'59 Plymouth Forum

For those that might have built some 1976 Volares, or own later model year Mopars with the transverse torsion bars...

My 59 Savoy has the 1976 Volare subframe and is now sagging on the passenger side by better than 1 1/2 inches compared to the right side. Is this adjustment common and can any automotive front end shop make this repair or should I take to a Mopar front-end specialist?

Do these torsion bars go out of adjustment often or could I have a more serious problem?

Thanks,
Curt

Curt, I did not know your 59 has a Volare/Aspen (F body) sub frame...Was the 59 frame cut off and this welded/bolted on? Just interested on how this was done on your car...

I will have to check it out this summer at Carlisle.


John Q.

Ricky,
So this repair should not be too costly?
Please say Yes it won't be costly.
Thanks,
Curt

Hi John,

The subframe went well back in 1996. We used a 1976 Plymouth Volare Premier station wagon as the donor car. We used the motor (318 w/8K miles) the 904 trans, and the 323 - 8 1/4 posi rear and a Road Runner Drive shaft.

The front end parts were loped off the 59 and the subframe was rolled underneath. Two small sections Maybe 3"x6" were cut from the outer section of each frame member. The subframe was bolted and welded into place. I purcahsed a volare tilt wheel and had that installled.

Now I just need to find a good front-end shop to level out the car. You can check out the sub frame work in Carlisle. I had it checked by another reputable street rod buoldrer and he claims the car is Spot-On in measurements.

Curt

If your parts are good, torsion bar adjustment and a front end alignment here in Colorado would cost at the most $75. Our Chrysler house will be a little higher at times. I do business with a Goodyear shop by where I work. Being I have done alignments I prefer the thrust angle style of aligning a car. These would cost a little more but are well worth the extra. These take angle readings from all wheels and make up for any descrepancies by adjusting to all..

Curt, according to Rick (Ricky Mopar) it does not look like it is to expensive to get you back on a even Keel. Hope it goes well!

John

A lot of these later torsion bar setups had a single 5/8 bolt for height adjustment. I want to say the bent torsion bars of the Volare' was this way but I may be wrong, its been decade since I've been under one. Of course you will want to check camber afterwards even if it does.