Feb 20, 2015, 06:22 PM
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remove front sway bar?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
remove front sway bar?
The car is apart for a cam/UD pulley/valve spring and header install and today I removed the front sway bar to get to the balancer. For those of you that drag race ... do you leave the sway bar off for better weight transfer? We used to do this on every car that we raced in the past but I've never worked on the C5 suspension before. Will leaving it off help? It has skinny M&H's on the front and we rarely (if ever) drive it on the street so it's not like we'll be carving up corners any time soon. The shocks are stock but I'm going to add QA1s on the front soon.
Thanks.
Scott
Thanks.
Scott
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,983
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
I'm soon to try that myself at the track and see how it works out..I'm a bit more than a tenth away from 10s, maybe that along with some skinnies will make it happen......we used to do it "back in the day" for weight transfer and traction, but these vettes are pretty much 50/50 so I don't know how much it would help weight transfer or if they need it....some of the 9 and 10 second guys around here do and some don't .....most are dead hooking anyway and say there's no need....
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,754
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
For a drag race application, there is no need for the front sway bar.
It doesn't weigh much, but every bit helps.
It does help a bit with weight transfer.
I haven't had a front sway bar on any of my Vettes since my first track visit 6 years and 600+ passes ago. I see no difference on the street at all, but I don't carve canyons at all.
It doesn't weigh much, but every bit helps.
It does help a bit with weight transfer.
I haven't had a front sway bar on any of my Vettes since my first track visit 6 years and 600+ passes ago. I see no difference on the street at all, but I don't carve canyons at all.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Easy enough. I just won't put it back on. Ok, here's the next question. What about removing the paper element from my Vararam? Again, it's most likely going to morph it's way into a 100% race car. I have to do a retune for the cam, headers, taller tire, etc. so that would be a time to address the increased air flow. Any gains to be had here?
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,353
Likes: 2,891
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Yes real men who drag race use panty hose...seriously though if it's a drag only car then I'd leave the front sway bar off as it definitely doesn't hurt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 297
From: Orange Park FL
Easy enough. I just won't put it back on. Ok, here's the next question. What about removing the paper element from my Vararam? Again, it's most likely going to morph it's way into a 100% race car. I have to do a retune for the cam, headers, taller tire, etc. so that would be a time to address the increased air flow. Any gains to be had here?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,353
Likes: 2,891
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Thanks guys. Glad I asked! So no sway bar and no air filter element when it all goes back together. Also, I talked to a guy that runs a stock shortblock LS1 in his Stock Eliminator car and he goes 0.06 quicker running 6 quarts of RedLine 5wt oil. I'm going to try that as well. We're trying to squeeze out every last tenth as we shoot to run a second under our 12.45 index.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,439
Likes: 406
From: Portland OR
Vararam came with a paper element? Mine had a destroyed whatever stock element, so I replaced with a permanent K&N from a TR6. It's glued in.....
If the paper restricts airflow, I would think recurving the MAF would be necessary?
Ron
If the paper restricts airflow, I would think recurving the MAF would be necessary?
Ron
Last edited by RonSSNova; Jun 20, 2013 at 01:26 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 43
From: Longview Texas
Scott
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: delmont nj
Easy enough. I just won't put it back on. Ok, here's the next question. What about removing the paper element from my Vararam? Again, it's most likely going to morph it's way into a 100% race car. I have to do a retune for the cam, headers, taller tire, etc. so that would be a time to address the increased air flow. Any gains to be had here?