Hey all, Been a while since I have been on here. Deployments, family deaths, and moving have taken up the better part of the last 2 years. All that being said I am finally getting back to working on the firebird but I am having a problem maybe you have the solution too.
I am finally installing my Hotchkis rear sway bar set up and as I go to bolt up the sway bar it doesn't fit. I double check my purchase (unfortunately its a few years old so doubtful I can return it) and its correct, Hotchkiss website says its correct, several sites say its correct but it wont fit between the factory 1967 lower control/torque arm brackets. I have been told I have an odd/rare rear end for the firebird which may be the issue. I have one of the nodular iron rear ends that appears to have started life out of the Tempest/GTO/LeMans line before being modified for the firebird with both lower control/torque arms. That being said, all my brackets are in the factory location, this is the original factory 67 firebird rear end.
Hey all, Been a while since I have been on here. Deployments, family deaths, and moving have taken up the better part of the last 2 years. All that being said I am finally getting back to working on the firebird but I am having a problem maybe you have the solution too.
I am finally installing my Hotchkis rear sway bar set up and as I go to bolt up the sway bar it doesn't fit. I double check my purchase (unfortunately its a few years old so doubtful I can return it) and its correct, Hotchkiss website says its correct, several sites say its correct but it wont fit between the factory 1967 lower control/torque arm brackets. I have been told I have an odd/rare rear end for the firebird which may be the issue. I have one of the nodular iron rear ends that appears to have started life out of the Tempest/GTO/LeMans line before being modified for the firebird with both lower control/torque arms. That being said, all my brackets are in the factory location, this is the original factory 67 firebird rear end. Opinions? I am going to call Hotchkis tomorrow. Thanks Chas
Thinking you might have already answered your own question if I understood you correctly. The note says , like you mentioned, Rear sway bar may not be compatible with 1967 models with factory traction bars, but you say that this rear-end started life out as a Tempest/GTO/Lemans? If that is true, than this kit will not fit your rear-end. Unfortunately, I do not even think if you were to get a kit for a Tempest/GTO/Lemans that it would even work since you stated that the rear-end has been modded to fit your car and those vehicles are A-Bodies not F-bodies. Hope you figure something out. I would look into getting a rear-end that is for your 67 if I was you, but it is your car so you have to do what you think is best. Good luck.
Bob, Not necessarily true from what I have found. Early 1967s could have no control arms. Then they went to the tempest pumpkins with the upper ears and could have gotten one of 3 different traction bar configurations. So what I have found is that I have a 1967 8.2 Pontiac Safe-T-Track 4 pinion carrier 3.55 gear set, nodular grey iron diff, and both lower control arms. All original and factory. I believe I even have the forged axles that make it a HD SAFE-T-TRACK.
I have not come across anyone with the same configuration rear end as this. Even when I have talked to life long Pontiac/firebird gurus and speed shops that specialize in suspension parts they are surprised to hear about my rear end configuration.
USMC-ORDY The ones that said not compatable were different makes from AMES, not the Hotchkis ones. I called them today and they did confirm that if I do in fact have both lower control arms this will not work on my FB.
This rear end IS for my firebird. Pontiac had a bit of a panic moment mid 67 to solve a severe axle wrap problem with the mono leaf rear ends. So they started throwing parts at it until the 68 rear ends came out with the upgrades. I have one of those weird set ups.
Chas, as far as I have understood, all 67 birds had the traction bar setup and the ears on the pumpkin. It may be that the camaros picked up the traction bars mid year
By factory traction bar, I assume you mean the radius rods? According to the "Definitive Firebird and Trans Am Guide 1967-1969", "Every 1967 Firebird rear axle has provisions to accommodate a radius rod beneath each axle tube, but the actual number of rods varied with the application" It also shows Service Bulletin 67-I-38 that has a table indicating the zero, one and two rod applications. Only the 6 cylinder automatic with less than a 3.23:1 ratio had no radius rod. The manual Sprints and V8s got two rods and the rest got one right rod.
It's not just the maro thing. It's when these companies lump these parts into "67-69" that things get funky. As far as they're concerned all three years were the same. Well, shock, they're not! Whenever you see parts listed as fitting all three years it's a good idea to take a much closer look at whether it will actually work for you application.
