When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Pulled the suspension apart on my '65 L79 coupe last night and found a pair of EA tagged springs (Part Number 3832518). It was my understanding that these springs only came with RPO F40 Special Font and Rear Suspension which seemed OK but after an on line search, it seems most F40 '65's were FI or 396. My car is supposed to have 44K orig. miles which I'm convinced is probably correct. It was off the road for decades. The brake rotors are still riveted on and the ball joint were riveted originals. So I'm pretty sure I am doing the first suspension/brake overhaul on this car. At first I was surprised the tags were still intact, but then I thought about the mileage and it didn't seem so unusual.
Is there any reason the RPO F40 could not have been ordered when the car was ordered new?
As a side note the car has the 15/16 front sway bar, 9 leaf rear spring and also a rear sway bar.
Appreciate any and all input.
Greg
F40 was only available with the L-84 FI engine in 1965. It was NOT available with the L-78 396, which has one specific suspension setup. ( L-72 did get a HD suspension option, F-41, released in January, 1966.) The 15/16" front bar was part of F-40, but the nine leaf rear spring is base, and no C2 small block ever received a rear bar at the plant. The suspension components have obviously been modified from the original St. Louis installed components.
Thanks Duke. That is probably the case. It must have been changed very early in this car's life. The spring upgrade I can understand, but why would anyone change the front sway bar when there's already one in place? Seems like extra work/cost for not much improvement in handling.
Greg
The sway bar change helps more than you might think. The anti roll force from a sway bar increases by the 4th power of the bar diameter, pretty much. The extra 1/16 inch makes a difference. I'd put in a 1 1/8" factory front bar on mine if they'd fit in stock brackets.
A bigger front bar or stiffer front springs will reduce body roll, but increase understeer unless rear roll stiffness is increased with a stiffer spring or bigger bar (or adding a small bar if not originally installed). Once spring rates are established, bars are used to limit roll and achieve the desired understeer/oversteer balance.
Interesting Find While Doing Suspension
