67 Impala, Global West arms. Need front stabilizer bar help.

[Cdnpont]

I have a 67 Pontiac Grande Parisienne. Totally Impala underneath.

Just upgraded to Global West front arms/struts. C3 Spindles, Wilwood D8-4 Calipers, 12.7: Steering box and now see a issue with end link alignment.

My issue is, with the new geometry allowing the arms to come way more forward for more caster than stock, the lower control arm link pick up points are way forward of the link hole in the bigAddco bar. You can see in the picture how far the links lean back. Note; The links pictured are just to get it on the road. The correct length and bushing stack is still to come.

Also the bars pickup points seem to be way outboard of the arm link holes.

Now it should be said, that the springs I have now will be coming out for much lower rate units that will allow the car to settle down, thus allowing the lower arms to be moved out slightly to get 0 degrees camber. The springs in place now allow almost no compliance, they used to, but the GW arm spring perch raises the spring higher than stock. I do see that the energy bar mounts have just a little more room to come forward. Just a little.

I realize might get better alignment on the links when everything is all done, but I still think the bar will be a mismatch for the new arms.



Are there any other bar or link options that you know of, that will work better on the 65-70 B Body?

Cheers and thanks, Mark

PS, I can say the car has been completly transformed with the upgrade!

[Rick Dorion]

The Hotchkis bar says you need to drill new holes for the center brackets. I haven't seen the GW front bar instructions. ridetech has a front bar that says you must use their LCA.

[Jon @ Hotchkis]

Our front sway bar still mounts in the factory location on the frame, but it does require new rearward mounting holes to be drilled since the bar is a much larger diameter and the stock holes are too close together. The front bar itself is 41.7" wide, and the arms are 11.2" long from the mounting point plain.

[alocker]

My issue is, with the new geometry allowing the arms to come way more forward for more caster than stock,

Are you sure? I just did a similar upgrade on my 68 Impala and the upper ball joint location was moved rearward for the caster gain, not the lower forward. I think your link bar is adjusted too short. Have you taken it to be aligned yet?

[Cdnpont]

Are you sure? I just did a similar upgrade on my 68 Impala and the upper ball joint location was moved rearward for the caster gain, not the lower forward. I think your link bar is adjusted too short. Have you taken it to be aligned yet?

I have the energy bar mounts in place with that "Extra" drilled hole. No, no alignment yet, just raw tape measure for Caster (16 1/8". strut rod end pin to the lower ball joint side bolt), 1/16 toe, steering wheel right on center and an eyeball slightly neg camber (can't yet get positive with the susp so fully extended). Alignment to come.
You're probably right on with your theory alocker. My strut rod adjuster is almost completley run in at the rod end. The GW instructions state "no more than 5/8" of thread is to be exposed at the rod end". So I got a little excited and brought it way in. I was also kind of curious to get the max caster after basically having zero for so long. The car drives well (way better than it ever has), albeit a little heavy on center. When I change the springs I'll back the rods down a good bit before it hits the alignment shop. Perhaps this combined with moving the bar forward all it can might just get it in the ballpark!

Thanks for the insight!
Any other things come to mind with the GW arm upgrade?

As she sits tonight....



Cheers, Mark

[J67imapala]

I have a 67 Pontiac Grande Parisienne. Totally Impala underneath.

Just upgraded to Global West front arms/struts. C3 Spindles, Wilwood D8-4 Calipers, 12.7: Steering box and now see a issue with end link alignment.

My issue is, with the new geometry allowing the arms to come way more forward for more caster than stock, the lower control arm link pick up points are way forward of the link hole in the bigAddco bar. You can see in the picture how far the links lean back. Note; The links pictured are just to get it on the road. The correct length and bushing stack is still to come.

Also the bars pickup points seem to be way outboard of the arm link holes.

Now it should be said, that the springs I have now will be coming out for much lower rate units that will allow the car to settle down, thus allowing the lower arms to be moved out slightly to get 0 degrees camber. The springs in place now allow almost no compliance, they used to, but the GW arm spring perch raises the spring higher than stock. I do see that the energy bar mounts have just a little more room to come forward. Just a little.

I realize might get better alignment on the links when everything is all done, but I still think the bar will be a mismatch for the new arms.

Are there any other bar or link options that you know of, that will work better on the 65-70 B Body?

Cheers and thanks, Mark

PS, I can say the car has been completly transformed with the upgrade!

Did your spindle or break kit bolts hit the lower control arm. I cannot get mine to fit right