sway bar setups

[70SportCustom]

has anyone had sucess removing sway bars from something else and installing them on f100 bumps? if so please point me in the right direction. I would like to be able to find something in the junkyard and swap it over.

[fordman]

73-79 trucks.

[AlleyCat]

I used the front one from a 76 F250 in my 72. Apart from drilling 4 holes for the frame brackets it was a bolt in. For the rear I scored one from an early 90's F450 SuperDuty but haven't had a chance to work on installing it yet.

[ladykiller]

I'll probably be using a similar setup as you alleycat. Haven't found the front yet, but I've got a rear bar from a '90 F250 I might try to use. I'll need to fab some mounting pads, similar to leaf spring mounting pads.

[AlleyCat]

Ladykiller, you might want to look around for the mounting pads from an 87 -96 F150. Rear sway bars are a pretty common option on these trucks. As far as I know all of them came with the 8.8 rear and the pads are held on with u-bolts. Pins spot welded to the axle tubes keep them from moving. The axle tubes look to be about the same diameter as a 9". I grabbed a set but haven't had time to match them up.

On the bar you have keep in mind that the F250 frame is wider than the frames used on 67 - 72 trucks. The frames on our trucks are 34" wide while that 90 is 37.5" wide. When Ford widened the frames in 73 the F350 ( cab & chassis models not pickups ) and heavier trucks retained the 34" rail spacing to keep in compliance with commercial truck standards.

[ladykiller]

The end links are the key. Look at a set of '90 end links. Spin them 180 degrees and they're just about perfect.

[AlleyCat]

I'll check them out. Thanks.

[Hawkrod]

has anyone had sucess removing sway bars from something else and installing them on f100 bumps? if so please point me in the right direction. I would like to be able to find something in the junkyard and swap it over.

I have a little secret that has made me both happy and a ton of money over the years! Most old Ford chassis mount camper conversions came with aftermarket sway bars because of the body size (it was a nice big kite that moved easily in the wind! LOL). Those chassis are almost always F350's and the sway bars are a direct bolt on for almost any twin I beam truck. I have found them on 65-79 trucks and they are nice great big bars that work great! Later trucks often have factory bars but not always so be sure and check every one at the junkyard. The only part that you have to replace are the clamps around the rear axle and you can get the right size ones at any good auto parts store. Hawkrod

[ladykiller]

Ford vans and ambulances are good targets too.