Front/Rear swaybars for '57 wagon


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By kidcourier - 16 Years Ago
   Anyone know where to go for swaybars for '57 Ford wagon/sedan delivery(size/prices) or something that would easily adapt?  KID
By 55Birdman - 16 Years Ago
I have front sway bar for tbird. Dont know if it will fit ,but if you can find out if it will you can have it real cheap.
By Doug T - 16 Years Ago
The original company for aftermarket swaybars is called Addco.  They make hundreds of kinds of applications and you should be able to find one exactly for your '57. Their web site gives the distributors they work through.

  Most improvement comes from a bigger front bar,  a rear bar is not as dramatic an improvement.  Do not go too far with the rear bar particularly.  Also stiffer front springs that have the same or lower ride height will help a lot.  Of course be sure that all A arm bushings are in good shape.  In 50 + year old cars the springs and bushings are all pretty tired but the geometry of the front suspensions has not changed much.  So new wear parts and stiffer springs and antisway bars will bring the handling up to near modern standards.

By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
The Bird bar will not bolt on a '57 passenger car, but that's not to say it can't be made to fit.  The Bird bar is bolted to the frame with rubber bushings and have links to the lower A arms.  The '57 bar is clamped to the lower A arms with two rubber bushed brackets per side, and no connection to the frame.
By paul2748 - 16 Years Ago
Try Thunderbirds Southwest. They have sway bars for almost any Ford. www.thunderbirdsouthwest.com
By Fordy Guy - 16 Years Ago
     Several years ago I bought a front and rear stabilizer kit from Addco for my 55 Bird. I used the front bar but had to put a 1/4 inch spacer between the rubber mounts where the original bar mounted so it wouldn't rub on the sheet metal ahead of the radiator. As far as the rear mount, I couldn't mount it the way I liked as it seemed a little to narrow. One of these days I'll mount a plate to the frame and move the frame mount location about 2 inches inboard of the frame so it will line up better. But the front bar works great.

 Bud in Arizona

By paul f - 16 Years Ago
Kid, 

Installed the front and rear bars from Thunderbirds Southwest, a few years ago and was pleased with the results.  (still)  The kit was very complete.

By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
I've found that listings for rear bars only, are hard to find. In 1955, wagons & sedan del's had 1/8" bigger front bar, but I don't think they will fit a 1957. What ever you decide on, don't go overboard on a front bar. A big bar will control roll, (incorrectly referred to as sway) but it puts stress on the front of the car & may promote excessive understeer, or ploughing to the the outside, if that explains it better. A light rear bar combined with the stock front, may be the better answer.
By suede57ford - 16 Years Ago
I have purchased the Thunderbirds Southwest Sway bars and no longer use them.  The front hangs really low, had to go back to stock as it looked so bad and hit everything. Their rear did help a bunch and I liked it until I minitubbed it.   The rear is worth the money especially if you add wider tires that rub on turns.   

I converted to a '59 Ford Station Wagon front bar. The Station wagon is the bigger one.  I had to put rivnuts in the frame to mount it like the '59  I also converted to a set of aftermarket sway bar ends and links and mounts to get urethane while I was mounting it.  Works Awsome!!! and does not hang down at all, and works better than the Southwest Bar.

I noticed a '58 Edsel Ranger has a nice sized bar that looks like it will work on our cars too.  Make sure and get all the attatching parts when you get it.  You may have to add rivnuts to the frame to put it on a '57.

I recently used a' 57 scrub after market rear sway that actually pionts backwards and also, mounts above the rear end. It was only $100 on ebay. It Fits amazingly good with my narrowed frame and minitubed, and would work on a stock '57 Ford.

By kidcourier - 16 Years Ago
  Thanks for all your responses,called Thunderbirds Southwest(Paul F./Paul2748) and they have swaybars/mounting kits up to 1 1/8" for fronts($226) and 1" for rear($180) for '57 Ford wagon/sedan delivery! Does this size seem to big and what was the stock size on the front for '57 wagons/deliverys? Paul F. do you remember what size swaybars you installed on your wagon,any handling issues? Agin,thanks all for your responses,KID
By paul f - 16 Years Ago
Kid,

For my '54 wagon I used 1" (#519)front, 1"(658)rear.  These will not be the same for 57.   It was a tight fit up front with lower hose, and in the rear the outboard mounts required welding to frame.  That said with new bushings (I had whole front end apart), the car is tight and sure on the road.  Hope this helps with your decision.  PF 

By Tom Compton - 16 Years Ago
I have the 1 1/8" front installed on my 56 but have not installed the 1" rear at this time.  No complaints but again that is on a 56.

TC

By yfreak57 - 16 Years Ago
I have also 1 1/8" installed in front and works well. Got also 1" to rear waiting for installation.