Front sway bar swap...

83elco · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:44 am Post subject: Front sway bar swap...

I went to U pull it last weekend and found a monte carlo with F41 package. My question is how much of a difference will I notice with switching to the F41 sway bar from the monte. I have a 83 elco with a 1" sway bar and the montes sway bar compared to mine is a big difference. Only reason I ask is because I have already had my 1" sway bar sandblasted and powdercoated and bought new energy suspension sway bar and end link bushings for it. I snagged the front frame braces and radiator support bars but the rear sway bar was gone. So is it worth it?

Thanks guys, Later
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1BadElky · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:36 am Post subject:

I dont know the size, but it sounds like a good thing to snag. I'm personnally looking for a 36mm hollow bar from a camaro.
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theelcaminofactory · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:16 am Post subject:

Since you already sandblated and powdercoated the first one, I'd go ahead and use it, I doubt there would be much of a noticeable difference it just a few mm's. However you could always snag the the bar and sell it to someone looking for one here.

randy78 · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject:

hi there, well if you do alot of higher speed cornering and alot of driving on the freeway and it is very windy there often then you may notice an X amount of added stability

trial and error,

try it and see

GM did make many different bar diameters, and also some are solid and some are hollow, especialyl on other platforms such as the F bodies 82-92

at least a dozen different bars were used on those vehicles

my 82 trans am happens to be a 34mm solid bar

and it weighs a ton, its crazy

trucks are another example of this,

1/2 tons used the smallest diameter bars in most all cases except the 77-80 BIG 10 chevy and Heavy Half GMC trucks

3/4 and 1 ton used larger ones and are a popular upgrade for the lightest 1/2 tons

good luck!
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greywolf · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject:

It's an easy swap, so I'd put the bar in if I was you, just to see if I liked it. You will want to find a rear bar to balance it, otherwise your car will push. I got a rear bar from a Cutlass.

I found the hollow Camaro front bar for my ElCamino at a local yard that specializes in Camaros. He had several on a rack, so I picked a clean one with bushings and brackets. Didn't look like they would be hard to find.

83elco · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:12 am Post subject:

Good info, Thanks guys

I will run up there when I get some extra cash to see if it's still there. If not i'll have to keep my eyes out for one of these hollow bars. Will a rear sway bar from the mentioned 82-92 f-body work with a 7.5 rear? I have the holes for them in the lower control arms that I also took off the monte ss that I got my posi 3:73 rear from. Most of the cars out here in the yards are highly sought after and lots of people are on the junkyards call lists so anytime there is a decent g-body, their tore into VERY quickly! Been hard to find the rear sway bars. Auctually I got lucky and the front frame braces and radiator support bars were on it so I took those but that was it besides the sway bar.

Thanks guys, later
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I can't complain, Even if i did no one would listen!