Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
#52
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
Here's the info from my "82-87 -'F' Parts" book. ( shows a Camaro on the cover )
As you've found with your later version of the parts number books,..... there's no part number for a 25mm bar in this book either. The sway bar information it not continued to the next page, it ends at the bottom of the page shown.
I also find it odd that there's no 23mm rear sway listed. I can't even count the number of 87 and earlier Z28's I've owned with a 23mm rear bar on the back.
As you've found with your later version of the parts number books,..... there's no part number for a 25mm bar in this book either. The sway bar information it not continued to the next page, it ends at the bottom of the page shown.
I also find it odd that there's no 23mm rear sway listed. I can't even count the number of 87 and earlier Z28's I've owned with a 23mm rear bar on the back.
"Superseded" parts are those that have been changed (given a new part number) and the old one is no longer made.
"Optional Supersedure" Where they have two parts and they can be interchanged, The difference may be as simple as a different manufacturer, or they differences in them is so minor that they can be interchanged.
"Cancelled" Obviously parts that are no longer available
"Spares" Usually these parts are not exactly the same as the OE part originally installed at the factory, They could require modification or are simply slightly different than the original part.
They may not spell it out this way on the books, but typically that is what I have seen...
It would probably explain why the 25mm is no longer available...
#53
Junior Member
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
I realize you're just tracking sway bars, but keep in mind the suspensions worked as a system and the different sized bars also came with different rate springs. I upgraded my 1985 F41 suspension (30/19) with WS6 bars (36/24) and am replacing the factory springs with Hotchkis.
#54
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
I realize you're just tracking sway bars, but keep in mind the suspensions worked as a system and the different sized bars also came with different rate springs. I upgraded my 1985 F41 suspension (30/19) with WS6 bars (36/24) and am replacing the factory springs with Hotchkis.
I know the WS6 sway bars were hollow, to save weight, The Solid 34mm on the camaro with the "wonderbar" performed the same as the hollow 36mm sway bars, and I think the 36mm was still lighter overall, especially if you add in the weight of the wonderbar...
One thing I have learned is the more I messed with my suspension, sure it handles like its on rails, but the less I enjoy the car... I am actually going to eventually go away from the KYB adjustable shocks & struts for old-school gas filled... Getting old and hard ride is not enjoyable any more...
#55
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Car: 1985 Trans Am T-Top
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T-5 5 Speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi 1LE 10 bolt
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
I also have a 25mm rear bar, however not positive which car it came off, I think a 85, but could have been 86
#57
Junior Member
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
Actually, Since you are going with the Hotchkis springs, you might want to go with their entire system... Like you mentioned when they installed the larger sway bars, they also installed different spring weights. Also Keep in mind that Camaros and Firebirds were different, Firebirds have a softer ride than Camaros but they handle the same...
#58
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Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
Sure, new cars are engineered to the average consumer's taste and to a price so there will be compromises. But I have found that by and large, OE designs work quite well. Piecing together a suspesion or and engine only works if you know what you are doing.
Since I fall into the "don't know what I am doing" category, I have found that minor, balanced modifications yield the best results. In my younger days, I fell into several "bigger is better" mistakes.
#59
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Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: LG4
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
I have an 85 ta with a 25mm rear bar, it also has a 34mm front bar. As far as I can tell they are stock on the car. And I also have the lg4
Last edited by TAKing14; 04-30-2014 at 02:31 AM.
#61
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Car: 85 Trans Am
Engine: LG4
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
I know about the solid bars, and figured that I had the solid 34mm up front.
I was trying to help out with the 25mm rear bars and show a car that is currently running and has that bar on it.
There's a few pictures of it on here being measured with a caliper.
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps84775511.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5c9f300a.jpg
And here is my front not a very good picture but just to show.
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...psd39471d2.jpg
I was trying to help out with the 25mm rear bars and show a car that is currently running and has that bar on it.
There's a few pictures of it on here being measured with a caliper.
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps84775511.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5c9f300a.jpg
And here is my front not a very good picture but just to show.
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...psd39471d2.jpg
Last edited by TAKing14; 05-01-2014 at 01:24 PM. Reason: Update Links
#62
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Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
Also Keep in mind that Camaros and Firebirds were different, Firebirds have a softer ride than Camaros but they handle the same... Its bizarre, but that is from articles back in the day that said the Camaro would beat you to death, where the Trans Am had a much better ride in comparison.
I know the WS6 sway bars were hollow, to save weight, The Solid 34mm on the camaro with the "wonderbar" performed the same as the hollow 36mm sway bars, and I think the 36mm was still lighter overall, especially if you add in the weight of the wonderbar...
I know the WS6 sway bars were hollow, to save weight, The Solid 34mm on the camaro with the "wonderbar" performed the same as the hollow 36mm sway bars, and I think the 36mm was still lighter overall, especially if you add in the weight of the wonderbar...
Honestly, looking at these lists I'm fairly certain that they're incomplete or inaccurate. It would be one thing if later years didn't show bars that came on earlier cars and there were later cars that came with them (at least at that point we'd know that they were made before and may have been substituted), but for example, my '83 TA (an LU5/WS6 car) came with a 32mm front and 24mm rear (and I'm almost positive it was factory equipped that way, never replaced), and none of the lists show a 24mm till '85 (except for the '84 "special").
I also find it funny how everyone seems to think that the 34mm hollow front is dead common but I've never seen one or been able to find one except on a friend's TTA (I've looked for them and tried to buy one a few times, 2x I got a 36 mailed to me)
#63
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Posts: 14,235
Received 163 Likes
on
118 Posts
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: Stock sway bar diameter sizes on IROC's
One thing we still have to keep in mind that the original equipment probably is not the same as the replacement parts. I suspect the Parts catalog does not list every possible spring available at the time of assembly, but rather they have some generics that work within a range for replacement.
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