Mopar suspension question

[Chadly B]

I have a 79 Volare' wagon, the front suspension has the transverse torsion bar set up, as opposed to the longitudinal torsion bars on the early mopars and it seems the longitudinal set up is preferred, what I want to know is, what can I do with what I have to make this car handle better before I start spending the big money on a front stub or something?

[johnny68]

hey chad i hav a volare on my 55 no one makes a good performance shock for a volare (go figure) but i live a few miles from a company called rcd they rebuild/make/revalve bilstein shocks and they have my stock front shocks they are making a prototype set of performance bilstein for volare's ill keep you informed on the status.if they do make a set ( ride hight is only 9 1/2 inches pin to pin) ill get prices and let you know also i believe fatman fabrications builds a 2 inch dropped spindle; if you turn down the torsions it will ride like pillsberry dough boy
john

[Chadly B]

Thanks, man! Keep me posted, fer sure!

[71dusterdan]

Chad 1st off remove the rubber bisquit bushings between the subframe and body. Mopar used to have a set of aluminum replacements. Make a set yourself, and you can even alter the front ride height with them. Then get yourself some cop sway bars off of a dippy or something similiar. Use high quality bushings. Get good rubber underneath it and buy the best shocks you can find/afford! Then give it a good performance alignment, that will be a good start.

[Chadly B]

Thanks, Dan, I'll start there, and Johnny, let me know how the Bilsteins turn out......

[71dusterdan]

Chad, you should be able to use dippy cop car rear springs also. However honestly I am not a huge fan of just jumping into springs. do the other stuff 1st, then see if it needs more spring. I am reasonably certain the front torsion bars were all the same on the TV bar cars, so that is a dead end. Surprisingly just stiffening the front end by using better aluminum bushings in the front end really does alot for those cars!

[High Plains Mopars]

Unfortuantly, there is actually no difference in t-bar sizes on the diplomat cop cars. They do, however, have the larger sway bars, which are desireable. It used to be, many,many years ago, that Mopar Performance made a lighter weight, bent t-bar for these cars for drag racing purposes, but you wouldn't want those even if you could find them.

Options for upgrading the FJM car front ends are limited. Start with the bushings. Get the here; SolidBushings.com. They also offer some stuff to eliminate the iso-clamp rear bushings as well. Another source for stepped up sway bars and shocks is firmfeel.com. Going to urethane bushings for the t-bar mounts will help out also. I believe firm feel also offers bilstien shocssk for these. If you don't want to go that route, you can add a brace plate to the bottom of the control arm, open up the mounting hole in the upper part of the control arm to 2inches and use a 1st generation Camaro front shock.

Another option is to add a strut bar to the system. These were not installed from the factory, but adding them allows the t-bar to act only as a spring and not a locating device. This eliminates some of the fore/aft movement that is inherent in the bent bar system. Go to moparmusclemagazine.com and search for sure footed flyer. This was a several part installment where they upgraded the suspension in a bent bar car. I've never done this mod myself, so I can't comment on how it feels afterword.

If you really want to upgrade though, the best way is to simply use an Alterkation system. Pricey, but the conversion to coil overs is a huge benefit.

Might also consider joining forfjmbodiesonly.com for more tips, hints, and secrets onthe bent bar cars.

[johnny68]

youll be the first to know on the shocks Chad
john

[Chadly B]

Thanks, John, and Thank you High Plains, There was some great info in those articles....off to read, read, read!

[johnny68]

hey chad just an update rcd is working on the shocks the can are cut and they ready to machine the rods they gave me a company for you to call that does mostly mopar suspension stuff its called
firmfeel performance at 800-347-6426
john