View Full Version : Larger Swaybar on a Convertible?


69rad
Feb 8th, 04, 05:49 AM
I've decided to go with high quality rubber A- arm bushings instead of poly, Eaton Detroit Springs and Koni shocks set pretty stiff.

The front sway bar on the car now is about 3/4".

Would going to a 1 1/8" cause any problems with under steer? The reason for the 1 1/8" instead of a one inch bar is that I got a good deal on the 1 1/8".

The car is a 69 sm blk convertible.

Any thoughts, opinions and experiences with larger bars on Converts?

Thanks for the info

ohcscott
Feb 8th, 04, 10:21 AM
yes, adding a larger front sway bar changes the balance of the car. unless that is what you are going for, a rear sway bar should be added at the same time. i dont know what size. i believe there are formulas available to determine this.

on a convertable, in particular, you will notice more bodyflex. you may want to put in subframe connectors too.

doing all 3 of these things at the same time will vastly improve the cornering feel of the car, while keeping the same balance.

69rad
Feb 8th, 04, 07:03 PM
So what if I just install the 1 1/8" bar only for now? Would it cause the car to handle poorly?
Flex so much I windshield cracks?

Or could I get away withit, but it would be over kill with out the other 2 upgrades?

DjD
Feb 8th, 04, 07:47 PM
It's been posted here many times, a rear sway bar is more likely than not to cause a 1st gen suspension to be out of balance unless the suspension is highly modified and you have a huge stiff front sway bar.

I have the large solid factory sway bar on the front of '69 ragtop without sub frame connectors. It's got to be almost as stiff as a 1 1/8" hollow bar. Mine was on the car when it had stock springs and 235/60/15's on rallys and stock multi leafs in the rear. In that configuration as well as it's current, (17's, 45 series tires, hotchiks drop springs front and rear and koni's) the front has never been too stiff or out of balance with the rear.

A sway bar isn't going to stiffen things so much to crack your windshield...

ohcscott
Feb 8th, 04, 11:32 PM
i didnt mean unbalanced. i just said it would change the balance, which it will. i should have rephrased my response, or read the question better. sorry.

on about every other car, if you want the balance to remain unchanged, you add to the rear and front at the same time. i did not know about the 1stgen problem with rear sways. sorry.

your convertable has more bodyflex now than a coupe. most people would not even notice it. with a thicker sway, if you noticed it before, you may notice it more. lots of people prefer subframe connectors, with or without swaybar upgrades. i wish i had some on my coupe.

i cant imagine being able to get the car to where it would crack the windshield without some pretty major stuff.
brother and i (mostly him) had a monza coupe with huge sway bars front and rear. stock 350 CA special. it liked to tear the motor mounts brackets from their welds. it did great until we added really sticky tires, then it almost tore itself in half from the bodyflex around turns. windshield was fine. he traded it for 2 4packs of guiness stout. keep in mind a monza's strength and durability in no way compares to a camaro. it's just a neat story.

again, sorry if my response was misleading, or misinformed. looks like we both learned something from it tho'. i know i did.
graemlins/beers.gif

CarlC
Feb 9th, 04, 06:28 AM
A hollow (Hotchkis) 1 1/8" bar has basically the same rate as a 1" solid bar.

That means that a 1 1/8" solid bar is the same as TWO 1" bars. Pretty stiff!

Rear bars are not all created equal. The Hotchkis bar is mounted inboard near the center section so it's effective rate for a 3/4" bar is very low. Another 3/4" bar mounted at the spring plate may have a much higher rate. For most performance applications a 1" solid, or equivalent, front bar with a balanced set of front and rear springs will yield good results.

69rad
Feb 9th, 04, 09:11 AM
I'm not sure if it is hollow or not, it is a Hellwig. It should arrive today. It is Cro-moly so I bet it may be hollow.

Anyhow Summit has a very good price on it $122.95, you have to serch it by manufacturer (Hellwig) and then part # (5795 for the 1 1/8") the 1" is a 5705 and is $149.95.).

I wasn't serious about the windshied cracking
Thanks for the info

69rad
Mar 4th, 04, 05:43 PM
Wellthat Hellwig bar was JUNK!!

Poor finish, looked like my 2 year old painted it with roofing tar. It had 90 degree single bends at the end instead of the double bends the stock one had.

I sent that thing right back to Summit and got an Addco from Tanaraz parts on ebay for 109.00.

VERY NICE finish and fit and has the bends like the stock one.

I also went with the 1" that 1 1/8" Hellwig was huge. Keep the 1 1/8's for the big blocks.