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Topic: Sway bar question

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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Sway bar question

Posted: 4/20/13 6:13pm Message 1 of 11
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persico
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Long Valley, NJ - USA
Joined: 3/21/2007
Posts: 293
Vette(s): 1972 454 Coupe, 4 speed, Targa Blue with blue interior, luggage rack 2019 Grand Sport Coupe, M7, Ceramic Matrix Gray with gray interior
Have my rear suspension apart and I notice that my rear sway bar is on 9/16" while my front is a full 1".  Don't know if either are original.  Is there a way to find out what came standard on my car: 72 Big Block Coupe (454) with manual (rock crusher) and I thought heavy duty rear end ...but know I'm wondering!


Mario

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Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/21/13 7:05am Message 2 of 11
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The rear bar is always smaller than the front bar, and all big blocks had the rear bar. The dimensions you give sound correct, of the top of me head.

You say your car has the M22 "Rock Crusher" trans, but it was only available (in '72) with the ZR1 option, which included the LT-1 engine. So, if you DO have the M22, it is not "original" to the car. Unhappy



Joel Adams
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Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/21/13 7:24am Message 3 of 11
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Sarge81
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
Yeah that sounds about right. I did some digging myself since I am considering adding a rear sway bar to mine.

The rear sway bar decreased the understeer condition since the big block cars were nose heavy.
Small block cars didn't have that issue so much. But there was a FE7/Z07 package offered in I believe '73 thru '82'. They had the rear sway bar. It was only 7/16" in diameter.

One thing you don't want to do is increase the size of the sway bar without matching it to a larger front. the car will develop serious oversteer.




GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




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Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/21/13 8:32am Message 4 of 11
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persico
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Long Valley, NJ - USA
Joined: 3/21/2007
Posts: 293
Vette(s): 1972 454 Coupe, 4 speed, Targa Blue with blue interior, luggage rack 2019 Grand Sport Coupe, M7, Ceramic Matrix Gray with gray interior
Thanks guys - so in this case bigger is not better!  I'll leave well enough alone!  As far as the car transmission being non-original I am finding so many surprises that I've given up on originality!  My first Vette learning a ton...the hard way!  I'm content with a nice driver, assuming I ever get it back together! LOL


Mario

Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/21/13 8:13pm Message 5 of 11
VETTERBOB
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DUNEDIN, FL - USA
Joined: 10/22/2004
Posts: 833
Vette(s): 1969 COUPE CORTEZ SILVER, BRIGHT BLUE INTERIOR 383 cu. in. 512 HP. Hooker headers w/ side pipes PS PS AC AM FM STEREO. 68,000.MILES C5 5oth Anniversary Coupe , auto.350hp
according to this the M22 was available from `69.
however , i believe it was a standard equipment with the ZR1


1968 - 1982 Corvette Specification Guide
(1968-1982 Transmission Identification Codes)

1968 Transmission Identification Codes

S Saginaw 3-Speed
P Muncie 4-Speed
K Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, Corvette 327 Engines
L Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, Corvette 427 Engines

1969 Transmission Identification Codes

S Saginaw 3-Speed
P Muncie 4-Speed
A* Muncie 4-Speed M20 Wide-Range (2.52:1 1st gear)
B* Muncie 4-Speed M21 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear)
C* Muncie 4-Speed M22 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear) Rock Crusher
K Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 350 Cubic-Inch Corvette Engines
L Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 390 & 400 Horsepower Corvette Engines
Y** Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, Corvette 430 & 435 Horsepower Engines

* Suffix codes added to build date codes of Muncie transmissions for identification purposes effective October 21, 1968.  Note:  The nomenclature "rock crusher" was actually used by Chevrolet.

** High Shift Point Transmission.

1970 Transmission Identification Codes

P Muncie 4-Speed, Heavy-Duty Aluminum case
A* Muncie 4-Speed M20 Wide-Range (2.52:1 1st gear)
B* Muncie 4-Speed M21 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear)
C* Muncie 4-Speed M22 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear) Rock Crusher
K Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 350 Cubic-Inch Engines
S Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 454 Cubic-Inch Engines
Y** Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 454 Cubic-Inch Engines

* Suffix codes added to build date codes of Muncie transmissions for identification purposes.

** High Shift Point Transmission believed scheduled for use with the 1970 LS7 engine which was not available for retail sale.

1971 Transmission Identification Codes

P Muncie 4-Speed, Heavy-Duty Aluminum case
A* Muncie 4-Speed M20 Wide-Range (2.52:1 1st gear)
B* Muncie 4-Speed M21 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear)
C* Muncie 4-Speed M22 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear) Rock Crusher
K Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 350 Cubic-Inch Engines
S Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 454 Cubic-Inch Engines
Y** Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 454 Cubic-Inch LS6 Engine

* Suffix codes added to build date codes of Muncie transmissions for identification purposes.

** High Shift Point Transmission.

1972 Transmission Identification Codes

P Muncie 4-Speed, Heavy-Duty Aluminum case
A* Muncie 4-Speed M20 Wide-Range (2.52:1 1st gear)
B* Muncie 4-Speed M21 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear)
C* Muncie 4-Speed M22 Close-Range (2.20:1 1st gear) Rock Crusher
K Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 350 Cubic-Inch Engines
S Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, 454 Cubic-Inch Engines

* Suffix codes added to build date codes of Muncie transmissions for identification purposes.

1973 Transmission Identification Codes

P Muncie 4-Speed, Heavy-Duty Aluminum case
A* Muncie 4-Speed M20 Wide-Range (2.52:1 1st gear)


Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/22/13 4:25am Message 6 of 11
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
True, but in '72, the M22 was only available with the ZR1/Lt-1 option. No other Corvettes had it. Thumbs Up


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/22/13 7:39am Message 7 of 11
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persico
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Long Valley, NJ - USA
Joined: 3/21/2007
Posts: 293
Vette(s): 1972 454 Coupe, 4 speed, Targa Blue with blue interior, luggage rack 2019 Grand Sport Coupe, M7, Ceramic Matrix Gray with gray interior
And mine doesn't either, I was wrong.  Double checked - mystery solved.  Thanks guys!


Mario

Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/22/13 10:15am Message 8 of 11
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F4Gary
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Grapevine, TX - USA
Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1525
Vette(s): 1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air. 2017 Black Rose Grand Sport convertible.
Looks like I have an M20.  So much for getting a lower first gear.Unhappy


   

Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/22/13 11:50am Message 9 of 11
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JohnRR
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Joined: 2/22/2011
Posts: 110
My stock '73 BB had a 7/8" diameter sway bar in the front and a 9/16" bar in the rear.  I replaced them with a 1-1/8" solid bar in front and a 3/4" bar in the rear from Van Steel.

I have the M21 trans and wish it were the wide ratio M20 with the lower 1st gear.  Other than gear ratios, is there any difference between these two transmissions?

John



1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car
2009 Z06 Mostly Stock

Re: Sway bar question

Posted: 4/22/13 5:25pm Message 10 of 11
VETTERBOB
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DUNEDIN, FL - USA
Joined: 10/22/2004
Posts: 833
Vette(s): 1969 COUPE CORTEZ SILVER, BRIGHT BLUE INTERIOR 383 cu. in. 512 HP. Hooker headers w/ side pipes PS PS AC AM FM STEREO. 68,000.MILES C5 5oth Anniversary Coupe , auto.350hp
GOOD INFO JOEL. I DIDN`T KNOW THAT. I THOUGHT YOU COULD ORDER IT WITH ANY OPTIONS. THANKS


in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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