greg_mckinnon

I've been working on a 1972 Corvette, mainly doing brakes, and the owner of it wants to have performance sway-bars. I took a look on Mid America MotorWorksand there is a wide variety of sizes between tubular and solid sway-bars. My teacher told me to research what size of sway-bars to put the Corvette, so i looked around a bit but didn't really find anythig useful. He was also saying some stuff about how back then they didn't have radial tires, so they sway-bars were tiny. So the owner has radial tires on it, but isn't satisfied with the handling, so asked for performance sway-bars. So if anybody has any kind of info or help or advice, it would be highly appreciated.

Gordonm

You are better off with a matched set of springs front and rear and sway bars to match. Just throwing on a set of big sway bars is not the right thing to do. I run a 1 1/8 front bar but also have a much modified suspension.

wer2xu

is the car a big block or small block? If it was a small block it never had a rear sway bar. If you install a factory big block rear swaybar, it will increase oversteer.

If you increase the size of the front bar it will decrease oversteer. I bet the guy will be happy if you simply install a factory rear sway bar.

TheSkunkWorks

Given the variations between C3's, drivers and their purposes, there is simply not one universal answer to what bar(s) will be the right call in every instance.

As mentioned, adding bar to either end will affect balance, as well as reducing available grip once adequate roll control is achieved, but keep in mind that the combination of both bar(s) and springs determine the amount of resistance to roll there is, not just the bar(s). Also (and this is going to pi$$ off many who swear by them), but depending on the combination of variables in question, rear bar is NOT a necessity on a well sorted C3.

In all practicality, your buddy needs to specifically identify what he doesn't like about the handling and what are his intended purposes (IMCO, if he can't do that, he doesn't know what he wants), then there wouldn't be nearly as much guessing about what would be the right set for him. My $.02 ...PayPal accepted


TSW

doctorgene

Hey guys, Theskunkworks, just opened up a big question to me about the lost control feeling I have at higher speeds. I am going to try to talk to him about it. I have rebuilt the complete suspension on my 82 in stock formation and only added a same size sway bar on the rear. At 85 to 100 MPH I feel like I'm not in complete control of it, I don't like that at all. Thanks for opening this conversation. Doctorgene

TheSkunkWorks

Got your VM, but in the likelihood this may lead to something of value to the OP...

First, if I am to understand that you've got the same diameter bar on the rear as on the front, you need to remove it before it removes you. Second, "right" or "wrong" rear bar, did you test your car's handling after the rebuild w/o the rear bar to see where you were? Beyond that, assuming the rebuild work was done properly (alignment specs, too) and with quality bits, is the rest of the chassis is in good shape, including such items as the steering box and rear side yoke end play?

IMCO, only after all such items have been addressed and/or eliminated will you have a good baseline from which to judge your car's handling characteristics and to consider making appropriate setup changes. Are we there yet?

mrvette

I have factory bars, 7/16 rear and less than 1" in front...7/8?...anyway the front springs are 460 VBP, the rear is a 360 VBP.....VBP Bilsteins finally went on maybe 3 years ago now, vs the KYB's on there for some 12 years......

the tires are on 17x9.5 '89 vette wheels, and 275/50 in rear 255/50 up front....

I am quite happy with ride and handling...

Jim_Harrison

Seems like once a month the sway bar question comes up. If your customer really wants them, 1 1/8 on the front max and the smallest diameter bar made for the rear. Also suggest a good set of shocks, Bilstein sports or Koni reds. Also look at all the bushings, a lot of slop in the suspension joints is going to be helped by add on parts.