'67 Camaro Rear Sway Bars?

[Zedder]

The '67 Z I have been attempting to buy (looks like the deal has gone cold AGAIN thanks to an IRS paranoid owner) has a rear sway bar on it. It does not appear to be the same as the GM units that I have seen in a few books. Was anyone else making rear sway bar units for these cars? The bar itself bends around the pumpkin not like the straighter GM bars. Thanks in advance,

[JoeC]

I don't think Camaro got a rear bar until 1970. There was a prototype bar in 68 but don't think any were factory install

[budnate]

Mark I had one years ago that sounds the same I think it was a JC Whitney unit?, look up at the frame rail in front of the axel see if it has two holes drilled in it so a U-Bolt could be slide around to hold a bracket that was used to hold the front adjusters of the sway bar, I never istalled it on my car, just could not bring myself to drill holes in my frame.

Bud.

[Zedder]

Joe, In McNeish's and Guin's books they show pics of the '67 GM bars - one of the two said they only made 10 proto-type units but then discontinued them because they were no longer necessary due to the staggered shock design in '68.

Bud: It could be the same. There is a bracket that attaches to the frame and it has stabilizer link that has a spring around it that goes between the bracket and the stailizer bar. It's a pretty slick looking unit really, but yeah, I hate that it bolts to the frame. The GM units had a plate welded to the frame. Thanks!

[JoeC]

The 1st gen sway bar drawing that I have seen show multi leaf spring so I thought it came out in 68.


[ QUOTE ]
one of the two said they only made 10 proto-type units but then discontinued them because they were no longer necessary due to the staggered shock design in '68.


[/ QUOTE ]
Did the books really say this? It doesn’t sound right. The hi po 67s got a traction arm to reduce wheel hop. The 67 only traction arm was eliminated when the staggered shocks and multi leaf springs came out in 68 to reduce wheel hop. Staggered shocks shouldn’t affect sway bar. Sway bar is to reduce body roll. Sway bar and staggered shock designs are still used today on many rear suspensions with solid axle.

[Zedder]

Yep...I checked last night. It is in the Untold Secrets book.

[jg95z28]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep...I checked last night. It is in the Untold Secrets book.

[/ QUOTE ]That's where I was just about to suggest looking. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif That book is full of great information.

[Jeff H]

I talked to Wayne Guinn about the rear sway bar. I was wondering if it was worth trying to locate one for my car and he said they don't fit the multi-leaf cars. So they were designed for 67 only and they didn't help very much so they discontinued the effort. Got any pictures of this setup you're talking about Mark?

[Zedder]

Thanks Jeff. No, I only have video at this point. If I get the car, I'll put it up on my lift and get you all the shots you'd like http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Mark_C]

Well, heres the drawing of the 67-69 rear swaybar attached, and it shows multileaf springs, so it has to be for 68/69's, unless there was some artistic license taken.

[Mark_C]

Heres the parts list for the rear sway bar.

[budnate]

The way I understand the rear bar is what Jeff just said, as far as the drawing, it falls into the same place as the smallblock tri-power power drawing.

Bud.

[KNAPPY]

Mark

I may have some pictures of the sway bar, If so I'll e-mail to you.