Rear 49-51 shoebox rear sway-bar

I'm building a 1950 shoebox Tudor
68 Torino 302
65 comet 3-spd trans
65 8" rear end

Front suspension
Moog Aerostar coils
Jamco steering
Jamco heavy sway bar

Rear suspension
Posies 3" springs
3" lowering blocks
1" rear shackles

My question is this what if any rear sway bar should I run . Has anybody retro fitted and other bar in ?
I haven't driven this car yet so I have no real world experience on if it even needs one .
What have you guys done to yours ?

Thanks Ed







Sent from the frozen North

 

Very nice car you have there.
I have a bone stock 51 Ford that I have installed radial tires and aftermarket front / rear sway bars on . The bars came from Shoebox Central , the kits were very high quality and the handling improvement was well worth the investment.
The rear bar should work fine with your 8" but you may want to check with Shoebox central to be sure.

 

Agree with @petew the size should be fine but you may have to fab up mounts for it on the rear end.

 

Thanks guys !
I'll get ahold of Shoebox Central .
PeteW I'm building a daily driver so thought since I was putting all new rear suspension in I might want a rear bar as well . It's always easier to make a decision when I can get input from someone who has tried it out . I know when this car is on the road I won't be want to do much except fine tuning .

This car has been a love hate relationship , floors where in good shape but the outer rockers where a mess . Had layers of sheet metal pop rivets and bondo on the lower 8" .


Went from what I thought was a solid car below


To lots of metal work





Sent from the frozen North

 

Keep after it , you will love it when it's done. So far your work looks top notch.

 

never felt the need for a rear sway bar

 

I doubt that you will need one. My daily is set up for road race/autocross, and it does not have a rear bar.

 

You have a shoebox setup for road race ? Please post pics of that .

Ed


Sent from the frozen North

 

Have an aftermarket rear bar on my 51. Great improvement when cornering. Have just installed a Jamco front sway bar. have not had a chance to drive the car since I installed it.

 

I don't run one on mine. But it also handles like a fat guy in the ocean.

 

This is good info. I think I'll go ahead an add one to the rear . Unless someone thinks it's a bad idea . We have lots of winding roads , I'm not trying to build a road race car , I have a well setup 65 Vette for that . I'm really wanting this car to drive better than the wife's 65 Mustang , so I can convince her to get rid of that cookie cutter car .


Sent from the frozen North

 

No. I was just pointing out that a properly set up chassis, with the same weight bias, and reasonably identical contact patch can go without a rear bar, even on a road race track.

If you the rest of the chassis isn't set up right, well....

 

I can make that Mustang out handle that 'Vette.

 

Mine is lowered with cut Aerostar coils and V8 Monza shocks up front and 3" blocks in the rear. It rides pretty rough (not enough travel up ft) but doesn't handle too aweful bad. I was just perusing Shoebox Central's website and may spend some $$ on correcting some things. If I get my wife all upset I'll point her towards this thread!

 

My 51 has GM front legs and runs a 7/8" front sway bar. Rear springs are New, custom built for me from Oregon Spring and I have adjustable Gas shocks on all 4 corners. If I go north from my house I run into mountain roads that are in general Tons of Fun. Come spring I'm adding a rear sway bar because it Needs it! Right now it's a bit like ridding a Fat girl on a Water bed. It's OK but would be better if her Rear end would stay where you want it.
The Wizzard

 

Have the Jamco rear sway bar on my 50 with a Maverick 8 inch rear end. Love it. Especially if you are running skirts. Takes a little tweaking but nothing serious.

 

With enough money anything can be done , my Vette is setup pretty well with four wheel coil over suspension from Vansteel . I'd rather put the money into a shoebox then a mustang I consider to be the Toyota of muscle cars .


Sent from the frozen North

 

So the rear sway bar kept you from rubbing the skirts ? I know my rear tires are super close to my quarters , I have to jack the car and flatten the tires to get them off and on .


Sent from the frozen North

 

i've installed sway bars on a few of my vehicles, and it is worth doing. just make sure you get a matched set because you otherwise may experience understeer or oversteer.

 

$450+tax and labor.

 

Ha!
Now that's funny


Sent from the frozen North

 

Bring it over. I'll give you 10% off on labor.

 

I've been building cars my whole life , and I'm just shocked that 450.00 can fix such a screwed up front end . The last mustang I built Fox body for the American iron series spec car , had more money in suspension than the car was worth . And my Vette kills it !
My last race car a 77 911 running Elephant racing hardware still doesn't compare to my current 65 vette . But hey if 450.00 will beat my cars and my buddy's race cars , you will be a Rich man !


Sent from the frozen North

 

Agreed on a good balanced set , I am not sure there's many options out there . I've talked to Chriss at shoebox , very helpful . I'm thinking he's selling Jamco ? But I'm still researching .


Sent from the frozen North

 

I have to do the same thing and since the car is lowered 2 inches, I have to jack the spring down to get enough clearance to get the tire off. I'm running 205 75 R15 radials.

 

Well, I can make that 911 beat the 'Vette too. I used to wrench/pilot a Kremer K5, before the ex took all of the toys.

 

I'm running 205s as well, I'm really dreading a real flat on the side of the road . If thought about cutting the lip off of the wheel well for added clearance .


Sent from the frozen North