Posting for the post project update
There
is a tilt to the sway bar
"Murphy" told me how to install the bar. and sure enough it was wrong - bar did not line up with "bolt downs" by the wheels.
Flipped to the correct orientation - and voila - the parts fit together.
Now to the next project - I'm finding a car with 188,000 miles needs wear-out partts need replacing.
found the front bearings need replaced