Front Sway Bar on my 68 GTO missing for 10 years-should I add one one?

[BAD68GTO]

I run my 467 CID 68 GTO around here and then, she is a quick ride and does 99% street use. My front sway bar was an aftermarket thick one that ripped from the front of the cr over a decade ago doing a small wheelstand at my local NHRA track. I never put it back on and got accustomed to the body roll.

Recently I added 18" Centerline Legends and some Nitto 555R 305/45-18 and Nitto 555 245/45-18 to the car and it is a lot more stable than my old 15" bias slicks-lol. I want to keep the car drivable and it is now yet have the weight transfer to the rear wheels as fast as possible. My question is should I get a used stock sway bar and put it on or just leave it off? I am fine leaving it off and the car handles good enough for me, but will it help that much to be worth it? That is the ultimate question and thanks for opinions on this subject. Gary

[Lowend]

My first thought is, yes you should install a front bar. Even if it's just a factory bar, the car was designed to have that torsion spring as part of the suspension.
Without a doubt the car will handle better, and be safer.

BUT
you seem perfectly happy without the bar... is there really any return on the investment??

[BAD68GTO]

The ROI would be a better handling car at the cost of decreased weight transfer to the rear tires. The question is, it it worth it from the performance aspect and forget about the financial aspect please. TY

[Lowend]

I think you are over-estimating the role of the front sway bar in weight transfer...
I don't know the rest of your setup, but you'd probably have better results in getting the weight transfer where you want it to be with shock absorber tuning.

The real job of the sway bar is to prevent body roll from side to side. I'm betting the nose of the car sloshes over pretty hard right now when you corner. You may be used to it. It could also be that with your old setup, the front tires were so "un-grippy" that the car wasn't going to handle corners with any suspension setup.

Your new sticker wheel/tire setup will probably aggravate the body roll issues as the car can generate more G's before going into terminal understeer.

... the short answer is "yes" you should get a front swaybar. Size is going to be largely determined by the rest of your suspension setup.

[monteboy84]

Well, it's like this. The ideal springs for use with a swaybar are different than the ideal springs for use without a swaybar. If you're looking for reduced bodyroll (left/right), while maintaining weight transfer (front/rear) you're looking at the same springs you've got, or possibly softer, combined with a nice swaybar in the front, and possibly in the rear.

Reason being, is that your swaybar(s) only adds to the effective spring rate during side-to-side body roll, it's effect should be minimal in terms of weight transfer, except for reducing body roll on hard launches (mostly rear bar).

If you're happy with the weight transfer you currently have, but are experiencing heavy body roll in corners, get a bar.

Another thing I might point out is that you're probably expecting the GTO to be a real boat to drive versus your Vipers. Understandable, but with some simply corrections to geometry, there's no reason your GTO can't be a real corner-carver like them. I'd give Marcus at SC&C a call and see what he can do for you, you might be surprised at how well that beast can go around corners with a little help.

[silver69camaro]

If you are OK with the way it handles (which you mentioned), a sway bar will roughen the ride a bit. Personally, I would hate the body roll, unless if you are running some really stiff springs.

[MrQuick]

Put the bar on and see what it does for you. I am sure you will like it.

You have 18's so I assume the ride will not get any worst.


vince

[Gitter Dun]

No brainer, take the roll out of that boat, lol

[yanniz]

put it on...

[BAD68GTO]

Okay and thanks for the feedback guys! I am going to steal a stock sway bar from my one buddy's garage and see what it does. The worst thing it will do is kill a day installing, driving it and ripping it off. I had the GTO out today and just got back on-so thanks guys for the feedback! I dunno about running with the Vipers however in corners (or anywhere for that matter)-that would be a very tough thing to do. The 18's helped a lot and I suppose I am quite accustomed to the roll, but with 45 series in the front it isn't too bad anymore for this old goat.

[HWYSTR]

I dunno about running with the Vipers however in corners (or anywhere for that matter)-that would be a very tough thing to do...

Not so tough anymore, being done regularly as a matter of fact! Check out Car Craft's Real Street Eliminator series for one, Viper are getting beat. Wasn't it a '65 LeMans or Tempest that took the autocross fastest lap? Think that even was on a maiden voyage...


.