PappyPete

I recently realized that my 63, which I recently did(on road3 summers, from 2016) a complete body off resto mod on, has standard front springs and shocks, but the stabilizer bar I put back was an F41, 15/16" bar, instead of the standard 3/4" bar. The rear suspension is a standard leaf, with standard shocks, and the engine is a 327, with 4 speed. Can anyone tell me if the ride is stiffer/harsher with the thicker stabilizer bar, or just that the car has less "lean" during turns, but a similar ride?

jim lockwood

That 15/16 bar is 2.44X as stiff as the 3/4 bar. You'll likely notice that. The big effect, if you push your car to the limits of tire grip, will be that it will have more pronounced understeer. That is, instead of turning, the front end will just plow right off the road

wmf62

unless there is differential movement (up and/or down) of each wheel there will be no difference in ride harshness; if the wheels move up and down at the same time (such as a dip in the road) there will be no difference. AND I doubt you will notice much difference with differential movement (such as a bumpy road); the value is in counteracting 'lean' while cornering when there is a potentially large difference in respective wheel movement.
so, as far as harshness, don't worry about it
Bill

Frankie the Fink

Which means you'd better get familiar with the new handling characteristics of the car after this change if you push it.
Stay within your skill level....

wmf62

Jim is right, if you're going to run the big bar then you need to add the rear bar to correct for the understeer.
Bill

PappyPete

Factoid

jim lockwood

There is handling and there is ride comfort. The two are not the same.

Handling describes what the vehicle will do at the limits of tire adhesion. You already know how that large bar will affect handling.... the car won't want to turn.

Ride comfort is, well, ride comfort. As WMF62 pointed out, as long as both front wheels see the same disturbance at the same time, the bar will have no effect. On the other hand, if only one wheel encounters a bump or a pot hole, I believe you'll feel that in the car as additional ride harshness. How much and will it be tolerable? You'll have to judge that.

Jim

Paulami

The sway bar on my '56 does not have a notch, if I understand that correctly, and it is 11/16". Would that already be a later bar? If not, what diameter is the '62 bar?

QIK59

Exactly - your car will feel more responsive - less lean.
Road racing will be another story

QIK59

That IS the early "notched" bar that you have - the term "notch" in this useage is VERY misleading - the bar has an offset not a notch per se.
The 1960-1962 front bar is 13/16" diameter and would be a good improvement