Folks,

I have read previous posts and have looked at pictures but I still don't get it. I really need to know how to get the truck bars in. It is obvious that then side with the 90 degree bend needs to be tensioned so that it pushes the trunk hinge up. But when I put tension on the bar in that direction it pushes the other side of the bar out of its slot. It makes no sense?????? I guess I need step by step instructions because I am not too bright.

Thanks

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196002&highlight=trunk+springs

Rubadub,

I read that entire post...several times. I'm still not getting it. Which side do you put in first? Is it the side with the 90 degreee bend? If so, once it is in, the other side needs to be tensioned 90 degrees up but it doesn't stay in place because the force is in the wrong direction. I'm LOST!

I've never had them out. But when I get stumped I get the bride to look at it, shes smarter then I am, you got a smart wife.:)

Another option is to pm
Bronco3738 (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/member.php?u=37996) http://www.chevelles.com/forums/olp/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif
Tech Team
Mike
he was on line july 8th, get his phone number and get by the trunk and have him take you through it, also can you print out my pictures and have them on the side as an also reference.

I just found this on the nova forum.


I reinstalled these on a buddies 65 Mustang and found it quite easy to lay in the trunk and have him move the lid up and down where I needed it to just slip the bars in. It's be a few years and no probelms.

Thanks for the replies. Like you said I need to speak to someone that has installed them and give me the step by step instructions. I'm probably missing something obvious.

Maybe some body will see this later today or this evening and help out. Just hang in there a day or two if you can.

Rob

Yeah, I'll wait and see. I had to walk away from it yesterday...I was getting real annoyed.

I just set the tension on my 66 SS this morning, took 10 minutes.

Here are a few shots of the torsion bars to help in the installation. First, you need to prop up the trunk lid to it full open position so that you will have the least amount of tension on the rods during the install. Then get in the trunk.

First pic: This is the passenger side between the hinge and quarter panel. Set the square shaped U end into a rest forward of the hinge and maneuver that hook so that it engages that pivot piece in the pic. How it goes in will be pretty evident once you get in there and see the parts. Now on the other end of the rod, position the angled end of the rod into the forward most position and bend (twist) the rod so it hooks into a rest just above the slots. Leave this rod in the lowest tension position and install the second rod.

The second pic is of the passenger side hinge after the rods are installed and positioned for tension.


The third pic is of how I set the tension of the rods. Use the screwdriver to pry the rod away from the hinge to get space to clamp on the vise grip. Then while pulling the vise grip rearward, I used an old hammer handle to pry the end of the rod down into the slot.

Hope this helps, Wayne

Thanks for all of the replies. The light bulb finally just came on. The reason I have not been able to figure it out is because my bars are bent out of shape. I just saw a picture of a new set of bars in a "true connections" catalog and mine don't look the same at all. The bends on either end need to be bent away from each other. Mine are not, which explains why I could not install them and get the proper torque. Time to put them in a vice and bend them the correct way then put them in the car.

I just set the tension on my 66 SS this morning, took 10 minutes.

Here are a few shots of the torsion bars to help in the installation. First, you need to prop up the trunk lid to it full open position so that you will have the least amount of tension on the rods during the install. Then get in the trunk.

First pic: This is the passenger side between the hinge and quarter panel. Set the square shaped U end into a rest forward of the hinge and maneuver that hook so that it engages that pivot piece in the pic. How it goes in will be pretty evident once you get in there and see the parts. Now on the other end of the rod, position the angled end of the rod into the forward most position and bend (twist) the rod so it hooks into a rest just above the slots. Leave this rod in the lowest tension position and install the second rod.

The second pic is of the passenger side hinge after the rods are installed and positioned for tension.


The third pic is of how I set the tension of the rods. Use the screwdriver to pry the rod away from the hinge to get space to clamp on the vise grip. Then while pulling the vise grip rearward, I used an old hammer handle to pry the end of the rod down into the slot.

Hope this helps, Wayne


Wayne,

Your post was a very big help. That was a pretty smart way to adjust the tension. I'm headed out to get mine in right now.

Just read this post. Did you ever get your springs installed? I just put mine in not too long ago. I used a small wrench on the end of the spring for extra leverage while setting the tension. If your bars are bent check the local salvage yards. There are several cars that you can source the springs out of, even 4 door cars, the trunks are the same.

Mike

Here's my experience with those rods....:D

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216505

My attempt to heat the bars up and bend them back into shape lasted about 10 minutes. There is no way it is gonna happen. I found that true connections sells new ones for about $60 but they state they are for 68 - 72 chevelles. Will they work for '66? Can I use springs from any other A body? Like stated earlier by Bronco3738it makes sense that others will work but I wonder which ones?

Check local salvage yards. Desert Valley Auto parts here charged me no where near $60 for the used pair I bought. Mine came out of 4 door. I think they do mail order, if you can't find any locally.

I've been missing one torsion bar for at least 7 years. Broke 2 trying to install them from donor cars recovered from junk yards. Just got a set from my favorite supplier: True-Connections and they are great. Gotta give kudos to Wayne for his pictures and descriptions(although I didn't need a wooden hammer to hold them in place), I was trying it from the exact opposite perspective. The key is that they are some sort of pot metal so they break pretty easily.