69 el Camino Front Sway Bar..

[pitts64]

I have a 69 el Camino with a big block. I have the SC&C Stage 3 kit on the front with a Lee 14:1 box. I have Spohn Delsphere adjustable rear control arms. I have stock springs in the front and BMR 2" lowering springs in the back.

I am still using the stock bar and want to get something better. The car does sway slightly and half way through a deep turn its a little unsteady. I think its from the camber changing due to the sway bar not holding things tight. I have one degree of camber with 7-8 degrees of caster and a slight toe in..

I was thinking of the Hellwig but I see some on here prefer the UMI over the Hellwig..

Whats your favorite for this car in full street trim, no racing but I do drive Western Pennsylvania roads, they are anything but boring and flat haha..


Thank you..164496164499164498164497

[astroracer]

I think you would do better by going to lower profile tires. Do a Plus2 on the wheel size and get that sidewall down out of nosebleed territory. Honestly, that is where you are getting the sway from, not the bar.
My truck is a slot car with the stock bar up front. Of course the lowering and poly bushings help immensely but the biggest improvement came with the shorter sidewall tires.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2019/05/2v2JaeiPrx9EDKg-1.jpg
Mark

[pitts64]

I'd prefer to keep the 70 series tires, I'm old and like the smaller tires. I wish I could get to like the newer wheels but I just can't over come it, lol..

[mean buzzen half dozen]

I installed a 1.25" anti front sway bar on my 65 Malibu. I got it from a 78 or so Pontiac Trams Am. Just a cheap junk yard upgrade.
I believe those will fit your El Camino also.
I would install a rear anti sway bar also.

[raustinss]

A bigger front bar will help some a rear bar will also help but I have to agree 70 series tires will prevent you from noticing any huge gains . I get your thoughts on "circus wagon " looks . Check out maybe wheel vintiques 16 or 17 inch , with a 255 50 series , this will give big gains and still a decent ride .

[pitts64]

I saw one car with 17" wheels that I liked. It was a 70 Mopar with stock steel wheels in 17 x 8 front and 17 x 10 rear.. They were painted the same color as the car and kind of faded in..

[pitts64]

I'm looking at the Detroit Speed bars..

Front.. https://www.detroitspeed.com/1964-1972-a-body-front-suspension/front-sway-bar-kit-1970-81-camaro-firebird-1964-72-a-body-1-3-8-031402

Rear.. https://www.detroitspeed.com/rear-tubular-sway-bar-kit-1964-72-a-body-042201

[astroracer]

The rally wheels on my truck are 17's in front & 18's in back. 255-50 x 17's would look good all the way around on your El Camino and would eliminate a lot of that sway you are seeing.
You have a lot of coin tied up in handling parts under the car and are not seeing any of the benefits with the tall sidewall tires.
If you are running 225-70-15's the OD is "about" 27.4 inches
The 255-50 x 17's are the exact same diameter, 27.4 inches. The 2" shorter sidewalls will make for a very noticeable seat of the pants performance gain. :)
Mark

[pitts64]

Thanks Mark! I really appreciate your feedback.. I'm going to look into the 255x50r17..

[jetmech442]

My setup is similar to yours with all the SC&C equipment, with the exception of 285/35/18's up front, and a watts link in back. Last year I switched from the 442 F/R sways to Helwig on both ends. I'm a big fan, love driving the car on the street and it did really well at the road-course last year. The front is hollow and the rear is adjustable. I'm not entirely sure that DS is all too different from Hellwig, but I'm no Mark Savitske so I wouldn't really know.

I wouldn't ever go back to the stock sways and love my setup the more I drive it.

[pitts64]

Thanks 442! Glad to hear there is a big difference. I don't have a rear bar now, I'm just using the stock front bar with poly end links, one guy told me just using those spherical end links would help a lot.. Those Helwig bars sure are less expensive then the Detroit Speed bars...

[Skip Fix]

70s Formula and Trans Ams had 1 1/4" front bars. Granted harder to find in bone yards nowadays. Shocks can make a big difference also.

I will agree with the others that tires can make a big feel difference. Years ago on my 78 TA that I autocrossed with 255-60-15s swapping to 255-50-16s was night and day difference-and 25" 16 road race slicks an difference even over that. 17" wheels were not around yet back then.