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Author
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Topic: Shocks & Sway Bar Suggestions?
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65coupei6
Gearhead Posts: 391
From: S.F., CA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 08-30-2001 10:34 AM
   
First my setup then the question. I have a 6 cyl. which is lighter than a 8 in the front. 620 coils, new 4 leafs in the rear, GR-2 shocks, stock sway bar with poly bushings. New strut rod bushings.I am thinking of going to KYB Gas Adjust all around and a 1" sway bar in the front? What do your guys think. I have heard people have not had good luck with rear bars. The way my muffler sits I cann't put on a adjustable.
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stang106
Gearhead Posts: 431
From: God's Country!... Port Alberni B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-30-2001 12:06 PM
65coupe:
Been there done that!On my '70 ragtop I also have the 620 coils, 5 leaf rear springs, KYB on all four corners, a 1" front and a 3/4" rear bar. Personally I would not use a large front swaybar without the rear bar to balance the centrifugal force front and rear when cornering. I have had no problems with my rear bar, installed everything myself and am happy with the firm ride. The next weakest link in my car was that the unibody was now flexing far too much and I had some rust perforations in the front right frame. BFXCOMET welded a patch on the hole and welded in 1"X 2" rectangular tubing to tie the subframes together and added a monty carlo bar. I had the car four-wheel aligned and had the tech put all the caster he could adjust to it. This combination made a huge difference and I went to the manual steering adaptor to get some road feel. The car can now be but through a corner so hard I don't have the balls to test its limits to find the point of over/understeer and I never even will put it throgh hard corners with a passenger in case something else can't handle the corners and fails. A convertible is no fun to roll.
Dave ------------------
'70 ragtop Stang,
very worn 302, ET 16.090
Keep your stick on the ice!
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 4608
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-30-2001 12:34 PM
I have the 1" bar and 3/4 in the rear with KYB's, export brace and monte carlo bar. I never went with the 620's and have not felt the need for them. The stock springs are quite adequate with the equip I have. If anything, on my 68 am gong to go with Eibach variabel rate springs and the above equip. with an exception. On my last 68, I used the Granada 7/8 sway bar. Going to use it again. I still have not gotten a good fitting bar on my 65. Addco sent me a anew one and it is worse than the first. They like to hit the strut rod on dips in the road.
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pony boy
Gearhead Posts: 292
From: n.y. n.y.
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-30-2001 01:50 PM
Hi,I have a 66 six cylinder convertible,I have an export brace(there are many different opinions on them I put them in all of my cars period),A one inch front sway bar,stock replacement springs,and stock replacement shocks.I set the car up as a comfortable cruiser.The car handles,feels,and rides great and does not dive in the turns.If I push it too hard I would maybe get into trouble,but to date I have pushed it hard enough to throw off hubcaps and turn my fiance pale white around turns,LOL And have not had any problems.I had a six cylinder coupe with the same setup plus kyb's(gas adjust)and stiff springs.The car dove less in the turns,and felt sturdier at speeds,but it rode alot stiffer all the time.I do like the KYB Gas adjust,I use them in all of my v-8 cars.Like I said I wanted my 6cyl.Vert to be a comfortable cruiser,So I didn't set it up for road racing.The best sway bar for the front of a six with no rear bar in my opinion is a 13/16" but they are harder to find,they came in gt's and special handling package cars.I got one recently that I'm going to put into my vert.That's my 2 cents,Sorry for rambling,Hope this helps.Later
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 723
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-30-2001 03:40 PM
I have a 1.125" on the front with 3/4" on the rear, 620 coils, extra leaf rears, negative wedge correction, subframe connectors and KYBs. Car handles well but the ride is stiff. It is going to depend on what you plan to do with it. It is is just a cruiser I wouldn't go larger than 1" and even that might not be necessary.
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65coupei6
Gearhead Posts: 391
From: S.F., CA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 08-30-2001 04:23 PM
Thanks for the info people. My car rides pretty good now. But I was talking to a rep. from KYB at a show. He had cut-aways of the GR-2 and the Gas Adjust Shocks. The gas shocks seem alot better especially here in the city with a lot of bumps & holes.
Since I will be under the car changing the shocks I thought I might as well change the sway bar also.
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 4608
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-30-2001 04:34 PM
I talked with a guy at Canadian Mustang, I believe, and he kind of downplayed the the 1 1/8 bar. I think the 7/8 is adequate plus I got it at a u-pic for cheap! Like $5.00!
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Mpcoluv
Gearhead Posts: 446
From: Charlotte NC usa
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-31-2001 07:20 AM
I tried the TMC 600 pound coils (blue) on my '69 coupe. Way too stiff and the car was higher than before. I took them out and used '69 MAch I 428CJ w/Air front springs.
Clipped about 1 1/4 coils off the bottom.
Works great and the unibody doesn't creak as much as with the 600 pound springs.
If I ever switch to the Global West upper arms I may try the 600# springs again.
Also I have the KYB gas adjust shocks, I kept the stock 7/8 front sway bar but added Poly bushings and end links. I have to move my "Mandel Bent " flowmaster tail pipes to install the rear bar....
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unklshu
Gearhead Posts: 642
From: San Bernardino, Ca
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-31-2001 09:28 AM
I also run the 1 1/8 front sway bar with 3/4 rear sway bar, monte carlo bar and 620 coils with reduced poly insulators to keep my car from looking to high in the front. The car handles great and it still looks as if its been lowered.joe
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 4608
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-31-2001 12:37 PM
I thought that the heavy coils also dropped the car an inch. Are there two kinds?
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 723
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 09-03-2001 09:23 PM
Yes I am sure that there are. I purchased the ones that lower the car 1". Because I relocated the upper control arms about an 1.5" down the front has been lowered a little over 2" without taking into account the lower profile rubber. I could'nt really go any lower with a deep sump oil pan.
quote:
Originally posted by mellowyellow:
I thought that the heavy coils also dropped the car an inch. Are there two kinds?
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