Re: [FWDLK] Torsion bar selection

[Vincent Van Humbeeck <vincent.vanhumbeeck@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

According to my '58 Canadian parts book (issued March 1959) :

952/953 are STANDARD torsion bars for
    V-8 Plymouth excl. suburban models
    L-6 Dodge excl. suburban models
    V-8 Dodge excl. suburban models
    V-8 DeSoto (small chassis) excl. suburban models

956/957 are HEAVY DUTY torsion bars for
    all V-8 Plymouth (Domestic and Export)
    all L-6 Plymouth models (certainly as an option on those)

Those two torsion bars are the only one listed for use on Plymouths. So
according to my book, you should be looking for 956/957 torsion bars.

The problem is that my '55-'58 US parts book (issued January 1961), gives a
different, harder to understand picture. Those damned Chrysler engineers ;)


Vincent Van Humbeeck (France, 120 miles north of Paris)
'58 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe

-----Message d'origine-----
De : Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]De la part de Stragand, Dave
Envoye : jeudi 23 janvier 2003 16:27
A : L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Objet : [FWDLK] Torsion bar selection


Hi All,

I'm trying to find the correct torsion bars for a 1958 Plymouth 2dr hardtop
with a 350.

Here's what I know so far about the 1957/1958 bars:

1635 950/951 'standard' bars are 1.04" diameter
1635 952/953 ... i know nothing about
1635-956/957 'heavy duty' bars are 1.08" diameter
... and the largest are 1.11" diameter.

If I understand correctly, the correct bars for my application are the 1.11"
variety.

So now I've got a bunch of questions:

- Will 956/957 bars work sufficiently in my car when I change to the 350
motor? Or will they be too weak?
- Do all of the torsion bars interchange (Chrysler, Dodge, DeSoto, Plymouth,
Imperial, Wagons) during these years?
- Are 1959 bars different due to the change in the front suspension
components?  Will 1958 bars work in a 1959?  And vice-versa?
- Does anybody know the part number of the 1.11" bars?
- The generic replacement of DPCD #103... anybody know the size of those?
- Does anyone have a set of the 1.11" bars they'd like to sell?

-Dave

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