76olds

Hey guys, 1976 cutlass supreme 350/350 Installing 3:42 gears in rear with the perfect launch diff cover, not much power up front as of yet. The standard eddi performer intake/carb headers The car didn't come with a rear sway bar from factory, Think I should install one? Starting from the rear and working my way up front. Other suggestions with regards to replacement parts would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks Eric

tmaleck

I would add the rear sway bar. It will help the body roll on corners a lot. My next thought going back to front would be an overdrive transmission.

Tim

olds3442

Eric, have a sway bar for sale, if interested pm me thanks John

76olds

Thanks Tim, I'm looking into a couple overdrive trans, Just haven't made up my mind yet on which motor I'm going with and the $ I want to spend.


John, I think it would cost me more for shipping from Ohio to Toronto What you think ? I can get one up here the 1 1/8 available for the rear.

jag1886

If you are going to do it get a matched pair for the car that way you won't end up with one too small in the rear when you upgrade the front or one too large in the rear to use with your stock front one now.
A large pair of match bars will make a huge difference in the handling even if you haven't done the rest of the suspension yet. Just remember if you have old soggy worn out bushings in everything you aren't going to get the full benefit from new bars.

76olds

Thanks Jag, I did the complete front end while the motor was out for refresh , however at the time I never thought about anything but stock parts. Just the standard center link, tie rods, idler arm, links etc , I don't recall what dia the front sway bar was but I know I didn't replace it or the bushings. I think in that case I will wait till spring before I do a purchase, like you say and match things up with the better bushings and links.

76olds

I was also looking at the tubular control arms however the complete set is pricey, and I read that guys are no to fond of their strength and reliability. Just a thought for now. I sandblaster the originals when doing the ball joints and springs and painted them but they have a lot of weight to them. I'd like to get shed a little weight, thus the reason for checking the tubular arms out .

joe_padavano

As I noted in the other sway bar thread, the cheap, easy upgrade for the 73-77 cars is the 1.25" front bar and the optional 1" rear bar. I have not tried it, but I've heard that the sway bars from the 77-96 Caprice can be made to work with these cars, as the downsized B-body cars were based on the 73-77 A-body chassis.

76olds

Thanks Joe, I think I will try to match them up if I can.

kevdog442

John, do you have a sway bar for a 68 Cutlass? I'm in Ohio.

z11375ss

If you want to spend some money, Hotchkis makes some really nice stuff. I put their anti sway bars on my car and it corners pretty flat for a 68 Cutlass. Very happy with the performance gains.

Wow! Here's the link. I forgot how expensive they are!http://www.hotchkis.net/6472_gm_abod..._sway_bar.html

76olds

Oh they are expensive. The sets look awesome, tooo much $$$ for me .