Lookie what $5000 buys you....

[Kern Dog]

The ends of the bar were cut off using a steel cutting disc in a Skilsaw. A chop saw will work but the one I had was taking too long.

Test fit to ensure the length was right....

I had to cut a little more off.

 

[Kern Dog]

There is a little bit of fore/aft movement in the "D" bushing mount brackets. The more rearward, the shorter the sway bar "lever-arms" need to be. The shorter they are, the stiffer they will be....Basic principle of leverage at play here. Your clearance in the K member may dictate actual final placement.
I did have to cut a little more off each end to get them to rest directly below the LCA brackets. Once the sway bar was cut to size, I used a flapper disc on a 4" grinder to taper the ends for the end links.

I tried to drill through the bar but my bits barely got 1/4" in before giving up. I took the bar to my local machine shop and for $30, he drilled 2 holes 7/16" in diameter. I took a Dremel and bit to the holes to taper the openings. THis will allow articulation without putting the end link bolts in a bind.

 

[Kern Dog]

I had the stock brackets to mount to the K member but I decided to make different ones out of 3/8" x 1 1/2" aluminum. This allowed me to position the bar right where I wanted.

The D bushings have Zerk fittings to avoid squeaks.

 

[Kern Dog]

Note the size difference between the black Chevy bar, the gold Addco bar and a stock bar.

 

[Kern Dog]

In place with urethane end link bushings.

Total cost:
UNDER $100 ! $ 41 for the bar from a self serve junkyard, $26 for the D bushings and $30 to have the machine shop drill the holes.
The Firm Feel bar was over $400 with tax and shipping.

 

[BDF6]

Nice work

 

[ckessel]

Slick.

 

[Kern Dog]

These ugly aluminum wheels were mounted last year because I had some 15" tires and wanted to use the widest wheels that I had here.
There is no way that I would have ever chosen these ugly wheels unless they were free and already here.

Painted black, they don't look quite as bad.

 

[Kern Dog]

I decided to make a change. I found a set of 15 x 7 steel wheels on an '85 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. No rust, they appear straight too. I dismounted the tires and cleaned them up.

I sprayed them with Rustoleum glossy black. This stuff dries S-L-O-W.....
Even sitting in the 100 degree sunlight, they are still tacky after a half hour. Krylon would have been dry to the touch by now.

Ah, well....They will look better than these even though it takes awhile to dry.

 

[moparedtn]

I decided to make a change. I found a set of 15 x 7 steel wheels on an '85 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. No rust, they appear straight too. I dismounted the tires and cleaned them up.

View attachment 1118032 View attachment 1118033

I sprayed them with Rustoleum glossy black. This stuff dries S-L-O-W.....
Even sitting in the 100 degree sunlight, they are still tacky after a half hour. Krylon would have been dry to the touch by now.

View attachment 1118034

Ah, well....They will look better than these even though it takes awhile to dry.

View attachment 1118035

View attachment 1118036

 

[hyde-park]

I decided to make a change. I found a set of 15 x 7 steel wheels on an '85 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. No rust, they appear straight too. I dismounted the tires and cleaned them up.

View attachment 1118032 View attachment 1118033

I sprayed them with Rustoleum glossy black. This stuff dries S-L-O-W.....
Even sitting in the 100 degree sunlight, they are still tacky after a half hour. Krylon would have been dry to the touch by now.

View attachment 1118034

Ah, well....They will look better than these even though it takes awhile to dry.

View attachment 1118035

View attachment 1118036

I'd attach the black 15" x 7"'s with chrome lug nuts to give that "brass knuckle brawler" look like the factory A12 cars had.

 

[Kern Dog]

Yes sir, that is the plan!

 

[66 Sat]

I decided to make a change. I found a set of 15 x 7 steel wheels on an '85 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. No rust, they appear straight too. I dismounted the tires and cleaned them up.

View attachment 1118032 View attachment 1118033

I sprayed them with Rustoleum glossy black. This stuff dries S-L-O-W.....
Even sitting in the 100 degree sunlight, they are still tacky after a half hour. Krylon would have been dry to the touch by now.

View attachment 1118034

Ah, well....They will look better than these even though it takes awhile to dry.

View attachment 1118035

View attachment 1118036

I'd take them out of the sun - it might screw up the paint adhesion as the metal will be too hot. They might dry quicker in the shade with a fan circulating the air around them.

 

[Kern Dog]

The problem can also be that they dry too quick in the direct sunlight. When this happens, I've had a coarse texture instead of a smooth finish.
These turned out pretty good. They will obviously be the cleanest looking part of the exterior!

 

[Habib]

I love black steelies!! Great choice, kern. I wonder if you will have the white lettering on the outside still or inside when u swap them out. I prefer inside when using steelies. But that's just me. I'm not gonna tell you how to build your car.

 

[Kern Dog]

That is considerate but I welcome all suggestions and even a few insults!

 

[eldubb440]

That is considerate but I welcome all suggestions and even a few insults!

the ugly aluminum ones you painted black are more fitting of the "theme"

 

[Kern Dog]

Maybe so.

 

[ckessel]

Krylon dries fast but you need way more coats for coverage since there is very little pigment in the paint. Rust Oleum has pigment in theirs. RO works great for covering overspray and older paint for this reason. It may take longer to dry but the trade off is worth it. The Hard Hat version, big silver can, dries faster but it can still be a little soft even after a couple of hours in the sun. Best just to paint the items and handle them the next day.

 

[chargervert]

I prefer the white letters out with the black wheels and chrome lug nuts. Kind of the Nascar look.