H&M Tech: Sway bars. Sway bar science was a new thing in the eary 60s for most. Early H&M cars used two types of front sway bars: Low mount and high mount. The low mount style used a bar with just a few bends. The high mount bar copied the stock bar (with many bends) in configuration and mounting. Both race set ups used bars that were larger than stock (and stock style end links). The bars were usually about 1.25 in diameter. The low bar set up can be seen on the 1962 H&M display frame (photo #1)and on surviving early chassis. (photo #2 shows that mounting bracket on the surviving Donlavey 1960 Starliner, photo #3 shows that set up on the Turner/Scott 1963 Galaxie frame). I used that set up on my 1964 frame because I was able to get a new 1.25 bar of that style from ADDCO. I could not get a bar bigger than 1 in the stock, many bends style. The surviving Panch & Lorenzen (photos 6 & 7) cars mounted a stock style bar...albeit one that is much thicker than stock. It is interesting to note that by 1964 both Stroppe and Petty had switched to modern style, through frame, double splined front sway bars that attached to the control arms with bolt on splined arms and articulated Heim joints (the last three shots). H&M did not switch to that style until 1965. Except for a shot of Smokeys 1961 Pontiac, I have never seen a stock car from the 60s with a rear sway bar. I have always wondered about that and why they didnt seem to get run (certainly not on Holman Moody cars). I wonder if Michael Clements Sr or some of the other old hands can add some insight.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 13:31:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015