I am just wanting to firm up my ride a little in the corners and see there are a few choices out there. Moving up to an 1 1/4" front sway bar looks like a good start. Few different manufacturers out there. Have heard lots about Hotchkiss, are they as good as they are advertised? Saw chrome moly, solid versus hollow. What have you guys been happy with?
As I recall, the front sway bar from an '81 (and related years) Camaro will fit. The Z28's had the 1-1/4" sway bars. You should be able to get one cheap at a salvage yard.
I put a 1-1/8" in on my Beaumont (from a non Z-28 Camaro - price was right) and it made a world of difference. The 1-1/4" would likely flatten out cornering stance even more, but I'm happy with the 1-1/8". My gut feel tells me I'd need to put in stiffer bushings front & rear before I'd see much difference between the 1-1/8" and the 1-1/4".
You can't go wrong with the Hotchkiss performance suspension Jerel. It doesn't come cheap... but it's noticeably way better than stock. Almost everything on my ride is Hotchkiss except for the front A-arms.
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"you can't burn out, if your not on fire" -Jim Morrison
I have the F body on the front, and a summit 1" on the rear... the F body, is a nice beefy upgrade from the factory bar. The main difference between the OEM and some aftermarket bars is that the OEM is solid (heavier) and some aftermarkets are hollow... same performance, less weight... unless you are chasing every pound, I wouldn't spend added $ on a hollow bar.
I have a 69 Beaumont Convertible . I bought but haven't installed yet a set of Tubular front and rear adjustable hellwig front and rear sway bars. I also now have the hotchkis small block 2 inch lowering springs and am installing the matching 2 inch lowering springs for the rear. I also ordered a UMI control arm braces . I ordered my parts on Amazon.com & UMI direct. I got the sway bars , the rear springs & UMI braces for under 900.00
I also previously boxed my control arms and added poly eurethane bushings.
I also picked up a winter beater currently using for the winter for 450.00 . It's a 94 Buick Roadmaster which I will be using the spindles (tall camber ball joints) & front brakes , steering box ( quick ratio) and whatever else I can salvage ? ( LT1 350 engine , new rebuilt 4 L60 E etc )to recoupe $.
I'm hoping it will handle a little better than stock this spring.
From my research , I think I'm heading in the right direction .
-- Edited by bzbaz63 on Tuesday 6th of January 2015 01:09:20 AM
-- Edited by bzbaz63 on Tuesday 6th of January 2015 01:10:30 AM
I am really happy with the basic Summit brand bars front and rear for a-body. They are big, and look to be exactly the same as the helwig brand right down to the hammertone finish. If you upgrade the front, be sure to plate the frame or install a plate with nuts and bolts at the bushings, otherwise you will tear it right out of the frame.
Boxing the rear arms is good too.
The look and fit of a factory rear bar is better than the summit one, but its a question of price
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Beaumontguru
MY BEAUMONT HAS 4 STUDDED TIRES AND 2 BLOCKHEATERS......AND LOTS OF OIL UNDERNEATH. The other one has a longer roof.
I bough a 77 trans am 1 1/8 front sway bar from a nieghbour,for my 66 Beaumont, after parts guy at agm showed me an article in a hot rod nagazine . direct fit believe it or not!!!
I installed the 1 5/16 hellwig front only so far and it made a huge difference.' It rides flat around corners . 75 % better than original. Now to install the rear tubular touring bar in the rear and my new Hotchkis rear lowering springs to make it 100 % better.
-- Edited by bzbaz63 on Saturday 4th of April 2015 11:14:43 AM
I bough a 77 trans am 1 1/8 front sway bar from a nieghbour,for my 66 Beaumont, after parts guy at agm showed me an article in a hot rod nagazine . direct fit believe it or not!!!
Brian on here told me the same thing and I think that is what he has on his 64. I had kept my eye open at pick a part but never saw one so bit it and bought the 1 1/4".
a lowered down 69 rag top, to handle like a sports car .... interesting
