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#1
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What is the thickest factory F-body sway bar?
Looking to upgrade the original sway bars in my 75 Esprit with some factory pieces. It has the factory 1" thick front bar and 9/16" rear bar.
What were the largest factory bars they made? My 73 Formula has a 1-1/4 front. Is there a bigger bar that came in the later Trans Ams? 77 to 81? Thanks! |
#2
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1 1/4" front was used on all '70-81 TransAms.
the 3/4" rear was a '78-81 WS6 piece (along with own specific durometer bushings). 13/16" rear bar was a 73-74 T/A deal. Many 70's as well as all 71 & 72 T/A's & optional handling pkg '71-72 Formulas came with 7/8" rear bar. Several years back some company did a quality reproduction of the 7/8" rear bar.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
#3
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Thanks for the info! I guess I'll start hunting now. :-)
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#4
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Quote:
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1978 Black & Gold T/A [complete 70 Ram Air III (carb to pan) PQ and 12 bolt], fully loaded, deluxe, WS6, T-Top car - 1972 Formula 455HO Ram Air numbers matching Julep Green - 1971 T/A 455, 320 CFM Eheads, RP cam, Doug's headers, Fuel injection, TKX 5 Spd. 12 Bolt 3.73, 4 wheel disc. All A/C cars |
#5
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PTFB and others make the rear drop links that accept regular front sway bar bushings and retainers. The are also thicker in diameter, and have a poly upper bushing. Good to keep in mind when the originals become weakened or break thru.
http://www.pro-touringf-body.com/Suspension_kits.html There are 1" rear bars, but believe they were only aftermarket. Tubular tie rod sleeves are a good idea too, no flex, and don't work themselves loose. Swear by the 670 boxes. You can do the Herb Adams VSE front leaf bracket 'anti-squat' mod, costs nothing, and you really feel the difference. You can mod the originals, or buy the UMI or Global West ones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo There's a bunch of other stuff, just depends on what you want to do. EDIT: Subframe connectors.... .
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. 1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2 http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624 1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...ght=procharger Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be |
#6
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no, though many '70 T/A's had the 7/8" rear bar, some '70 T/A's had the 5/8" rear bar same as Formula model, who knows why, but very documented deal.
From the factory,n '71 & 72 T/A's (& handling pkg equip '71-72 Formulas), received a 7/8" rear bar. Own a very late built '72 T/A, it has always had it's 7/8" bar. Years ago, I parted on a '71 T/A, & a '72 Formula (which prev had 15" HC's). Amongst many things, removed their 7/8" rear swaybars, rear drop links, & cut three of the rear mtg brackets off the rusty rear frame rails, one was toast. the 13/16" rear swaybar debuted for '73 model T/A, & continued on to '74 models, own a '73. Have not owned or parted on a '74 Formula with factory 15" wheels, but believe the handling pkg with T/A bars, stiffer springs, & select shocks still existed for the Formula.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
#7
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Outside of optional WS6 optional suspensions the stiffest springs, shocks and sway bars were on 70-74 cars. Due to complaints about rough ride Pontiac softened the springs a little bit and raised the car an inch in '75. I was under the impression '75s and up received 1 1/8" inch front bars. Those who ordered the WS6 option got the thicker front and rear bars. As the former owner of a '72 TA I will say - it was stiff! I thought it hit its stride on the highway at about 80. My girlfriends '79 Formula rode a lot nicer but didn't corner as well.
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#8
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Here's the old gal. My Grandmother bought her new back in '75. It was a 350 2bbl Esprit. Now she has a 1970 455 with the 350's original 6x-4 heads. 9.8 to 1 compression. She runs real nice (faster than my 73 SD455!). It rides on the Year One 17" rims with 255/50x17 rubber.
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#9
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I think my old Herb Adams VSE bar is 1-3/8" which is unusual. But that was back in the late '70's when Herb was developing his VSE line.
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Home of WFO Hyperformance Shaker induction. |
#10
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I had heard there was a 1-3/8" bar but didn't know who made it.
I'm running out of things to tinker with on the old Gramma Car. Figured it's time to do the sway bars since I rebuilt the front and rear suspension around a year ago. |
#11
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Quote:
GM racing steering box Here is the perfect steering box to upgrade your old GM muscle car box to a modern tight road feel and control, don't be fooled by the used rebuilt "iroc" boxes they are just as sloppy and used as the box you need to replace without the benefits of a properly built steering box Plated for corrosion protection and good looks 12:1 ratio (call for other ratios) Available in 10:1 fast auto cross ratio Metric O-ring line fitting 670 steering box kit 3/4-30 spline only LIMITED AVAILABILITY 0CS-838 $679.00 New rag joint, must be used if you car does not have 3/4"-30 shaft 0CS-839 $44.00 http://www.pro-touringf-body.com/cha...omponents.html |
#12
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Just installed a Lares 974 steering box last week. 2-1/2 turns. Nice, tight road feel. Was a total bolt-in. Got it from Rockauto.
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#13
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1 3/8" bar
Quote:
Rick |
#14
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Herb Adams VSE used to sell a 1 3/8" bar also.
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#15
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Got the new WS6 bars in yesterday. 1-1/4" front and 3/4" rear to replace the 1" front and 9/16" rear. New Prothane bushings as well.
With the Lares 974 2-1/2 turn steering box, she handles very nicely now. |
#16
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I've got one of those sway bars buried in the back barn. If I remember correctly, The end links are part of the sway bar and heavy duty.
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#17
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Everything about that '75 is just perfect. after thicker sway bars I'd port the heads and swap in a roller for the Summit 2802 cam.
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#18
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I put a set from Summit Racing on about a year ago. I believe it was 1 5/16" for the front and a 1" for the rear. I put them on my plain Jane 1976 Firebird. They were very reasonable price. I don't remember the brand. It might have been their brand.
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#19
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I saw some of the kits they had on Summit but they all seemed to require some alteration/modification to the car to make them fit (the rear setup). I like to keep it simple. I found a 1-1/4" front and a 3/4" rear on ebay for $110 total. (other then the painful shipping for the heavy oversized metal). And I ordered the Prothane bushings on amazon. That should keep me busy for a day or two once they arrive.
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#20
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I would love to see a list with all the sway bars offered throughout the second gen run;
I am pretty sure that the Camaros had different bars than the Firebirds.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car. Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left. 1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing) 2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs) |
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