rear sway bar

[Wayne P.]

I have converted my 64 none number matching car from drum brakes to 1965 disk brakes. My question is that someone put a sway bar on the drum set up. I believe the car at one time had a big block in it.
I noticed on the highway at 70 miles per h. the car seems to feel light in the wind. Would replacing the sway bar help ? I have replaced the frame shocks and all bushings . as well as 4 wheel alignment. Manuel steering not if steering box has been overhauled. 32 psi in tire.Thanks for any suggestions

[Ronald L.]

Re: rear sway bar

Wayne, put a 427 up front, the extra weight will keep the nose down, the C2's were not aerodynamic for the most part

On a seriuos note what were the driving conditions? Did you have a cross wind?

[Wayne P.]

Re: rear sway bar

Ronald yes to the cross wind . Do you have an extra 427 engine kicking around

[Ronald L.]

Re: rear sway bar

Not right now, but there are guys that have piles of these...

I would think you will find that if the cross wind was strong, over 25 MPH or more you are going to notice it in many a vehicle, C2's included.

If you have gone through all the suspension and have good alignment, tie rods ends, wheel bearings all within spec even with an old rear sta bar, and it runs straight down the road at 70 plus, knock it up to the cross winds, make a turn to get the wind on your tail.

[Terry M.]

[Ronald L.]

Re: rear sway bar

Terry, you are so right. Before I dumped the gold lines, I was afraid to go over 50 with a very original 66 car (original suspension). Moving to a P215 70R on that same car and on new pavement - 70 is going slow, but as you say get towards 100+ and they do get squirly. Now that 70LT-1 (fake) I bought 35 years ago did not have any problems at 120 plus, that was a rocket, and that's how we found out it wasn't 370HP too which is another story

[John H.]

Re: rear sway bar

I noticed on the highway at 70 miles per h. the car seems to feel light in the wind. Would replacing the sway bar help ?

Wayne -

In a word, no. The rear stabilizer bar is inactive as you drive straight down a highway at 70; it only comes into play while cornering.

Do you have a printout from the alignment shop that shows what the front and rear settings are?

[Terry M.]

[Joe L.]

Re: rear sway bar

I have converted my 64 none number matching car from drum brakes to 1965 disk brakes. My question is that someone put a sway bar on the drum set up. I believe the car at one time had a big block in it.
I noticed on the highway at 70 miles per h. the car seems to feel light in the wind. Would replacing the sway bar help ? I have replaced the frame shocks and all bushings . as well as 4 wheel alignment. Manuel steering not if steering box has been overhauled. 32 psi in tire.Thanks for any suggestions

Wayne------


Assuming that you stick with the small block, remove the rear bar and use a 3/4" front bar.

[Michael F.]

Re: rear sway bar


Pull the wheels off a C2 and it looks like wing. At take off speeds 125+ mph it feels like one too!

[Ronald L.]

Re: rear sway bar

I had my 70 at 140 on I75 north of the chaos and south of Flint, never noticed an aerodynamic problem, I was more worried about the blue birds regulating 55mph back then. Now it seems 90 is the norm on that same stretch.

[Wayne P.]

Re: rear sway bar

Thanks John I will try and see if their was a print out. Thanks all .

[Mike R.]

Re: rear sway bar

Very True!

I have a Ford GT (GT40 not the Mustang) and, stock, it fully compresses the suspension to the bump stops at 170mph and developes 1500lb of downforce at 200. It outperforms the 65 covette in every way

HOWEVER...to enjoy the GT, you really have to be going *really* fast (like 150 on mountain highways) and that will get you into trouble funning afoul of the law (either state law or those of Issac Newton)

The 65 fuelie convertable with side exhausts "feels" really fast at 70-80 and that will not get you into trouble (at least in MT where I do these things...).

So unless you are in a race, there is a benefit of having a less capable sports car in that you can have fun without being irresponsible. You can simply have more fun on a day to day basis.

[Terry M.]

Re: rear sway bar

Point well made Mike. If one is tending to become a wheeled air craft it is prudent to be on private property where such activities are only governed by Sir Isac's laws.