62 Catalina Sway Bars
 

I think it's a safe bet a 62 Catalina won't be winning any road races in the near future. However, with my car now running a proper power level engine, cornering like a beached whale is a little scary at times. I have read many threads in this forum about rear sway bars for these cars. I think I have settled on a 1" bar for the rear that attaches to the lower control arms and is out of the way of exhaust and shocks. Just have to box the lower arms. That leaves the spaghetti sized 7/8" front sway bar. I haven't found ANY alternative bars for the front at all. Also no discussion of this topic. Is anyone doing anything up front on these cars? Seems a 7/8" bar on the front and 1" bar on the rear would not give the best balance. The rear steering geometry would dictate a smaller bar would be OK, but a 7/8" bar on a 4000 lb. plus car seems extra tiny. Comments, suggestions, part numbers? Thanks

I put one on my 62,think I got it from Fabcraft or RARE?Tom

I assume you're talking about the front and rear bars from Addco...they're the only game in town I'm aware of, as far as ready made parts go. It does seem odd the only ones they offer are a 1" rear and .875" front.

edit: Like Tom says, Fabcraft does have a rear sway bar that's 3/4". However, I think it mounts differently than the Addco bar, so the mechanical advantage may be different.

Qa1
has a set of tubular lowers with the bar that bolts to it nice piece

I will check into the Qa1 bar. I don't want to change control arms, but want to see what they have. I was actually leaning toward a rear bar from UMI mentioned in another thread and stocked at Summit. Looks just like the Addco bar for the rear. The front was my primary concern in this thread. 7/8" just looks tiny on this giant car. Seems like a 1 1/8"-1 1/4" would be more appropriate but it needs to mount in stock location.

I have a Fabcraft rear bar I installed on my '63 Catalina. I've removed it and will sell it. The vertical rods went missing but could be replaced with threaded rod.

I appreciate the offer very much. If I can find one that fits for sure, I really like the way the bars fit on the lower control arms. I know that's not proper for these cars as far as factory installation. But attaching to the control arms eliminates all the fitment issues of being really close to the shocks and the exhaust system. I have a complete 2 1/2'" exhaust system and it is all welded. So I don't want to mess with sway bar interference. Still thinking about it. Thanks again. Have you ever done anything with a front bar, other than the tiny 7/8" stock one?

No never messed with the front bar.

If Mike passes on your bar, I’m interested, LMK. Thanks

Mike, I installed the Addco bar on the front of my ‘63 and it fits very tightly inside the crossmember. Not sure a bigger bar would fit. I put one on my ‘66, (1 1/8”) with no rear bar and it made a huge difference just with normal cornering and off-ramps. Unless you plan to race Eric’s T/A around the track, I think you’ll be happy.

I forgot the front bar fits within the front crossmember. Haven't had my car on the rack in 6 months. So to clarify, you replaced the stock PMD front 7/8" sway bar with an Addco 7/8" sway bar and it made a noticeable improvement? Better material and more initial twist in the bar I guess? Do I have that correct? The Addco bar is pretty expensive and I don't want to buy one if it' s not going to do anything. My OE bar is not broken or anything. It has new bushings and ends.

My factory 1963 front bar is 13/16”. The Addco 199 bar that I replaced it with is 1 1/8”. I just measured both to confirm. I have not driven the ‘63 as it’s still being built. I was commenting on my 1966 Catalina that I put an Addco 857 bar that is also 1 1/8”. That made a big difference even without adding a rear bar although I’m sure that would be better.
I did see the 199 bar described as 7/8” in a few ads but unless they’ve changed it, that’s incorrect. Mine is 1 1/8” and fits very tight.

Hope that helps you!

Here’s a link…..https://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/ADD199.htm

That is great information. I can see a 1 1/8" bar being a huge improvement over a 13/16" bar or 7/8" bar. Absolutely. If it fit a 63 it should fit a 62. These parts seem to all be listed to fit 61-64. As for the rear, I can see possible binding with the lower arm mounted bar. But why would it bind on car and work fine on so many other models? Possibly the greater travel on the rear suspension of the 61-64 cars?

I have a couple of the Fabcraft bars, they mount like the factory bars mounted, struts are behind the rear wheels

i bought a anti roll bar from spohn nice piece as well and agree about the control arm mounted piece not good

Can you put up a link? I looked at the QA1 website and wasn't able to find anything for a full size Pontiac older than 1978.

here's your ticket

https://fabcraftmetalworks.com/produ...sisch8-0520-2/

https://pmtfabrication.com/product/1...-rear-sway-bar

https://pmtfabrication.com/product/1...front-sway-bar

Have been tempted several times to buy the Fabcraft stabilizer. Just afraid to have to drop the tank and maybe exhaust to get access to drill holes. As near as I can tell the frame does not already have the proper holes. The idea of removing other pieces and then laying on my back with a half inch Milwaukee drill is not appealing.

As to the question of interference with shocks and exhaust (especially oversize) not that the 61 manual for Safari shows the stabilizer link mounted outboard the frame not inboard like the Fabcraft. Not sure what the police optional bar shows. Of course, the Safari had side exit exhaust not rear exit and the picture does look very tight.

Is a ‘61 frame narrower in the rear? That’s the first pic I’ve seen of one mounted outside the frame. Would be easier to mount the brackets though.
Looks mighty close to the exhaust. I would want to install the bar before the exhaust for sure.
Turned the pic.

They have different part numbers, but I'm pretty sure 1961 and 1962 frames are essentially identical - there may be detail differences.