in the old car/hot rod world..
I believe I have already stated that parallel springs and Fords early traverse mounted springs with the very short shackles, that Ford used up through 1941, pretty well eliminated the need for a sway bar.
A bar to limit/control body roll is a whole different ball game...
I recently had a first hand experience with the subject: I have a '39 convertible that is a highly modified car.. Fatman IFS, Posie rear springs and a late model powertrain.. I told everyone that worked on the car, that the object was to build a car that would safely cruise the left lane and 75 mph...
Upon the near completion of the car (are they ever done) I was disappointed with how the car drove, on curves the car seemed to be unstable, with a degree of "body roll/lean". I went to the fabricator that had installed the FatMan front clip.. In his estimation, everything was "spot on".. I took the car back to the front end shop, the alignment was correct.. I crawled under the car, looking for anything out of the ordinary.. The only thing I noted was that the front end did not have a torsion bar to control body roll.. I called Fatman, was told the car should have had a 1" bar.. I went back to the original fabricator, asking why the car did not have a bar to control body roll? He told me.. "It was his policy to always install a bar on the front" someone must of removed it!!! Ya sure..
I went to another "Hot Rod Shop", second opinion, the car needed a bar to limit body roll... This would stablize the body on turns, etc.
I called FatMan to order a roll stablizer bar for the front of my car.. The customer service guy told me they did not carry such an item, they had "sway bars".. I asked for a description of the bar they carry.. A one inch bar that attaches to the frame with flexible links to the control arms.. i.e. a bar to limit/control body roll... I purchased the "sway bar" it will be put on next week...
There was a very good article in Street Rodder Magazine several years ago about this very same subject...The article highlighted all the confusion that persists about what bar does what, and the confusion with their names..
 
Last edited:
Look in Chassis engineering catalog there is a sway bar kit listed for 39 Chevy SB-1036F contact them for info it may fit, Helwig may make some for trucks hauling campers, check Summit cat. also check the Speedway dirt track/racing catalogue These things will make the Ford handle real well!! Laurie
 
thank you Teich chassis engineering had the rear bar I also looked at the 39 chevy bar that is made for straight axels That may work also ..I'll measure and see Thank you sooo much ....John
 
Last edited:
OK, I now have the rear sway bar installed and can now report on its improvements
1.. Handling improved well over 50%.. It handles much better around sharp corners with very little rollover.
2.. the ride improved somewhat ..about 15%. It improved the most on uneven country back roads. also improved the handling at speeds above 55 mph.
3.. I added a traction bar to the under side of the rear springs to control wheel hop under acceleration and braking ..Big improvement... it eliminated the clutch chatter all together...
4.. I changed the bias tires to radials and improved the handling even more ..Now 100% over the stock setup. I installed 265/75/15 coopers on the rear and 225/75/15 coopers on the front, along with the t5 overdrive I now can run down the interstate at safe speeds to keep up with the faster moving traffic.
I can't begin to express how much the overall ride quality and control these changes have made to my f1.
I now have all the parts to do the front sway bar setup and will be installing that this coming week ...hear are some photos of the install
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1202.jpg
    IMG_1202.jpg
    75.7 KB · Views: 70
  • IMG_1203.jpg
    IMG_1203.jpg
    79.7 KB · Views: 69
  • IMG_1205.jpg
    IMG_1205.jpg
    57.6 KB · Views: 67
  • IMG_1210.jpg
    IMG_1210.jpg
    93.1 KB · Views: 68
  • IMG_1207.jpg
    IMG_1207.jpg
    67 KB · Views: 60
  • IMG_1214.jpg
    IMG_1214.jpg
    56.4 KB · Views: 59
I thought I would post some photos of the new ride height after all the mod
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1219.jpg
    IMG_1219.jpg
    118.7 KB · Views: 22
  • IMG_1218.jpg
    IMG_1218.jpg
    91.5 KB · Views: 21
That is a great looking truck. Congratulations on your persistence and not taking "No" for an answer.
 
