Merry Christmas and happy new year to all my Oldsmobile brothers & sisters!

Is there a rear sway bar that would fit on a 1965 Starfire convertible?

 

Not easily. The only factory rear bar for the 65-70 full size cars came on the B07 Police Apprehender cars. I lucked into one of those for my 67 D88. They are very, very rare. UMI claims to sell an aftermarket bar to fit these cars, but actually it is just an A-body rear bar with spacers that go between the ends of the bar and the lower control arms to make up for the wider B-body suspension. As a structural engineer, this bothers me since it puts a longitudinal twisting load into the LCA that both adds an unanticipated loading to the lower arm and negates part of the sway bar effect.

And to answer the next question, no, Impala rear suspensions are completely different.

 

Joe,

Thanks, pretty much what I expected. My degree was in economics so it looks like I am on the wrong side of supply and demand, If, by some miracle, one became available what would you estimate for the asking price?

Quite a fleet you have there. Acquired my 2nd 65 Starfire ragtop some 50 years after my first one. Don't push this quite as hard as the first one, rarely see 3000 rpm. Pretty good convertible weather in Fort Lauderdale area this time of year. If you are ever in the area give me a shout, 954-609-1940.

 

Would an Impala rear sway bar work?

 

Scroll up and read the last line of Post #2

 

i won't disagree with joe's opinion of the possible design flaw of using an A body sway bar with spacers on a B body but i can speak from personal experience from using the sway bar from my 65 cutlass on my 66 88 convertible using square tubing for spacers works just fine. a HUGE improvement over no sway bar.it worked well enough that i sold joe the factory B body sway bar i came across after installing the cutlass one on my 88. you 're welcome joe

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...0/#post1158920 not sure if i did this right,trying to link the post i put a pic in.for the life of me i cant find my own pic

 

i can guarantee you that installing a rear say bar in a car like yours produces night and day difference in the ride/handling.you will think you got a new car

 

Thanks again for the info, hope to report next month. Took her out for a cruise on Ft Lauderdale beach today, temperatures low 70s.

Our "driver", cruised along Fort Lauderdale beach this afternoon, temperature low 70s. Hope to report on sway bar next month. Happy new year to all of you, thanks!

 

very nice,i only hate you a little for being able to take yours out now

 

You got me pumped up for a rear bar. Only drive with top down after dark in the summer here. My dad had a 1964 4 door Dynamic 88. When I got the Starfire I was happy to be getting an Oldsmobile, didn't even know displacement was increased in 1965 until I looked at owners manual. Big difference in steering response when I switched from bias ply to radials on that one. Best wishes for a happy new year!!