F41

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

RE: F41

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I just looked in the 65-70 Impala parts book. There is only one part number for front listed. However, as I have learned off this forum, they come in 2 sizes. I will look in my old parts book at home tonight. The book I have here at work does not say what size bar the front is. It is no longer available at any rate.

2qwik2c · Poncho Master!

The replacement rear sway bars that you can still get from GM are not the same as the ones that originally came on the cars from the factory. The difference is the bend in the bar under the diff is different. If you know what your looking at you can see it right away. Otherwise they are the same. The new ones bend sharper and the original ones are more gradual. Just figured I would point this out in case some one is doing a "CORRECT" resto.

2qwik2c · Poncho Master!

pontorquer wrote:

427strato,

Look in: Buysell Manitoba-Domestic car parts and accessories ! There is a F41 suspension package advertise for full size GM, bars and new bushings in the box... $250. 1-204-668-6566

I called the guy afew weeks ago and the set up is for a late 70's to 80's malibu etc.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I heard about these new GM bars last winter from a guy in the US who paid $99.00 US for one for his 69 Caprice. So I went off to the local Chevy dealer and gave the guys the part number. I figured with the dollar close to par I'd get it for a good price. It was available but the price was $299 Cdn. So I didn't bother with it as a I have a few mid 70s A body rear bars that look about the same and I know they fit because I had one on my 65 Parisienne for 9 years until I sold it. But I'd buy a new one for the prices being quoted here.

CdnGMfan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Back in January 1970 Dad bought a new 1970 Biscayne 6 cylinder. The only options were F40 h.d. suspension, T60 h.d. battery, plus an upgrade from F78-15 blackwalls to G78-15 blackwalls, The car came without a front stabilizer bar and had a 10-bolt rear. It had a 3-in-the-tree and a radio block-off plate.

I had read in some 1967 Chevrolet literature that the front stabilizer was omitted on Biscayne & Bel Air 6-cylinder sedans (2 & 4-door). The front stabilizer bar was standard with all V8s (that means all Caprices by default), Impalas both 6 & 8 cyl, and all wagons.
I also saw details of the RPO Z04 H.D. Chassis Equipment option, which added the front stabilizer to 6 cylinder Biscaynes & Bel Airs, F40 H.D. Suspension, plus a H.D Rear Axle (i.e. 12-bolt dual upper control arm rear differential).

A friends father had a 67 Oshawa-built 6-cyl. Biscayne with Z04. It also had Positraction, as did every RWD Chevy he ever ordered. Unfortunately I never knew what the diameter of the front bar was.

The F41 package on the B-bodies was offered starting with the 1966 models, big block only through 1970. Package contents included a larger front stabilizer, the addition of a rear stabilizer. H.D. Shocks (but standard rate springs), plus 6" wide wheels. Starting on the 67s it also included 70-series tires, redlines by default. 14x6 wheels were standard on drum brake F41 cars through 1967, but I ASSUME that they upgraded to 15x6 on F41 cars for 1968 (Ive seen a road test of a Baldwin / Motion 427 Biscayne in 68 with F41, G70-15 redlines, L72, M21, 4.56 gears(!), manual steering & manual drum brakes.) The Impala SS427 also came with 15x6 wheels for 68, and drum brakes were still standard. This is why I assumed that 427stratos car came with F40 suspension. I might have assumed incorrectly (see this thread).

Interesting thread...

427strato · Addicted!

I ordered my 68 427 with F41 and it came with 14x6 steel wheels and if I remember correctly 8.25x14 blackwall tires. Had I ordered it with disc brakes I am fairly certain it would have come with 15" rally wheels however I was not told this at the time hence the $156 price for disc brakes seemed very high for something you couldn't even see. This was almost three weeks wages at that time. Doug.

427strato · Addicted!

I just had an afterthought to my previous post of 2 minutes ago and wasn't sure of whether this would be of interest or not. I flipped my frame upside down yesterday afternoon to make it easier to get at the upper control arm bushings and the sway bar bolts. I snapped the sway bar bolts off and the bar still would not come off. There was no rust to speak of and I had a pipe on the end of a half inch ratchtet and it still wouldn't come off. I was thinking there was a threaded portion that I wasn't seeing and eventually I just heated it up and hit it with a BIG hammer. It finally fell off therefor I must be getting weak in my old age. Anyway it was the most difficult thing to get off of the whole frame and now I will proceed to the blasting of the frame and body. Doug.

2qwik2c · Poncho Master!

