Hello ,

I am doing the frame off on my small block 69. Looking to make improvements now rather than later. Question of the day. Are there any cons from upgrading the 3/4 tiny sway bar right to 1 1/8?

 

only if you don`t add a rear bar

 

The more I read the forums, the more I think of adding a spreader bar instead of upgrading the sway bar. (Ours will be just a fun retirement cruiser though, no racing or road courses)

 

I agree with both answers. I'd also suggest not doing this until your car is on the road. There will be some trial and error involved and improving your suspension one step atva time will give you a better understanding of what you like and what you don't. If you really want to do it up front, I'd suggest one of VB&Ps packages which seem to be pretty well balanced. Oh and do the spreader bar first

 

1 1/8'' front, 7/16'' rear and a spreader bar will stiffen it up nice without being too much.

 

I think I will put the stock 3/4 bar on for now. I ordered poly bushings. I will add a rear bar before the body goes back on. Any size recommendations?

 

If you or anyone else reading this is interested I have both a factory 1-1/8 front and a factory 9/16 big block rear bar (with mounting links) available (send a PM)

 

After you add the 1-1/8 bar you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

 

Please, DO NOT just slap on a rear bar without establishing reasonable cause for doing so ("the interweb says I need a rear bar" doesn't count). And, be careful not to take too large of a step out back when compensating for changes up front. DO bear in mind that many a car with too much rear stiffness feels as if on rails right up until departing backwards. You really shouldn't make changes that effect balance based on how a car might feel anywhere short of its limits (the only place where really matters) even if you never intend on going there.

Fundamentally (just to make sure it's understood), adding anti-roll stiffness - whether by spring and/or bar - at either end without matching it with an appropriate increase at the other will necessarily alter your car's understeer/oversteer balance. A larger relative increase up front will move you further towards understeer (push), while a larger one out back will move you further towards oversteer (loose). IMHO the likelihood of you surviving the process of sorting your chassis without incident is higher if you work to solve things from the understeer end of the equation until meeting the balance characteristics that suit your purposes and preferences.

FWIW, stiffer springs don't carry the penalty of increased lateral weight transfer as do bigger bars. I say "penalty" because tires don't gain traction linear to increased lateral weight transfer. That's why IMCO bars shouldn't be the first resort for tuning a car's balance characteristics, rather thought of as a necessary crutch helpful in final tuning when more spring either isn't practical (due to roads or discomfort) or would result in too coarse of an adjustment. Get your shocks after you figure out your springs.

In any event, whether buying in kit form or methodically sorting things one well-thought out change at a time, you definitely need to think of any particular chassis bit, or characteristic such as roll, as only one piece of a considerably larger puzzle. Also, note that you can't simply point and click at every worthwhile handling improvement. My $.02


TSW

 

I don't mean to steal the thread but after reading this I was wondering if a spreader bar might be more harmful than good. I have a 76 with Gymkhana suspension, I've noticed some understeer, not bad but then I don't push it, so would a spreader bar cause more understeer? Thanks

 

Upgraded my 75 L48 with a gymkana front 1 1/8" and a rear 7/8" bar. Difference by night and day. Very pleased with the way the car responds and corners. I thought the over all ride improved as well. Glad I made the changes. My two cents as well.

 

Short answer: The spreader bar is your friend.

 

Thanks

 

This. ^^

Anything that keeps the frame from flexing is your friend.

 

Thanks, any particular brand people like? Again, sorry for being a thread theif