Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

It's garage cleaning time and I got to looking at sway bar options for the '55 & '56. Where these bars unique to the V8 cars or were they used down to '51?
The first is a '64 FS Buick bar and it's the perfect width and could be made to work with mounts fabricated for the end links commonly found on more modern cars.
The second bar is from a '73 IH Traveall 2WD and practically looks like a bolt-in if the end link hoops are cut off. The problem with this bar in particular is they are exceedingly difficult to find.
The advantage here is that both are 1/16 larger in Dia. which would provide something like 25-30% more spring rate to resist body lean.

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Gen 2 Firebird and Camaro sway bars can be fitted. Here's a 1981 Firebird front sway bar fitted to my Panther:



Here's the web page which shows more pictures and details:

1956packardpanther.com/Panther/swaybars.html

Craig

Is there a reason you are not using a stock 55-56 bar??

fredkanter Quote:

Yes. With modern tires and the relatively high C.G. of the Packard, there is too much body lean in corners. The original front-only sway bar has insufficient anti-sway, IMO.

If all you do is drive your T-L Packard on/off a trailer or just straight down the Interstate, the front sway bar is quite sufficient.

Craig

Just got around to holding up a 55-57 Chebby 1 inch aftermarket bar to the '55 and it looks like an amazingly good fit. As in the last post, mounts for the end links would need to be fabbed up. The F body bar would be easier to source in a salvage yard, however.
Happy Motoring!