Mopar Muscle Association UK

My 68 Charger came with a new pair of replacement torsion bars. The ones on the car seem ok and before we change them we've compared the sizes - they look the same. BUT the numbers stamped on the ends differ. The ones off the original car say 487 front on one end (front) and 779 (on rear). The replacements i have say 109 on the front and 780 on the rear end. DOES THIS MEAN THEY ARE DIFFERENT? SHALL I BOTHER CHANGING THEM? ARE THEY RATED DIFFERENTLY FOR ENGINE SIZES OR SOMETHING?

Any advice as we're putting the K frame back on tomorrow...

The bars are different thicknesses depending on how heavy the engine or car is and how well you want the car to handle. The thicker the bar the better it will handle. Just a mm thicker makes a big difference so no way can you eyeball them for size.

You will also notice that the ends are offset from each other. The thicker the bar the less offset there is.

Have you tried offering a vernier gauge up to them?


Dave, are all bars metalurgically the same? Is it just cross sectional area increase that was used to give added torsional stiffness?

Clive. Yes.

Is there just one type of bar for big blocks then, or is there an RT and a Hemi one?

Righto, cheers guys. So how many are available and i wonder whether these new ones are better? The previous owner did also buy and fit some R/T rear leafs so perhaps he bought better torsion bars???

In reply to both of you. I don't know that much about Chargers but on the Challengers the 440 and 426 had the biggest bars, the 383 had a slightly smaller one that was optional on the other models as "Heavy Duty". Normally R/T versions of cars came with heavy duty suspension as standard.

Dave, you are a font of knowledge son. I am tempted to chuck the new ones in there as they are thicker. It shouldn't harm should it?

They will be better for handling, and they won't have had 40 years of service

Remember, they are handed

good call. Yes, I saw that they have R and L on them...

....would hate to get that wrong. With them and a fresh set of KYBs plus sway bar link bushes she should ride ok. I am going to stick with the death drums (no servo) for the time being and just get her driving. Maybe next winter if I am not living on the streets I can think about poncy ignition systems and discs and powder coated undercarriages. The impala reassembly is more than enough hassle and skintness in terms of detailing...

Bare in mind that if you increase the spring rates at the front you also have to increase the rates at the rear (already done?). Otherwise you will under steer badly. Assuming that the original set-up was ideal of course. Which often it wasn't.

You will soon find out if it understeers or oversteers when you get it on the road. You can fine tune it then.

Patina Charger wrote:Dave, you are a font of knowledge son.

Didn't realise you were pushing 70.

Decided to fit new torsion bars in the end. The oriignal owner reckoned they were R/T and he'd already fitted new R/T rear leafs so fingers X'd

Hi Pat and Tina,

Standard 383 bars are 0.92in dia.
R/T and Hemi are 0.94in dia.

Uprated are 0.96in, and superstreet are 1.00in dia.

All bars are between $200/$300 plus shipping, approx £50.

Happy Baccy