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tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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& why is that, Janel?
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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You sure?
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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Sway bar for GT was 5/8"; for early roadster was 9/16"...while you can use the larger, STIFFER GT bar, it will affect handling more than you want for a sweet Sunday afternoon driver.
Does Binabox have a bar now? If not, you'll also have to change out the lower front wishbone arms.
Now, tell me what you're hoping for if you already have the stock roadster bar...& if you don't have it, why not just go with the correct one?
Either way, all you had to do was ask me; but, good luck in your search.
Does Binabox have a bar now? If not, you'll also have to change out the lower front wishbone arms.
Now, tell me what you're hoping for if you already have the stock roadster bar...& if you don't have it, why not just go with the correct one?
Either way, all you had to do was ask me; but, good luck in your search.
OP
jaybird
Yoda
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The GT sway bar is 5/8" versus the 1/2" on the roadsters. I drive Emma 99% of the time (unless it's a club event like yesterday's rally) because she handles so much better, is much more responsive. I flat out prefer to drive the rubber bumper. Not to mention it's a nicer ride and she's more responsive.
How much more will it affect the handling if the handling is sloppy now? Binabox is all over the place on curves. I'd much rather have the stiffer handling. There is no bar on Binabox now, so either way, we'll have to change the arms.
And why didn't you just say ya had one?
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
5/8" with the locators? Chuck's checking with a guy in the club tonight that's parting out a GT (if he's at guys night)
If Drew doesn't have one, we're in the market for one.
How much more will it affect the handling if the handling is sloppy now? Binabox is all over the place on curves. I'd much rather have the stiffer handling. There is no bar on Binabox now, so either way, we'll have to change the arms.
And why didn't you just say ya had one?
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
5/8" with the locators? Chuck's checking with a guy in the club tonight that's parting out a GT (if he's at guys night)
If Drew doesn't have one, we're in the market for one.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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Putting the stock sway bar on her will solve your problem & keep the ride soft enough without making her too hard...doesn't your body guy have an extra one?
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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....& while you can improve the ride on Binabox with a sway bar, you'll never make her feel like Emma...Emma has a raised ride height & is heavier thus making her feel more solid & comfortable....Binabox will always feel a bit rougher & less ergonomatically satisfying....putting a heavy sway bar on her won't make her a "nicer ride" - it'll do the opposite....but, that's just my opinion...I know my '67 GT doesn't feel like my '74-1/2 GT...the '74-1/2 is a much "nicer ride" while the '67 lets me feel the road more.
David_K
Jedi Hopeful
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Let me get this straight. You say Binabox doesn't have a sway bar, which is rare, although it was an option from the factory and Emma shouldn't have a sway bar because its a 1975 model. Still with both your cars NOT having sway bars, Binabox should still be more responsive because of its lower ride height.
I say get a 9/16th bar on Binabox, and a 5/8th bar on Emma pronto!! You'll be very happy with the results.
I say get a 9/16th bar on Binabox, and a 5/8th bar on Emma pronto!! You'll be very happy with the results.
Bret
Yoda
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So JB I’m still not clear & reiterate David’s question. Are you saying you don’t have a sway bar or that you just want to step up to the larger GT unit?
Also I think the later rubber bumpers (77 & UP) run pretty good even with the raised ride height. But Janelle’s Emma is a 74.5 and while is has the raised ride height is doesn’t have the duel front & rear sway-bars like the later ones do. That is unless JB added an aftermarket one? JB?
While the early RB B’s ride comfort might have improved I was always under the impression that they handled horribly compared to the early chrome and later rubber bumper B’s.
But perhaps the prespective of ride quality is more a mater of one's driving style. Some how I don’t see JB hanging it out on the line as she carves corners about town. But then I could be wrong about that too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Also I think the later rubber bumpers (77 & UP) run pretty good even with the raised ride height. But Janelle’s Emma is a 74.5 and while is has the raised ride height is doesn’t have the duel front & rear sway-bars like the later ones do. That is unless JB added an aftermarket one? JB?
While the early RB B’s ride comfort might have improved I was always under the impression that they handled horribly compared to the early chrome and later rubber bumper B’s.
But perhaps the prespective of ride quality is more a mater of one's driving style. Some how I don’t see JB hanging it out on the line as she carves corners about town. But then I could be wrong about that too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
OP
jaybird
Yoda
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Oh, you're a bit wrong Bret.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I didn't add anything to Emma as far as handling or performance other than the SUs. Have I mentioned lately how great she runs?
