Monte carlo bar install 67 fb

mikec35

Member

Jul 6, 2004

233

2

19

NC

Nov 3, 2007

#1

• Nov 3, 2007

• #1

How much would you expect to have to spread the shock towers to make one of these fit? I have a curved one that is a full 1 inch too long. I think it was made too long. My car is dead level with no engine/transmission. Spreading the shock towers 1 inch is way too much. Anyone have a measurement from a bar that fits?
Thanks

 

Jsprint68

New Member

Sep 10, 2003

54

0

0

NJ

Nov 3, 2007

#2

• Nov 3, 2007

• #2

My bar fit perfectly even after I replaced the shock tower. Did you get the 67-68 specific bar or the generic one?

How long is your bar?

I’ll get out to the garage soon and I’ll measure what I have.

 

coolblue65

Founding Member

Jul 26, 1999

1,224

2

39

Algonquin, IL

Nov 3, 2007

#3

• Nov 3, 2007

• #3

Mine didn't fit in my 65 at first, I ended up loosening all the fendor bolts & export brace then jacking the car up by the lower cross member and let it settle in the air for a day. It was still tight, so then I took a 4x4 block of wood and a BF Hammer and gave it a couple smacks.

Fits great now, and it fixed my alignement issues.

 

Tim65GT

Active Member

Feb 24, 2004

1,149

2

39

West Texas

Nov 3, 2007

#4

• Nov 3, 2007

• #4

Mine didn't fit in my 65 at first, I ended up loosening all the fendor bolts & export brace then jacking the car up by the lower cross member and let it settle in the air for a day. It was still tight, so then I took a 4x4 block of wood and a BF Hammer and gave it a couple smacks.

Fits great now, and it fixed my alignement issues.

Click to expand...

Same here...except the BFH part.

I spread mine about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch with this arangement:

 

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mikec35

Member

Jul 6, 2004

233

2

19

NC

Nov 3, 2007

#5

• Nov 3, 2007

• #5

Surely these cars haven't settled that much over the years! When I measure the bar and the distance between the shock towers this thing is exactly 1 inch too wide. I can't imagine spreading the towers 1 inch to install this thing is good for the car?? What would that do for fender alignment? I am not sure of the length of mine since its at the shop, but I think my body man said it was 41" and the shock towers were 40".
EDIT: I just looked at 2 catalogs. I see they now list bars specific to 67-68. When I bought this one a few years ago I remember it being for 65-70. Don't remember them listing 67-68 specific.

 

69gmachine

Member

Dec 2, 2004

576

2

19

Southern Maryland

Nov 3, 2007

#6

• Nov 3, 2007

• #6

Tim65GT said:

Same here...except the BFH part.

I spread mine about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch with this arangement:

Click to expand...

Now that is one cool chassis alignment rig, I have that exact same spreader in my garage and just didn't realize it!

 

B

bnickel

Founding Member

Aug 21, 2002

5,640

3

77

lubbock, texas

Nov 3, 2007

#7

• Nov 3, 2007

• #7

i'm about to have to do the very same thing myself. and yes, they can sag that much over the years especially if the car has been rode hard and out wet or just generally driven hard.

 

R

ron67fb

Founding Member

Aug 3, 2001

1,117

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36

SF Bay area, CA

Nov 3, 2007

#8

• Nov 3, 2007

• #8

I had to put mine in at an angle, then hammer it straight. Didn't solve the mystery of the extra holes on the bottom, though.

 

coolblue65

Founding Member

Jul 26, 1999

1,224

2

39

Algonquin, IL

Nov 5, 2007

#9

• Nov 5, 2007

• #9

Tim65GT said:

Same here...except the BFH part.

I spread mine about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch with this arangement:

Click to expand...

I tried that as well, but your picture describes it better then words.

Mikec35-Here is what i can tell you. using all the threads on my control arms and packing them with shims, my front end had horrible negative camber. After I installed the Monte Carlo bar there was an immediate change to positive/neutral camber, i was able to remove a 3/8" or so worth of shims to get the alignment specs i wanted. Also, my fendors would rub on the front edge of the hood chipping the paint off, spreading the towers gave back the clearance I was missing.

So, as far as panel alignment, that is an after thought IMO, get your chasis right then worry about aligning the panels, everything will fit fine.

 

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dennis112

15 Year Member

May 15, 2005

1,561

36

79

Amish Wonderland of Central PA.

Nov 5, 2007

#10

• Nov 5, 2007

• #10

Tim65GT said:

Same here...except the BFH part.

I spread mine about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch with this arangement:

Click to expand...

I used this method also, plus had to force the RH shock tower a little farther from the firewall. The neat thing is that after driving the car for a year, I had to R&R the export brace to freshen the motor. When I went to reinstall the brace, it required no additional work. It fit fine, even when the motor was installed. The car must have been re-tweaked to the correct shape after the year of driving.

 

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68_stanger

New Member

Nov 21, 2003

131

0

0

Petoskey, MI

Nov 5, 2007

#11

• Nov 5, 2007

• #11

Wow Im glad to see I wasn't the only one who had to end up using 4x4's and a jack to get that sucker in there. It worked well, gets my vote.

 

mikec35

Member

Jul 6, 2004

233

2

19

NC

Nov 5, 2007

#12

• Nov 5, 2007

• #12

Thanks for the info guys. Can anyone give me the measurements for the correct bar? I bought one a few years back for a 65-70. Now they have one specific for a 67-68. I want to make sure I have the right bar. I would need the measurement right under the round part of the bar, where it sits on top of the inner fenders. Thanks..