[mgarblik]

I think it's a safe bet a 62 Catalina won't be winning any road races in the near future. However, with my car now running a proper power level engine, cornering like a beached whale is a little scary at times. I have read many threads in this forum about rear sway bars for these cars. I think I have settled on a 1" bar for the rear that attaches to the lower control arms and is out of the way of exhaust and shocks. Just have to box the lower arms. That leaves the spaghetti sized 7/8" front sway bar. I haven't found ANY alternative bars for the front at all. Also no discussion of this topic. Is anyone doing anything up front on these cars? Seems a 7/8" bar on the front and 1" bar on the rear would not give the best balance. The rear steering geometry would dictate a smaller bar would be OK, but a 7/8" bar on a 4000 lb. plus car seems extra tiny. Comments, suggestions, part numbers? Thanks

[tom s]

I put one on my 62,think I got it from Fabcraft or RARE?Tom

[Stuart]

I assume you're talking about the front and rear bars from Addco...they're the only game in town I'm aware of, as far as ready made parts go. It does seem odd the only ones they offer are a 1" rear and .875" front.

edit: Like Tom says, Fabcraft does have a rear sway bar that's 3/4". However, I think it mounts differently than the Addco bar, so the mechanical advantage may be different.

[real61ss]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I assume you're talking about the front and rear bars from Addco...they're the only game in town I'm aware of, as far as ready made parts go. It does seem odd the only ones they offer are a 1" rear and .875" front.

edit: Like Tom says, Fabcraft does have a rear sway bar that's 3/4". However, I think it mounts differently than the Addco bar, so the mechanical advantage may be different.

I have a couple of the Fabcraft bars, they mount like the factory bars mounted, struts are behind the rear wheels

[56GMC]

I have a 1.125" front bar on my '62 that I got from Paul @ Ram Air Restoration when he was still in Illinois. Believe it was an Addco bar but the guys at UMI should be able to make one if Addco is not interested. Let me know if you need more info or photos of my front suspension. As I said back in the 2020 thread the 1.125" front bar along with the 1.0" rear bar & Bilstein shocks made a significant improvement in handling.

[mgarblik]

That Addco bar is still available and you can confirm it is 1.125? It's unfortunate that every different vendor and web site has the same Addco bar listed as part #199 but the size varies in the description between 7/8" and 1/125". Just wish I could get an answer before I buy one. I absolutely hate sending stuff back because it is falsely represented. I e-mailed Addco two times, tried an on-line chat and left questions with three vendors of their bars. Not a peep back from anyone. If I was ordering 1000 of them, someone would probably get back with me. Thanks for the information on your car. That front bar looks HUGE compared to the tiny piece of spaghetti my car has on it.

[mgarblik]

Well, the confusion continues. I was finally able to get through to the manufacturer Addco, on the phone. Gave him the Addco part # 199. He looked up the build specs and said it was .875", which is 7/8", constant diameter bar. So that means possibly ram Air restorations had some bars specially made for them or the 1.125" bars are some other Addco part number or the build spec. sheet from 50 years ago is wrong or they made a diameter change and didn't update the drawings. Anything is possible. Anyone have a bar on their car that is 1.125" and was purchased under the part number Addco #199? Or some other manufacturer and part number? If I change my front bar, I would want the 1.125" bar. Going from .750" to .875" wouldn't do enough to make the change worthwhile. This would be for a front bar. I have a rear bar ordered. Thank you.

[misterp266]

Mike, as I said, my bar is a 199 and it is 1 1/8”. I bought it quite a while ago. I would assume that Addco changed it at some point. Perhaps call the company I added a link for that lists it as 1 1/8”. They may have “old stock” as I doubt they’re a big selling item.
BTW, I did not buy mine from RARE. I can look for my receipt but I don’t think it matters at this point.

Update! I rechecked that link I posted earlier and it has changed to listing it as .875!
Good luck . . . .

[imposter]

Qa1
has a set of tubular lowers with the bar that bolts to it nice piece

[mgarblik]

I will check into the Qa1 bar. I don't want to change control arms, but want to see what they have. I was actually leaning toward a rear bar from UMI mentioned in another thread and stocked at Summit. Looks just like the Addco bar for the rear. The front was my primary concern in this thread. 7/8" just looks tiny on this giant car. Seems like a 1 1/8"-1 1/4" would be more appropriate but it needs to mount in stock location.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by imposter

Qa1 has a set of tubular lowers with the bar that bolts to it nice piece

Can you put up a link? I looked at the QA1 website and wasn't able to find anything for a full size Pontiac older than 1978.

