Hi i recently purchased a 91 rs with a tbi 305. The car handles corners very well it has brand new performance shocks and struts but every thing else is stock. is there a major difference in handling between the rs and z28? if so is it just the sway bars?

 

Springs, shocks, sway bars, steering brace (wonder bar). The Z28 is a whole different animal. Unless you have the F41 option.

Some RS's had the F41 option which meant they got 16" Z28 wheels and certain Z28 suspension components. I know the sway bars were one of those components, possibly springs/shocks too.

 

 

To be sure of the F41 option, would it be evident from the vin #?

 

mine has the 16 inch rims how do i know if its also got the good suspension? and what is the wonder bar and can i take one off a z28?

 

yes u can, the wonder bar is under the front sway bar, look for the code in the rear trunk compartment, the one with the lock on it on the drivers side that has all the options on that sticker

 

Z-28 = better!

 

the f41 is close to the z from what i have read

 

a RS with the F41 package means that the only diff between a Z28 and a RS is the engine and the badges.

really, if you're modding it so that it doesnt suck, they're all the same car. theres nothign special about a Z28.

 

To my knowledge, only the IROC was equipped with the Wonderbar.

JamesC

 

i looked in the trunk glove box and my sticker has the f41 option this explains why it handles so well i guess

 

lucky b*stard lol

 

yeah i guess lol , what does the wonder bar do for the car? any one have a pic of one?

 

The wonderbar, the black piece under the front sway is the Global West Version, ties/strengthens the steering box area, which is apparently prone to cracking with 16 in wheels.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...what-36mm2.jpg

JamesC

 

thanks for the pic, i cant help but wonder if Gm knows that 16 inch rims make that area prone to crack why then dont they include the bar with the 16 inch rims package?

 

They did. On IROC's only .

JamesC

 

got yah, if remember right the irocs did have fatter front tires that would add more stress to that area then the rs or z28 does.

 

It's hard to believe that the 10mm difference would be the cutoff point for a wonderbar...........but then again its GM's thinking.

The F41 option also comes with a fast ratio gear box IIRC. I know that mine did.

 

fast ratio gear box? you mean the steering box or tranny? mines a 700r4 automatic, the car has alot of options it has AC and power every thing with cruise.no leather though but thats ok leather slides around to much for me.

 

the power steering box... its like 12.x to 1 ratio...

 

i dont think that the iroc 245/50/16 wheels where any bigger then z28 245/50/16. the quick steering gear box is 2 1/4 to 1 ratio.

 

I didn't know that the F41 package had the quick ratio steering box. Good thing I lost a bid on Ebay for one

 

So F41 = quick steering box? I've been trying to figure that out.

 

is a a z28 and lower than an F41 RS?? I ask because my new Z28 seems to scrape its air dam in more places than my RS did. My z28 has about 20k miles LESS than my RS did, has T-tops (my RS was a hardtop), and has 245/50/16 tires compared to my RS's 235/55/16 tires.

 

So whats the difinitive answer on what the f41 suspension package included (swaybar size, spring type (stock rs or stiff z28 i mean) and anything else that's important......

Heres what i do know, not all z28s got the wonderbar i beleive it was only the irocs if i remember correct (probably don't). I also know that the f41 package didn't include the fast ratio box, mine is 3 turns lock to lock not 2 1/4, i do know that some z28s did.

Anyways i'd reccomend the tds wonderbar a lot because, it made a good difference in my front end grip, now i pretty much push on all turns instead of oversteering (unless i add to much throttle but,s thats tough with only 150 wheel hp lol).

My car handles insanely well for what it is and i know it's a f41, after a tds wonderbar, subframe connectors and new shocks and struts, it easily out handles new mustangs (v6 ones anyways never tried against a v8) but, i 've played around with a new v6 and i could only pull the same curve i was taking at 48-50in my maro at 40-42 in the stang(in other words theirs a big difference), the curve was a gradual slightly banked 80-90* turn btw (not very gradual mind you but, definetly not a direct left and right deal all at once.).

 

Do we know if the f41 came with z28 750 lb/in springs? I don't think they did.

 

turns lock to lock only tell you where the steering stops are set...

the steering ratio is how much the wheels turn in relation to steering wheel angle.

only IROCs got the wonderbar.

my car has the quick ratio box. if its not part of the F41, then i donno what RPO code gave me it.

 

any1 know the answer to this debate yet?

Did the f41 option include the z28 springs, what steering box, what rims, wonderbar or no? Sway bar sizing?

Still curious myself as i supposedly have the f41 option under my rpo's and i have 16 8 wheels, no wonderbar, 3 turns lock to lock box, i beleive the big swaybars but, i never measured them, and no idea on springs but, it rides like **** even with all new shocks struts.