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that is them. if you look at the inside of the bushing you will notice they are eccentric like my picture above your post. even my old ones are like that. if i said elliptical i meant eccentric. the outside diameter is not on the same center point as the inside diameter circle.

You've got incredibly good eyes, that's all I can say!!

If you are talking the wall thickness & position of the large circumference, average measurement of the 3 NOS I have is .297 on the thin side and the thick side is .311.

Am not sure that is not more of a measure of mfg mold being off center than design because there is not word one in manual, SAE development description, or any document I have re orientation. If it were a design or an issue, am sure something would be mentioned. I suppose I would put the thicker part up because the bars are always pulling the arm with down force against the rubber.

Anybody else's opinion more than welcome & if it is a design would sure like a reference.

my initial thought was like you....thicker part up as that will be where the force is.....so we think alike there.

i couldn't find anything in the manual either...actually the manual doesn't ever really seem to cover the trailing arms....weird...at least not that i can find.

if you don't get the bushings right on there the same way on both sides....then you could be looking at a toe problem in the rear.....if one side is pushed to the front of the car and the other towards the back....i can see that causing problems, although a very slight issue, it will cause tire wear in an abnormal state.

kinda like cam bolts on a ford when you start to increase the height or put in higher springs to lift the front. i just did that. except in this case the whole rearend is one unit and could result in the left tire being toed in or the right tire toed in depending on the location of the bushings.

and i have been known to notice very small details.....and forget the big ones LOL!! HA!

weekend update. painted parts, fitted parts, had fun....enjoy pics. almost got the rear done. need shocks and top mount the rear diff....which weighs a TON! so i will need help with that. it was unusually easy to remount the torsion bars into their holders on the trailing arms.

one question....is that really a sway bar or a watson bar? or both?

later dudes,

Hank

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Really looking good. Packard just called the bars tracking linkage and said the design allowed vertical movement without transferring lateral movement to frame.

Couldn't see if you have the front assembled yet but if not, I expect you'll have a more interesting time when it comes to winding up the bars and connecting the front--but if it looks as good as the rear, you'll have a winner.

nothing done to the front yet. i am only dreading how much fun i will have winding those bad boys up, but i know i will get it done. after the rear end is mounted i will be moving to the front end, so wish me luck. i am also surprised at how well the rear has turn out so far. looks like i just ordered it from Packard ;0)

later dude,

Hank

I read in "Revived from the dead" that Billy Kennerly had to chain the frame to the floor and use a wrecker with a winch in order to get the front torsion bars back into position. Scary.

okay so i need group number 15.995 part number 465049 x1 because i busted that off....so....what is the torque on those supposed to be anyways...can't find it anywhere in the repair manual that talks about them.

and i need a U-bolt please....anyone have one i am wanting to buy. cause i broke that too getting it off along time ago. ;0)

i suck...

thanks,

Hank

pictures to come.

Have you tried locating one of the dealer service tools for winding the bars? I know of one which isn't available for loan, but given that most every dealer in 55/56 had one, there must be others in private hands.

well, if that dude ain't gonna help a brother out...then poo on him/her. ;0)

i could probably make one if i saw all the lay out of it. then again probably not.

seriously on to the question at hand...anyone have those parts laying around.