I bought a hotchkis 1" rear sway bar for my '72. I welding in inserts and boxed the lower control arms like it says in the tech reference section. It said to drill the back mounting holes 5" from the center of the rear bushing, I had small holes already at 5.75" so I just made them larger and measured forward from there for the front holes. When I installed the bar its only about 1/8" from the rear end housing. Do I need to move the bar back 3/4"? When I compress the rear suspension it doesn't look like it hits, but I don't know how it will move in a corner. The other thing I ran in to was the bar fit pretty snug when I put it in, will this cause stess on the arms? I hope this makes sense, I'm not sure I explained it very well.
Thanks
Steve

Those small holes are not pilots for the sway bar. The 5" measurement is correct.

Thats what I was afraid of. I got the control arms all boxed and powder coated. I guess I will have to try to drill new holes and try to get inserts into them. graemlins/sad.gif
Thanks
Steve

Steve,
Just a thought...
what would it hurt if you just moved the holes in the sway bar itself? Just drill another set of holes.

You can't redrill the sway bar. First off it is spring steel. Secondly, the round spring stock has flat areas where the holes are.
I have seen mis-located rear swaybars in cars more than once. I don't think you will feel the difference except you will know it.

Originally posted by chevl71:
You can't redrill the sway bar. First off it is spring steel. Secondly, the round spring stock has flat areas where the holes are. Actually, not true Doug.
I've drilled factory sway bar holes before to allow a larger bolt size. Not a big deal, GM actually just stamps the holes out.
Secondly, he's moving the holes back(toward the end) approx. 3/4" which would still place them in the flats.
I do agree though, the present location would be fine. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Thanks guys,
I've driven the car through some corners and over some bumps and it does not appear to contact to rear end housing. The bar sits behind and below the rear end cover, and it as everything flexs it doesn't appear to rub anything. So for now I will watch and see what happens, I would like to change to a 12 bolt next year, so maybe I will move it to the correct position then. Right now its 35 degrees and raining here in Minnesota, graemlins/sad.gif so I might be about done until next summer anyway.
Thanks for the help.
Steve

Bill
Yeah, I have hogged out the holes before also now that you mentioned it. I didn't have one close by to check, I didn't think the pad was big enough. Thanks.

Steve, I have only one thing to say to you; Brrr!