#1  
Old 01-25-2020, 06:06 PM
njsteve's Avatar
njsteve njsteve is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,044
Default 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  
Old 01-25-2020, 06:24 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: INJUN Territory, Red State Merica!
Posts: 9,564
Default

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.

__________________
Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms.
  #3  
Old 01-25-2020, 08:48 PM
njsteve's Avatar
njsteve njsteve is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,044
Default

Thanks for the info! I guess I'll start hunting now. :-)

  #4  
Old 01-26-2020, 07:16 AM
android 211 android 211 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 747
Default

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.

  #5  
Old 01-26-2020, 12:53 PM
njsteve's Avatar
njsteve njsteve is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,044
Default

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.


  #6  
Old 01-26-2020, 01:05 PM
Larry Navarro's Avatar
Larry Navarro Larry Navarro is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Spring(Houston) Tx. USA
Posts: 6,369
Default

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.

__________________
Home of WFO Hyperformance Shaker induction.
  #7  
Old 01-26-2020, 01:26 PM
njsteve's Avatar
njsteve njsteve is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,044
Default

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.

  #8  
Old 01-26-2020, 03:47 PM
Scarebird's Avatar
Scarebird Scarebird is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ABQ, USA
Posts: 4,998
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by njsteve View Post
I'm running out of things to tinker with on the old Gramma Car...
big buck but really big bang:



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

  #9  
Old 01-26-2020, 06:36 PM
njsteve's Avatar
njsteve njsteve is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,044
Default

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.

  #10  
Old 01-26-2020, 07:04 PM
Hammertime Mike's Avatar
Hammertime Mike Hammertime Mike is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 986
Send a message via ICQ to Hammertime Mike
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Navarro View Post
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.
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.

__________________
  #11  
Old 01-27-2020, 11:55 AM
android 211 android 211 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 747
Default

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.

  #12  
Old 01-27-2020, 01:30 PM
jerry455 jerry455 is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: sterling hts mi
Posts: 296
Default

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.

  #13  
Old 01-27-2020, 02:10 PM
unruhjonny's Avatar
unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 6,232
Default

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.

__________________
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)
  #14  
Old 01-27-2020, 02:10 PM
njsteve's Avatar
njsteve njsteve is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,044
Default

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.

  #15  
Old 01-27-2020, 07:33 PM
Scarebird's Avatar
Scarebird Scarebird is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ABQ, USA
Posts: 4,998
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by unruhjonny View Post
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.
Rocky's book has them.

  #16  
Old 01-28-2020, 12:12 AM
unruhjonny's Avatar
unruhjonny unruhjonny is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 6,232
Default

hmm, I don't recall that...
maybe I'll have to look again.

__________________
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)
  #17  
Old 01-28-2020, 02:36 PM
jerry455 jerry455 is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: sterling hts mi
Posts: 296
Default

I did not have to change anything to install the Summit bars. They bolted on in the factory locations. I had no factory rear bar and the kit came with all of the hardware to install it. It was a very nice and reasonably priced kit.

  #18  
Old 01-29-2020, 12:45 PM
Rick Jones's Avatar
Rick Jones Rick Jones is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 217
Default 1 3/8" bar

Quote:
Originally Posted by njsteve View Post
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.
H-O Racing made the 1 3/8" front bar back in the day.

Rick

  #19  
Old 01-29-2020, 02:44 PM
jerry455 jerry455 is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: sterling hts mi
Posts: 296
Default

Herb Adams VSE used to sell a 1 3/8" bar also.

  #20  
Old 02-02-2020, 12:28 PM
njsteve's Avatar
njsteve njsteve is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,044
Default

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.


Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:33 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017