sway bars

[szalkuskt]

with the hotchkiss discount any ideas on sway bars. How are the hollow bars? 35% is good.trying to think of a good bargain.

[mjoc]

I have the hotchkiss Front and the stock rear I like them alot. you should ask M. Pozzi

Mike

[m pozzi]

I've got these bars on my '73 and they work well. Made the rear bar adjustable but this is not necessary nor desirable for a street-driven car that will never see track days. Hotchkis has a much better mounting system for their rear bar now ... with your discount, this is an excellent means to get some good quality suspension pieces.

And no, Hotchkis didn't pay me to say this ...

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[BonzoHansen]

Hotchkis has a much better mounting system for their rear bar now ...

Did they change?

[szalkuskt]

Can We Compare The Old And New Style Mounting With Some Photos ???????? Mary, What Is Better Now Than Before?

[szalkuskt]

which should I get for my street car? Something comparable to a WS6 I suppose.............what sizes????............. Help!

[m pozzi]

Originally Posted by szalkuskt

Can We Compare The Old And New Style Mounting With Some Photos ???????? Mary, What Is Better Now Than Before?

My understanding is the new mounting is to the side of the rear subframe. The present mounting goes through the rear seat floor pan. Under high loads, I've seen this area become stressed.

For a normally driven (if that's possible) street car, the "old" rear bar mounting arrangement should pose no problems. For those of us that like some extra g-force with our coffee, the current rear bar may not be ideal. There's a lot of movement going on in the rear of our Camaros, both laterally and longitudinally. As the rear bar can't move laterally, or sideways, whatever it's mounted to takes a lot of pressure during suspension and chassis movement. As the rear axle is solid, that leaves the remaining end link attachment points. I've tracked and autocrossed my car a lot; it probably has twice as many track/autocross miles than street miles. So far, no problems with the "old" rear bar attachment points.

As for photos, I don't have any as of yet. My understanding is that when you purchase a Hotchkis rear bar, you get the upgraded end link attachment hardware and instructions. Call Hotchkis and inquire ...

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[m pozzi]

Originally Posted by szalkuskt

which should I get for my street car? Something comparable to a WS6 I suppose.............what sizes????............. Help!

If you plan on going with the present TVS Hotchkis suspension, then use the standard front/rear bars. You don't want to go too stiff on bars and leave that duty for the springs (front coils, rear leafs). Same with shocks ... not too stiff on rebound or compression as the springs have that job.

Sounds like you want a good handling car that you can have some fun with on the twisties, maybe autocross a few times a year, and such. Hotchkis has an excellent system and it's the one I have the most parts from on my current car.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[szalkuskt]

Which ones Mary? You are right ,I just want to have fun in the twisties sometimes, no autocross, just twisties. http://www.hotchkis.net/p-475-sport-sway-bar-f.aspx http://www.hotchkis.net/p-574-sport-sway-bar-set.aspx 1 3/8" Hollow Front, 7/8" Hollow Rear. What were the Trans am's WS6 sizes?

[szalkuskt]

Also I am thinking about the front springs. I already have 126 pound rate springs for a 1980 Z28 to put on my 79. I will have a small block, m22, no a/c. What should I do for the front? Coil overs sound interesting to me.

[Macadoo355]

Wasent the WS6 bars 1 1/4 and ....something?

[m pozzi]

I'll check my '02 SS bars tomorrow and report back. 125# leafs sound pretty light; the Global West CAT5's I've got on the back of the '73 are about double that. The Hotchkis rear leafs are about 185# or so and are a good, streetable spring.

You don't need a monster rear bar and 7/8" should be fine. The 1-3/8" front bar is meant to be used with their present TVS kit and it also is what I run. Very happy with their suspension system but there's a lot more available now than what there was when I built my car back in the day. Unless something really amazing comes out, I'll stay with what I have now.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[79T/Aman]

if you can find a Trans Am front bar you would be set ALL T/As used a 1 1/4" front bar, and the WS6 used a 3/4" rear, the 126 # rear leafs are a bit light but you can find a 79-76 T/A rear bar they were 13/16" or 7/8", but now this does deppend on the tires you plan on using, the order in how to build a car is, chassis first (can't build anything without a good foundation) but I know you have that taken care of 2nd is tire/wheel choice this affects spring and sway bar choices and shocks

[szalkuskt]

I have 126 # rate springs for a 1980 z28.I will just use the stock 15 inch turbine wheels for now. I will report back with the tire size soon. what issues do you guys see with my 126# rate springs????? I have heard good news with them compared to the stock 1979 92# rate saggy stuff.......I am just having a street car here

[John Wright]

Performance tire choices for a 15" rim are becoming pretty slim these days.