'63 Bonneville convert - thoughts on sway bars
 

My '63 has new springs (standard duty, non-AC), KYB gas shocks, Diamondback radials, and her original (anemic, by today's standards) sway bar. The ride is excellent, but feels even lazier in turns than I recall.

I know she'll never handle like my '06 STS-V, but that's not my goal. I'd like to not get that lump in my throat when driving around curves, feeling the body roll, and having to brake hard (usually late) to keep control. I don't drive her hard, either.

I suspect that the original sway bar is tired and not even performing as it did originally. That said, I'm wondering what is available on par with the original heavy duty bar or at least close to factory-looking which will get me closer to my goal for this heavy car.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

TIA

Coil rears with trailing arms are just a bolt in. Available in the aftermarket.
Aftermarket fronts are available buy you need to loosen one lower control arm to install.
You may enjoy a variable rate steering box while you are in there.

Thanks.

All I'm looking to do is replace my stock (old) sway bar with one which has a bit more thickness to it. Stock appearance is really a must for me, so fancy stuff is not really an option.

I didn't realize how hard it was to find slightly oversized but stock "looking" stabilizers. PMT Fabrication has one which looks like a possibility, and OPGI has one which is 7/8" (I believe stock was 3/4" - which is really rather funny for such a big car) and supposedly stock in appearance.

Looks like Addco has a slightly oversized stabilizer bar available:

https://www.addco.net/product/pontia...1961-64-front/

I also think that there was a special equipment option for a rear stabilizer, but I haven't checked, yet.

Clearly, my '63 is not going to ever handle like my '06 STS-V. I'd just like to get the best "stock" handling I can out of her, and not the tired, 60+ year old (even with newer springs and new shocks) handling. :-)

The Addco 199 bar used to be 1 1/8”. I have one on my ‘63. You’ll need to undo the lower control arms to get it in.
As for the rear, Fabcraft has a complete factory look setup.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38243634122...wAAOSwk3Fa0lqE

Thanks for that!

Looks like Fabcraft has more details on their site:

https://fabcraftmetalworks.com/produ...sisch8-0520-2/

I was hoping the reprint of the special equipment catalog for '63 I ordered would have listed a rear sway bar as a factory option. Sadly, it seems to deal with engine and transmission options, mainly, and a few interior things (gauges, consoles), but no suspension options. I would have expected the towing package to be listed, for example, but I'm not seeing that. Perhaps it's in my main sales binder? Some other special catalog?

According to Fabcraft's site, 62-64 require plates to be welded. as my goal is to be as "factory-correct" as possible, I'm wondering whether the rear stabilizer was indeed offered for these years. The AMA specifications show no rear stabilizer available, and the HD stabilizer option (front) on the option sheet was for the police option only (no mention of a rear stabilizer).

More research needed. Good to know, however, that I have front and rear options, even if these may take a bit of work to install.

I don't think Pontiac put a rear anti sway bar on anything until 1970...maybe I'm wrong.

Ambulances and police cars may have had them. If you've never driven a car before you installed a rear anti sway bar then installed one and driven it; the difference is tremendous. My GTO and a '87 Cutlass I have both received larger front bars then rear bars. Ride quality is fine and the cornering is great. Really makes it fun to swerve around corners and curves.

Many years ago i saw a 1963 ambulance with a rear sway bar.

Factory manual illustration for a Safari setup. Non wagon links mounted inside the frame rail.
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...8&d=1765481387