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Suspension options on '73 Barracuda

Started by b5cuda, December 15, 2017, 04:24:30 PM

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b5cuda

My car came without fender tag and I'm curious whether the five-leaf springs with sway-bar tabs were standard on a '73 Barracuda, or was that a heavy duty option?  The leafs have white over-spray so I think they are original. 

IRON MAN

My 73 Challenger is all numbers matching 340, Auto, 8-3/4" . Rear suspension is 4-1/2 leaves with sway bar.

anlauto

I believe that by 1973 there was only one leaf spring option for the E Body.
I've taught you everything you know....but I haven't taught you everything I know....
Check out my web site ....  Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration


RUNCHARGER

Rear sway bar would denote rallye suspension i believe.
Sheldon

b5cuda

Thanks for input guys!  Based on the presence of rear sway bar tabs, I will assume this car originally came with the heavy-duty suspension option.

nsmall

@Burdar you copy?  I bet Burdar has a good guess on this question. He's the 72-74 stud muffin.

6bblgt

1973 & 1974
S13 = Suspension Heavy-Duty
BH23 - OPTIONAL, BS23 - STANDARD
    S13 included w/OPTIONAL 340 engine in BH23 (360 engine for 1974)
    S13 required w/318 & T86 (F70-14 white stripe) or T87 (F70-14 w/RWL) fiberglass-belted tires

STANDARD BH23 suspension
775/774 torsion bars
344/344 rear springs
NO sway bars

S13 HD suspension
779/778 torsion bars
594/594 rear springs
ft & rr sway bars


Burdar

I believe the dealer data guide shows the rear sway bar not available with 318. That isn't accurate. The sway bar was included with the rallye suspension. It didn't matter what engine the car came with.

anlauto

I've never seen a 73-74 without a front sway bar :alan2cents:
I've taught you everything you know....but I haven't taught you everything I know....
Check out my web site ....  Alan Gallant Automotive Restoration

b5cuda

Awesome help guys - that's the info I was looking for!  The springs are 594 with rear sway bar mounts, and there are marks on the frame where the swaybar would have connected (was gone by the time I got the car).  But the torsion bar is 775 - so leaves me guessing whether it was a mismatch from the factory, or maybe someone swapped out torsion bars?  It was a 318 car, based on VIN.   

6bblgt



b5cuda

Wasn't one on the car when I got it, but it looks like it had one at some point.

6bblgt

do your lower control arms have the tab on them to connect to the sway bar?  lots of stuff happens/changes over 40+ years  :looney:

b5cuda

Good point!  No, no front sway bar tabs on the LCA's.  K-frame has variation in color where the brackets would mount, but hard to say.  After 45 years, a lot can happen.

6bblgt

 :takepicture: take a picture for @anlauto

at this point I'd bet the rear axle & springs were swapped, you can start checking date codes if still curious about it