[WallyB]

My 69 FB Convertible doesn't have & didn't come with a rear sway bar. Has anyone added one & noticed much difference with typical driving? I expect some improvements (if I add one)on windy days & aggressive conering - should I expect a big improvement or no big deal? The rest of the suspension & tires are good. I am still waiting for a certain PY member (he knows who he is)to contact me with shipping costs of a good used rear axle to Canada, but that's maintenance. Thanks

[WallyB]

My 69 FB Convertible doesn't have & didn't come with a rear sway bar. Has anyone added one & noticed much difference with typical driving? I expect some improvements (if I add one)on windy days & aggressive conering - should I expect a big improvement or no big deal? The rest of the suspension & tires are good. I am still waiting for a certain PY member (he knows who he is)to contact me with shipping costs of a good used rear axle to Canada, but that's maintenance. Thanks

[Baldric]

Wally, I would suspect a swaybar would help with front end grip, specifically it should help reduce front end plough and terminal understeer at the extreme. You might need to go to a thicker front bar also to maintain balance as I believe too large a rear bar with a smaller front bar can make it a bit twitchy, but it certainly would be worth a shot. I don't know if Herb Adams is still making suspension bits ( I forget the name of his company) but I know he was a great believer in the use of sway bars (or anti-roll bars) to control a car through the twisties. If you can find his company he would certainly be able to help with any tech problems.
The only thing I would be worried about would be torsional rigidity in a convertible compared to a hardtop, and whether or not the structure would be under much more stress. I guess it depends on just how fast you go through the chicanes.

[chas-3]

Wally,
I put a 1" rear sway bar on my '69 Trans Am and it made a world of difference in aggressive cornering. I agree with Ken, there may be some concerns with the convertible chasis. Herb Adams is definitely the guy you would want to talk to. I met him in 1985 at the Colorado POCI National Convention. Real nice guy. Here is the last contact info I had for him.

Herb Adams VSE
23865 Fairfield Place
Carmel CA 93923
408-649-8423

[WallyB]

Thanks for the Info!

walterb