I recently parted out a pair of 66 Pontiac wagons, both had F40 HD suspension. I saved one of the panhard bars because my Grande Parisienne, odd as it may seem on a car with a 396 and air conditioning, was built without F40.
Anyway, when I removed the plain suspension bar from my car today, this is what I've found. I've seen many of these bent in the past and it seems this one is too. Some guys seem to think that these bars had a bend from the factory but I'm not convinced.
And the F40 bars don't have a bend, same size bar and everything, just a different bushing in the right end of the F40 bar vs the plain bar.
The panhard bar under the 66 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is also bent, it has the small bushing at each end of the bar.
The panhard bar under the 69 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is not bent, it has the large bushing at the differential end.
The panhard bar under the 66 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is also bent, it has the small bushing at each end of the bar. The panhard bar under the 69 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is not bent, it has the large bushing at the differential end.
So according to that the 66 must be a 4 link diff and the 69 is likely 3?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
The panhard bar under the 66 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is also bent, it has the small bushing at each end of the bar. The panhard bar under the 69 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is not bent, it has the large bushing at the differential end.
So according to that the 66 must be a 4 link diff and the 69 is likely 3?
I've never seen a 3 link in a 69, but will take another look. I know it was only a 10 bolt, whereas the 66 was a 12 bolt.
As an aside, all my 1970 cars had the large bushing on the differential end, as well as the 69 2+2 chassis I put under my 70 Parisienne. I've slowly been changing them out for bars with equal bushings on each end.
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Saturday 10th of August 2024 10:31:42 AM
The panhard bar under the 66 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is also bent, it has the small bushing at each end of the bar. The panhard bar under the 69 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is not bent, it has the large bushing at the differential end.
So according to that the 66 must be a 4 link diff and the 69 is likely 3?
I've never seen a 3 link in a 69, but will take another look. I know it was only a 10 bolt, whereas the 66 was a 12 bolt.
As an aside, all my 1970 cars had the large bushing on the differential end, as well as the 69 2+2 chassis I put under my 70 Parisienne. I've slowly been changing them out for bars with equal bushings on each end.
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Saturday 10th of August 2024 10:31:42 AM
Ok, I've never dug into it in the books. Maybe later years didn't use the same criteria for the bars and bushings as the early years (65-66)
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
The previous owner (66Grande_guy) must have been a bit of a redneck.......
Know any reason why this bar is bent Ken
I think you've hit the nail on the head, plus the comment about the massive load of stuff I hauled with that car may have had something to do with it. I've been viewing but am reluctant to comment on all your posts re this car as i was hoping you'd forgotten who sold you that thing with all its flaws.
You warned me it had some weak spots that needed attention and the one major thing I wasn't warned about, you made it right. I'm having fun, even though it's taking me longer than I had hoped.
This car will have every available power option for 1966 Grande Parisienne when I'm done. And it won't be missing many options overall as well.
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
The panhard bar under the 66 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is also bent, it has the small bushing at each end of the bar. The panhard bar under the 69 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is not bent, it has the large bushing at the differential end.
So according to that the 66 must be a 4 link diff and the 69 is likely 3?
I've never seen a 3 link in a 69, but will take another look. I know it was only a 10 bolt, whereas the 66 was a 12 bolt.
As an aside, all my 1970 cars had the large bushing on the differential end, as well as the 69 2+2 chassis I put under my 70 Parisienne. I've slowly been changing them out for bars with equal bushings on each end.
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Saturday 10th of August 2024 10:31:42 AM
Ok, I've never dug into it in the books. Maybe later years didn't use the same criteria for the bars and bushings as the early years (65-66)
If I recall, 69-70 station wagons used panhard bars with the same size small bushings on each end, but don't quote me on that.
The panhard bar under the 66 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is also bent, it has the small bushing at each end of the bar. The panhard bar under the 69 Parisienne at Pick n Pull in Calgary is not bent, it has the large bushing at the differential end.
So according to that the 66 must be a 4 link diff and the 69 is likely 3?
I've never seen a 3 link in a 69, but will take another look. I know it was only a 10 bolt, whereas the 66 was a 12 bolt.
As an aside, all my 1970 cars had the large bushing on the differential end, as well as the 69 2+2 chassis I put under my 70 Parisienne. I've slowly been changing them out for bars with equal bushings on each end.
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Saturday 10th of August 2024 10:31:42 AM
Ok, I've never dug into it in the books. Maybe later years didn't use the same criteria for the bars and bushings as the early years (65-66)
If I recall, 69-70 station wagons used panhard bars with the same size small bushings on each end, but don't quote me on that.
Both the 66 Parisienne with the 12 bolt, and the 69 Parisienne with the 10 bolt are 4 link rear suspension.
On the Large/small end, I didn't remember which one came off the 1969 2+2.
An extra bar came with the car.
Both bars have the identical lenth from hole to hole.
I blasted and painted the small end panhard bar as it was the cleanest.
The white car has a large ended bar.
Maybe the small end bar was saved by the constant oil leak of a 350
My early build 1969 (Nov. 5, 1968) 2+2 came with the large & small bushing ended bar. I mention the build date because you, Randy, are the guru on mid year changes. Might I ask why the differences in the bars? I have heard it has to due with the amount of deflection the bushings give.
-- Edited by gtodrive on Monday 19th of August 2024 11:59:40 AM
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