Maybe it's because I'm used to her and not so worried about trashing a $15,000 vehicle versus a $4000 when I drive her. She shifts easier, steers better, takes the curves better. And the ride, IM(less than)HO is far more comfortable. Or maybe I'm more comfortable driving her. But I drove Emma all day one day, Binabox all day Sunday, and yup, I like Emma better. (shhh, don't tell Bina)
There is NO sway bar on Binabox.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I didn't add anything to Emma as far as handling or performance other than the SUs. Have I mentioned lately how great she runs?
Maybe it's because I'm used to her and not so worried about trashing a $15,000 vehicle versus a $4000 when I drive her. She shifts easier, steers better, takes the curves better. And the ride, IM(less than)HO is far more comfortable. Or maybe I'm more comfortable driving her. But I drove Emma all day one day, Binabox all day Sunday, and yup, I like Emma better. (shhh, don't tell Bina)
There is NO sway bar on Binabox.
Joe Reed
Jedi Warrior
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Just a warning. If you make changes to the suspension on one end of the car and not the other, you'll change the handling characteristics (understeer & oversteer). Stiffer sway bars on the front (or a bar where there was none) will increase understeer. Stiffen the rear and you'll increase oversteer. If you throw off the balance, you won't be happy with the results.
CB cars with sway bars had a front bar only. If you install a larger (stiffer) bar, you'll probably need to install a rear bar to maintain the same F/R roll stiffness.
Late RB cars had bars on both ends so, unless you're trying to change the handling balance, you'll need to try to make a balanced change at each end.
Since Binabox doesn't have any sway bars, I'd start with a stock CB bar and see how you like it. If you go to a stiffer front bar, you might need to install a rear bar to avoid excessive understeer.
On Emma, the stock RB bars might be just what you want. If you go with heavier aftermarket bars, do it at both ends.
CB cars with sway bars had a front bar only. If you install a larger (stiffer) bar, you'll probably need to install a rear bar to maintain the same F/R roll stiffness.
Late RB cars had bars on both ends so, unless you're trying to change the handling balance, you'll need to try to make a balanced change at each end.
Since Binabox doesn't have any sway bars, I'd start with a stock CB bar and see how you like it. If you go to a stiffer front bar, you might need to install a rear bar to avoid excessive understeer.
On Emma, the stock RB bars might be just what you want. If you go with heavier aftermarket bars, do it at both ends.
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
I know nothing about MGB suspension: However, you need to isolate exactly what you don't like about BINABOX's handling, then double check for any issues that may be causing it. Bolting on suspension "improvements" may make an existing problem worse. If the car tracks straight on a level road, then your toe-in is probably OK if you are not having excessive tire wear. If it goes through a curve fine until you hit a bump or dip, then you may have bad shocks or loose suspension components. If the car wants to wander on a staight level road, then it may need more toe in. Or... the steering rack may need to be rebuilt/adjusted to remove pinion lash.
I know you just rebuilt the car, but it doesn't mean that everything is as it should be. Double check the suspension fasteners, shocks, toe-in, caster?, camber? Then decide what you want to change. Less body roll on the cruves? Smoother ride with less jarring? etc.
Or... buy a proper Midget.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I know you just rebuilt the car, but it doesn't mean that everything is as it should be. Double check the suspension fasteners, shocks, toe-in, caster?, camber? Then decide what you want to change. Less body roll on the cruves? Smoother ride with less jarring? etc.
Or... buy a proper Midget.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Bret
Yoda
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
On Emma, the stock RB bars might be just what you want. If you go with heavier aftermarket bars, do it at both ends.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hey Joe,
JB's Emma is an early Rubber Bumper B and unless someone added them they didn't have any swaybars. First RB B's to get them was in 1977 onward.
Also in my 78B's case while I did a lot of suspenstion upgrades (lowered, poly bushes & brakes), I kept the stock front & rear swaybars.
But I would agree that JB should probably go with a stock swaybar and see how she likes it before going too stiff.
On Emma, the stock RB bars might be just what you want. If you go with heavier aftermarket bars, do it at both ends.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hey Joe,
JB's Emma is an early Rubber Bumper B and unless someone added them they didn't have any swaybars. First RB B's to get them was in 1977 onward.
Also in my 78B's case while I did a lot of suspenstion upgrades (lowered, poly bushes & brakes), I kept the stock front & rear swaybars.
But I would agree that JB should probably go with a stock swaybar and see how she likes it before going too stiff.