I installed a factory bar in the front of my '71 Nova after everything was put back together. I had to jack it up, pull the wheels and crank pulley off. I then turned the steering wheel to full left lock and fed the bar in from the left side. It takes a few tries, and some scratches are going to "happen", but it can be done.

Once installed, I found very little clearence between the sway bar and harmonic damper (sbc 400 - its friggin huge). It cleared by no more than an 1/8" at the very most. I made a pair 1/8" spacers from some flat stock and stuck them between the frame and bar mounts. Lots of room now. :icon996:
Ken