Sway bar ideas for zero option '72T, please advise........

jim72911t · 03-02-2006, 07:45 PM

Hi all,
I've got a 1972 911T that has virtually no options from the factory, (even has a four speed

), and, as such, has no sway bars.

I'm doing a suspension refresh this spring, and am slowly gathering parts. Mind you, this is a bit of a budget job, so I'll be installing new bushings front and rear, Bilsteins, adjustable spring plates, 25mm rear bars, lowering it to Euro height or slightly lower, bump steer kit, tie rods, and (hopefully) front and rear sways.

I'm not too concerned about installing the front bar, but the rears have me a bit perplexed. See, my trailing arms have no ball mounts for the bars, and I'm wondering if anyone here has ever installed the ball mounts to stock "T" arms. Or, should I just replace the trailing arms themselves?

I don't have the bars yet, just doing a little planning. I'll probably go with stock bars, either 15 or 18mm, depending on what I can find. The car will be mostly street, with maybe a DE or two down the road. It's running a slightly hotter than stock hi-compression E spec 2.4L motor, if that matters.

Thanks,
Jim

Tyson Schmidt · 03-02-2006, 07:58 PM

Well, you can weld in new mounts to the chassis, then buy an aftermarket rear sway that bolts to the springplate in place of the toe adjuster.

I'm in the same boat on my new project. I'm actually fore-going any rear bar, and running 26mm rear torsions and going with high pressure gas shocks. In front, I'm using the stock 15mm bar with stock torsions. Should have a nice ride and balanced handling with this set-up.

jim72911t · 03-02-2006, 09:51 PM

Thanks, Tyson. I saw your "Tangerina Jolie" post and was a bit pissed that you've made more progress in a week than I have in five years

.

Didn't even think about the no rear bar option. I just figured that if I was going to have the entire car on jack stands and the suspension disassembled, I might as well do a rear bar. 19-25mm torsion bars are a compromise, I realize, but I just don't have the $$ right now for new 21-26/27's. I'm hoping for a setup that rides OK on the street and will still allow me to have a bit of fun on the track.

Jim

911pcars · 03-02-2006, 10:05 PM

My '69 was in the same sad state of suspension when I got it. If you're going to use an aftermarket bar, you can skip the next paragraph as Tyson describes the typical aftermarket attachment is at the spring plate eccentric (using an adapter).

For a factory-type installation, weld the factory ball pivot after punching a hole in the steel control arm with a cutting torch. With the suspension fully loaded and hopefully corner height-even (as on an alignment rack), attach the drop links to both balls and the sway bar, then position the bar against the chassis and mark the location of the sway bar mounts. Prep the area, then weld in the SB mounts.

Sherwood

HarryD · 03-02-2006, 11:00 PM

You can go with the no bolt Rear Sway Bar mount that Weltmeister offers. It is a U bolt over the Torsion Bar tube with a place to mount the Sway bar. As Sherwood notes, you can then use a special springplate eccentric to attach the ends of the sway bar to the wheels.

arrivederci · 03-03-2006, 06:53 AM

...or you can buy the set of factory steel arms that I took off my '72 last year. It'll probably cost more to ship them than they are worth, though.

jim72911t · 07:45 PM

Josh,
Any idea what you'd want for the bars? Are they 15 or 18mm? I don't think I need any trailing arms yet, because I am of the tinkering type with a full machine/fabrication shop at my disposal and have some ideas for adjustable links/mounts for the stock bars. (I'd still want to buy the stock links to use for mock-up purposes.)

BTW, these would ship to 95928.

Thanks,
Jim

HarryD · 03-04-2006, 11:22 PM

This thread has a few shots showing the Weltmeister U-bolt and sway bar end mounting.

adjustable sway bars...1971 chassis

arrivederci · 03-05-2006, 07:26 AM

I sold the bars already...sorry.