Thanks 40cpe, I am so very pleased with how the sway bar install turned out. it helped way more than I thought it would.
 
The official Ford designation is: track bar for the bar that attaches on the axle on one side and attaches to the frame on the other side(dampens horizontal motion). Stabalizer bar for the bar that attaches to the frame and axle on both sides (dampens vertical motion or roll). For those interested in doing this, I have put a 40 stabalizer set up on a 37 by drilling four holes and welding the ends from some shock absorbers to the front axle. I believe you could do a stabalizer assy from a 46-8 just aas easy.
 
jimTN said:
The official Ford designation is: track bar for the bar that attaches on the axle on one side and attaches to the frame on the other side(dampens horizontal motion). Stabalizer bar for the bar that attaches to the frame and axle on both sides (dampens vertical motion or roll). For those interested in doing this, I have put a 40 stabalizer set up on a 37 by drilling four holes and welding the ends from some shock absorbers to the front axle. I believe you could do a stabalizer assy from a 46-8 just aas easy.
Click to expand...

Could not have said it better myself..
 
John did a nice job on the attachment of his sway bar. The attachment of the sway bar improved the roll of the vehicle as it lowered the roll axis of the vehicle and took away that overturning feel when cornering. The initial rolling over feeling is created when the higher positioned spring pack is atop the axle center line. With the addition of the sway bar at a position below or near the axle center line creates a lower roll axis between the spring mounts and a much more solid or European road feel when cornering. The issue with the traction bars is they create an s bend in the springs from the axle to the fixed front mount when they load as the operating radius are not concentric. Will it work, yes, but you may want to keep an eye on the track bar mounts for cracking.
 
Nice job but ,I can see what your problem was ,you could have saved a lot of work by placing the shocks at the ends (outer )of the axle and at a more vertical angle
DICK SPADARO said:
John, your parallel spring set up is like a sway bar. You need to explain why you think you need a sway bar. I'm assuming you still have a little roll cornering at high speed and you want to cut that down a little. Your roll is created by the soft spring to obtain a some what pleasurable ride. I dont think that anyone makes a kit special for F-1's. Chassis Engineering has a number of kits that can be adapted based upon measurement of frame width and easily modified linkages tied into the axle at the U bolt plates. I dont think the work is to difficult and parts easy to modify or fabricate.
I still think that your shock package is too soft. Gas shock term really only means that the shock fluid is under gas pressure to prevent the liquid from aerating during operation and loose efficiency. Stiffen the shocks and you will see that you loose some of the unwanted roll.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
FlatheadTed, No disrespect intended hear but are you saying ford screwed up. the shocks are mounted where ford placed them. do you know something that the ford engineers didn't ? I am very happy with what I have done... however thank you for your input....
 
John, Ted is not totally wacko on the shock placement. The operational value of the shock is a function of the angle of operation and direction of operation. Usually shocks should function with the lateral operation axis (L-R) as they can be used to assist roll control. Shocks canted on wheelbase axis (F-R) are some times positioned that way to control spring wrap under acceleration. In any case the deviation angles from vertical detract from the shock efficiency with the steeper angles actually producing lesser effectiveness. Since you tightened up the roll you might want reposition your shocks a little more upright and improve their efficiency.
 
Ford didn't screw up, they just were able to accept a compromise. They were not trying to build a cornering machine. Having the shocks more upright and as far outboard as possible will tip the compromise in the direction you are looking for.

Nice truck, by the way that style is one of my favourites.

Mart.
 
Ok I get it. I know that a stiff shock mounted straight up or leaned in at the top would give a lot less roll to the truck but would also make it ride like a tanker.. I now have the best of both worlds IE a nice ride and good roll control as well. what's not to like??? Geeezzz guys your beating a dead horse hear
 
The main thing is its your truck and you are happy with the modification .On a cross spring shocks set at the outer edges can do a lot for body roll though .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top