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Option question on a 71

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Old Jun 10, 2015 | 08:23 AM
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Default Option question on a 71

I don't have a lot of info on my Vette, no tank sticker etc. Did a rear sway bar come standard or was it an option? Thanks, Bill
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Old Jun 10, 2015 | 08:30 AM
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I believe it was a option
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Old Jun 10, 2015 | 08:47 AM
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Big block only for rear sway bar.
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Old Jun 10, 2015 | 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by capevettes
Big block only for rear sway bar.
Mine has a factory rear sway bar but its a small block. I figured it was put on by one of it's previous owners.
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Old Jun 10, 2015 | 02:49 PM
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In 1971, only the big block cars and the LT-1 optioned cars got the rear sway bar. Many folks added a rear sway bar if their's did not have one.
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Old Jun 10, 2015 | 04:33 PM
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For all 1968-1972 Corvettes, big blocks were equipped with front and rear sway bars (of varying sizes based upon standard suspension or F-41).

Small blocks (regardless of ZR-1, LT-1, F-41, etc.) received a front sway bar only.

As an added piece of information, original trailing arm (hard) brake lines were spiral armor covered on big blocks (to protect against chafing on the rear sway bar mount) while small block lines were not covered during this time period.

Regards,

Stan Falenski

Last edited by Rowdy Rat; Jun 10, 2015 at 04:49 PM.
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Old Jun 10, 2015 | 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
In 1971, only the big block cars and the LT-1 optioned cars got the rear sway bar. Many folks added a rear sway bar if their's did not have one.

I`m the 3rd owner of a 71 cope, numbers matching 270 horse 350 with auto trans...... no rear sway bar on ours.
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Old Jun 12, 2015 | 09:02 PM
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Well, I'll be... I've never had an LT-1, but for many years I was under the impression that the LT-1 and the "Z" cars got the rear sway bar. But, check into the AIM and....NOPE! Only the big blocks, as Rowdy Rat indicated.
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Old Oct 22, 2019 | 11:45 AM
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Woops - I did not realize this was a 4 year-old discussion - sorry. I thought it was a recent post I clicked-on.....

I thought the Gymkhana suspension option added a larger front sway bar and a 7/16" rear sway bar to small blocks in the early C3s - but "I thought" is not a solid reference, of course (maybe someone who knows will chime-in here).

I'll be experimenting with a rear sway bar addition (with a 1-18" front sway bar upgrade) on a small block '69 coupe soon.

I'm gonna be very careful when dialing the set-up away from the designed-in understeer, but I want to be able to experience a 'loose', oversteer condition - then dial it back to a neutral, slight understeer under most conditions, but controlled 'loose' at the limit type of set-up. However, it's all theoretical for me at this point.......and fun !

Last edited by C3batmobile; Oct 22, 2019 at 11:54 AM. Reason: typo first, then edited with note about time-travel....ha!
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Old Oct 22, 2019 | 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by C3batmobile

I thought the Gymkhana suspension option added a larger front sway bar and a 7/16" rear sway bar to small blocks in the early C3s - but "I thought" is not a solid reference, of course (maybe someone who knows will chime-in here).
FE7 Gymkhana Suspension did come with a rear bar, but Gymkhana was not offered until 1974. Prior to that the only way to get a rear bar with a small block was with the very rare ZR1 (70-72) and ZO7 (73) Off-Road Packages.

I'll be experimenting with a rear sway bar addition (with a 1-18" front sway bar upgrade) on a small block '69 coupe soon.

I'm gonna be very careful when dialing the set-up away from the designed-in understeer, but I want to be able to experience a 'loose', oversteer condition - then dial it back to a neutral, slight understeer under most conditions, but controlled 'loose' at the limit type of set-up. However, it's all theoretical for me at this point.......and fun !
I crew on Corvette vintage racers, and we've never used a rear bar on any of the small block cars we've raced.
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Old Oct 22, 2019 | 03:35 PM
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I crew on Corvette vintage racers, and we've never used a rear bar on any of the small block cars we've raced.[/QUOTE]

Yikes - I probably don't need one then - but I'll still probably play around a bit - very carefully, of course.

Thanks for the heads-up gbvette62 - Would you mind sharing the size of front anti-sway bar that you guys use? (< 1", or > 1")? I'm assuming whatever's stock likely, being vintage and all....

Thanks again regardless !


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