CdnGMfan wrote:

Back in January 1970 Dad bought a new 1970 Biscayne 6 cylinder. The only options were F40 h.d. suspension, T60 h.d. battery, plus an upgrade from F78-15 blackwalls to G78-15 blackwalls, The car came without a front stabilizer bar and had a 10-bolt rear. It had a 3-in-the-tree and a radio block-off plate.

I had read in some 1967 Chevrolet literature that the front stabilizer was omitted on Biscayne & Bel Air 6-cylinder sedans (2 & 4-door). The front stabilizer bar was standard with all V8s (that means all Caprices by default), Impalas both 6 & 8 cyl, and all wagons.
I also saw details of the RPO Z04 H.D. Chassis Equipment option, which added the front stabilizer to 6 cylinder Biscaynes & Bel Airs, F40 H.D. Suspension, plus a H.D Rear Axle (i.e. 12-bolt dual upper control arm rear differential).

A friends father had a 67 Oshawa-built 6-cyl. Biscayne with Z04. It also had Positraction, as did every RWD Chevy he ever ordered. Unfortunately I never knew what the diameter of the front bar was.

The F41 package on the B-bodies was offered starting with the 1966 models, big block only through 1970. Package contents included a larger front stabilizer, the addition of a rear stabilizer. H.D. Shocks (but standard rate springs), plus 6" wide wheels. Starting on the 67s it also included 70-series tires, redlines by default. 14x6 wheels were standard on drum brake F41 cars through 1967, but I ASSUME that they upgraded to 15x6 on F41 cars for 1968 (Ive seen a road test of a Baldwin / Motion 427 Biscayne in 68 with F41, G70-15 redlines, L72, M21, 4.56 gears(!), manual steering & manual drum brakes.) The Impala SS427 also came with 15x6 wheels for 68, and drum brakes were still standard. This is why I assumed that 427stratos car came with F40 suspension. I might have assumed incorrectly (see this thread).
Interesting thread...

In the 67 GM literature, brochures etc it does state that F41 cars recieved the 14x6 JK wheels but this is not to true. My documented 67 F41 Biscayne did not come with 14x6 wheels but the 14x5 wheels. This is stated on the docs as the car came with P76 tires which are 8.25x14. If it had the 6'' rims it would have been 8.55x14. I have copies of other 67 GM documented cars with F41 with the 14x5 rims too. I'm not sure about 1968 cars???? Also 67 F41 cars did have specific springs for the F41 package, more heavy duty matching the shocks. It is clearly stated in 67 GM assembly manuals. F41 uses totally different part numbers. Police cars with 6 cylinder and 283's could be had with F41. The Z04 package is interesting, basically it was the taxi heavy duty chassis released to the general public as a RPO for the Biscaynes.

2qwik2c · Poncho Master!

427strato wrote:

I ordered my 68 427 with F41 and it came with 14x6 steel wheels and if I remember correctly 8.25x14 blackwall tires. Had I ordered it with disc brakes I am fairly certain it would have come with 15" rally wheels however I was not told this at the time hence the $156 price for disc brakes seemed very high for something you couldn't even see. This was almost three weeks wages at that time. Doug.

Doug how are ya??? We would love to see some pics of your car. Do you have any???? new or old. Andrew.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

427strato wrote:

I ordered my 68 427 with F41 and it came with 14x6 steel wheels and if I remember correctly 8.25x14 blackwall tires. Had I ordered it with disc brakes I am fairly certain it would have come with 15" rally wheels however I was not told this at the time hence the $156 price for disc brakes seemed very high for something you couldn't even see. This was almost three weeks wages at that time. Doug.

In about 1976 I bought a 68 Bo body with 4 piston disc brakes. It had wheel covers. When we pulled the covers off there were rally wheels under there (15") and they were painted black. If I remember correctly, the parts book confirms this when you look up the rims for that year of car.

I pirated the discs and a bunch of steering linkage to put disc brakes on my 66 Grande Parisienne. I can't even remember what combination of parts it took to make that fit. I do remember being stumped at one point and my older brother in the auto wrecking came to my rescue to show me what went with what so it all fit.

427strato · Addicted!

Hi Andrew. I do have a couple of small pictures from when the car was new, however my ex took my digital camera and I haven't purchased a new one, not that I'd know how to use it much less get pictures on this site. I also have a couple of pictures from the day I reacquired the car however they are not very good. I hadn't looked at those pictures in a long time and interestingly enough I had them out earlier today in Woodstock when I went to pick up some 14x6 steel wheels; that individual having asked me if I had any original pictures of the car. Unfortunately I'm doing a body off on the 68 and have not taken a picture so far and this car is now APART. I should have the body and frame blasted within the next two weeks. Thanks for asking, Doug.