[61-63]

I have a Fabcraft rear bar I installed on my '63 Catalina. I've removed it and will sell it. The vertical rods went missing but could be replaced with threaded rod.

[mgarblik]

I appreciate the offer very much. If I can find one that fits for sure, I really like the way the bars fit on the lower control arms. I know that's not proper for these cars as far as factory installation. But attaching to the control arms eliminates all the fitment issues of being really close to the shocks and the exhaust system. I have a complete 2 1/2'" exhaust system and it is all welded. So I don't want to mess with sway bar interference. Still thinking about it. Thanks again. Have you ever done anything with a front bar, other than the tiny 7/8" stock one?

[61-63]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

I appreciate the offer very much. If I can find one that fits for sure, I really like the way the bars fit on the lower control arms. I know that's not proper for these cars as far as factory installation. But attaching to the control arms eliminates all the fitment issues of being really close to the shocks and the exhaust system. I have a complete 2 1/2'" exhaust system and it is all welded. So I don't want to mess with sway bar interference. Still thinking about it. Thanks again. Have you ever done anything with a front bar, other than the tiny 7/8" stock one?

No never messed with the front bar.

[Scarebird]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

...If I can find one that fits for sure, I really like the way the bars fit on the lower control arms...

The bar that bolts up solidly to the lower control arms will bind up the suspension. The one 61-63 is offering is a good solution if it clears.

[misterp266]

Originally Posted by 61-63

I have a Fabcraft rear bar I installed on my '63 Catalina. I've removed it and will sell it. The vertical rods went missing but could be replaced with threaded rod.

If Mike passes on your bar, I’m interested, LMK. Thanks

Mike, I installed the Addco bar on the front of my ‘63 and it fits very tightly inside the crossmember. Not sure a bigger bar would fit. I put one on my ‘66, (1 1/8”) with no rear bar and it made a huge difference just with normal cornering and off-ramps. Unless you plan to race Eric’s T/A around the track, I think you’ll be happy.

[mgarblik]

I forgot the front bar fits within the front crossmember. Haven't had my car on the rack in 6 months. So to clarify, you replaced the stock PMD front 7/8" sway bar with an Addco 7/8" sway bar and it made a noticeable improvement? Better material and more initial twist in the bar I guess? Do I have that correct? The Addco bar is pretty expensive and I don't want to buy one if it' s not going to do anything. My OE bar is not broken or anything. It has new bushings and ends.

[misterp266]

My factory 1963 front bar is 13/16”. The Addco 199 bar that I replaced it with is 1 1/8”. I just measured both to confirm. I have not driven the ‘63 as it’s still being built. I was commenting on my 1966 Catalina that I put an Addco 857 bar that is also 1 1/8”. That made a big difference even without adding a rear bar although I’m sure that would be better.
I did see the 199 bar described as 7/8” in a few ads but unless they’ve changed it, that’s incorrect. Mine is 1 1/8” and fits very tight.

Hope that helps you!

Here’s a link…..https://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/ADD199.htm

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by misterp266

My factory 1963 front bar is 13/16”. The Addco 199 bar that I replaced it with is 1 1/8”. I just measured both to confirm. I have not driven the ‘63 as it’s still being built. I was commenting on my 1966 Catalina that I put an Addco 857 bar that is also 1 1/8”. That made a big difference even without adding a rear bar although I’m sure that would be better.
I did see the 199 bar described as 7/8” in a few ads but unless they’ve changed it, that’s incorrect. Mine is 1 1/8” and fits very tight.

Hope that helps you!

Here’s a link…..https://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/ADD199.htm

That is great information. I can see a 1 1/8" bar being a huge improvement over a 13/16" bar or 7/8" bar. Absolutely. If it fit a 63 it should fit a 62. These parts seem to all be listed to fit 61-64. As for the rear, I can see possible binding with the lower arm mounted bar. But why would it bind on car and work fine on so many other models? Possibly the greater travel on the rear suspension of the 61-64 cars?

[imposter]

i bought a anti roll bar from spohn nice piece as well and agree about the control arm mounted piece not good