As the topic implies...I'm looking for a cheap upgrade in the front swaybar department for my 70. I came across an honest-to-goodness 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 car in the boneyard. It even has disc brakes on the front.

What size should the front swaybar be? It looks pretty big. Will it fit my 70? Would I need to use my endlinks?

What about the disc brake setup? Will the spindles bolt-on? Would I need a different A-arm or anything?

I think I can get the stuff fairly cheap, but what would you think each of those parts be worth? Thanks guys!

Originally posted by 70_FathomBlueMalibu:

What size should the front swaybar be? It looks pretty big. Will it fit my 70? Would I need to use my endlinks?

The swaybar will be a 1 1/8" or a 1 1/4" bar.


Originally posted by 70_FathomBlueMalibu:

What about the disc brake setup? Will the spindles bolt-on? Would I need a different A-arm or anything?This is just the "tall spindle" swap that you've probably read a lot about on this board. There are good and bad points of the swap. A search of the subject will yield you tons of info!

Originally posted by 70_FathomBlueMalibu:

I think I can get the stuff fairly cheap, but what would you think each of those parts be worth? Thanks guys! Sway bar - Don't pay more than $50 bones for it (I'm cheap), but I've paid as much as $65 for one and as little as $10 for one.

Spindles - If you do the tall spindle swap then I would recommend not grabbing these spindles. I would recommend '78+ 12" disc spindles found on many many many GM station wagons and Caddies. Don't grab the 12" discs off the GM wagons or Caddies as they are a 5 on 5" bolt pattern, you'll need to run to the parts store and pick up '88-'92 third gen. F-body 1LE rotors. These are 12" rotors with the correct 5 on 4.75" bolt pattern, but be aware they use a metric stud and not the 7/16" SAE stud you are used to.

Good luck,
Joe

off topic, but if you go back to that car can you see if the rear window trim is good and what you would want for it? Need the trim for my 71 camaro.

Joe, thanks for the info. How big is too big for a swaybar in my street/strip application? I don't really have any other upgrades in my suspension right now, and the car doesn't have a rear swaybar. I know I can disconnect it at the track, but I've never tried it.

Would a 1 1/2" swaybar with stock suspension and NO rear bar cause any bad handling driving around on the street? I guess if it was too "big" for my suspension, I could hold onto it till I got some better pieces to supplement it.

Dave, I'll check the next time I go back. Will probably be 2-3 weeks tho. BTW, there are several, several 2nd gen F-bodies in the this boneyard. What are some items you need? A buddy of mine has picked thru a lot of them as he has a 78 TA, but there should be some good stuff left. Also, the owner seems to always have a "new" one there everytime we go.

Shoot me an email at fathomblue@yahoo.com

Maybe I can help you out a little. graemlins/beers.gif

bump

Originally posted by 70_FathomBlueMalibu:
Joe, thanks for the info. How big is too big for a swaybar in my street/strip application? I don't really have any other upgrades in my suspension right now, and the car doesn't have a rear swaybar. I know I can disconnect it at the track, but I've never tried it.There are different theories out there. Just to skim through the highlights of each companies.
</font> Global West - Front swap bar no greater than 1.125" with no sway bar in the rear ( www.globalwest.net (http://www.globalwest.net) )</font> H-O Racing - 1 3/8" Front bar in front with soft springs and 1 3/8" rear bar.</font> Hotchkis - I have no idea what they believe :confused: ( www.hotchkis.net (http://www.hotchkis.net) )</font>

Originally posted by 70_FathomBlueMalibu:
Would a 1 1/2" swaybar with stock suspension and NO rear bar cause any bad handling driving around on the street? I guess if it was too "big" for my suspension, I could hold onto it till I got some better pieces to supplement it.I wouldn't do it due to the fact it will probably induce an understeer condition. And I've never heard of anyone making bigger than a 1 3/8" front bar.

And just an FYI GM still has the RPO F41 7/8" rear sway bar still available. I see guys on Ebay pay over list price for "NOS" rear sway bars people sell on there all the time. I'll have to dig up the part number if you are interested.

graemlins/beers.gif

Good luck!

Joe

Whoops, Joe! I meant to say 1 1/4" swaybar in the extreme case of the 70 Formula. It's probably 1 1/8" anyway, but just thinkin "worst case" scenario.

On a sidenote, I found a late 80's - early 90's Firebird that had the biggest swaybar I've ever seen. I think it's supposed to be hollow and they don't fit our A-bodies, but I wondered if that particular one would be a good Ebay item?

Originally posted by 70_FathomBlueMalibu:

On a sidenote, I found a late 80's - early 90's Firebird that had the biggest swaybar I've ever seen. I think it's supposed to be hollow and they don't fit our A-bodies, but I wondered if that particular one would be a good Ebay item? Well, seeing as you can still get the 32mm, 34mm & 36mm sway bars new from GM I would pass on it (unless you can pick it up cheap).

You can I.D. GM hollow sway bars by the holes at the swaybar end links.

Also (for you hardcore GM junkyard dogs :D ), the 34 mm sway bar will normally have red polyurethane end link bushings. This makes them easy to I.D. in the 'yards.

Oh and I almost forgot...
My webpage has info on the third gen. F-body bars as well as the second gen. F-body bars too.

Good luck!

Joe