• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Why do ebay listings for torsion bars designate small block or big block only?

Dibbons

Well-Known Member
Local time
1:06 PM
Joined
Nov 29, 2014
Messages
5,011
Reaction score
6,030
Location
La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
Never changed a torsion bar, but I am thinking about upgrading. I was confused looking at bars on Ebay that show different(?) bars for big block and small block. I assumed the B Body chassis structure was the same for either motor. Is there a difference in torsion bar mounts between the two motors. I have a 1972 SSP. Thank you.
 
71-2 Sat from Collision manual
00Tbar71-2.jpg
 
PST on ebay lists two different BBody 1.03 " diameter torsion bars that have different part numbers but the same price: TOR4830 and TOR4830 BB. That is my confusion. The first one is listed for small block only and the second for big block only but they are the same advertised diameter.

Problem solved
Answer from Ebay:
There is no difference. Our old design bars used to differ between small and big block but these new bars will work for all engines. It was just easier to leave the listings up on EBay rather than remove them. Sorry for the confusion.
 
Last edited:
The only difference I know is 73 and up uses a longer 43" bar.
 
Yep Different.

Different thickness.

Although I find it hard to believe that chart that seems to say all station wagons used the same bars as 6 cyl cars.
 
Small Block T bars are on .82" to .90" thickness rate.

Big Block are from that up to .96" or even 1" thick on C bodies.

is all about the spring rate to hold the engine weight.

The shorter the bar, less thickness required to hold same weight... this is considered to the body lenght. This is because longer bars gets the torsion shared over more surface all allong the bar
 
The other thing to keep in mind is that the original bars were meant for engines with original horsepower ratings. Many engines today exceed what they had coming from the factory, which is why you should use a 1" or bigger bar.
 
...and of course there's the drag racing weight transfer crowd that puts 6 cyl bars on big block cars.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top