1st gen F body and panhard bar - leaf springs

[69MyWay]

Anybody ever installed a PH bar on a 1st gen with leaf springs?

I have the fiberglass springs and was reading about a recomendation to run a ph bar if doing any autocross.

I don't see any "bolt" in ones out there - seems the ph bar is for coil spring and four link style rearends.

Just curious.....

[Marcus SC&C]

I don`t know of any bolt on panhard bars for 1st gens but they were used with some success on TransAm racing years ago. Problem with a PHB is that even long ones swing the axle in an arc and side load the springs. The RC also moves vertically the same way it does with the stock leaf springs so there`s no improvement there. A better solution kinematically is a frame mounted watts link. It keeps the axle perfectly centered with no additional side loading and the rear RC height stays exactly the same distance from the rear CG at all times keeping that moment arms exactly the same at all times. In general it will make the rear suspension feel much more precise. It also has what I`d describe as a calming effect on the rear end of the car. You can really get stupid with it and the car won`t bite you. They`re also available as a simple bolt in. http://www.scandc.com/wattslink.htm The pics toward the top are 1st Gen with leaf springs. Mark SC&C

[Jimmy Sean]

I don`t know of any bolt on panhard bars for 1st gens but they were used with some success on TransAm racing years ago. Problem with a PHB is that even long ones swing the axle in an arc and side load the springs. The RC also moves vertically the same way it does with the stock leaf springs so there`s no improvement there. A better solution kinematically is a frame mounted watts link. It keeps the axle perfectly centered with no additional side loading and the rear RC height stays exactly the same distance from the rear CG at all times keeping that moment arms exactly the same at all times. In general it will make the rear suspension feel much more precise. It also has what I`d describe as a calming effect on the rear end of the car. You can really get stupid with it and the car won`t bite you. They`re also available as a simple bolt in. http://www.scandc.com/wattslink.htm The pics toward the top are 1st Gen with leaf springs. Mark SC&C

Bandwidth Limit Exceeded:mad: :mad:

[CarlC]

How much do those weigh Marcus?

[Mkelcy]

How much does do those weight Marcus?

Carl: You thinking a Watts link might be pretty good with composite leafs?

[deuce_454]

I have installed an sc&c/fays2 watts and im really happy with the product.. took a couple of hours to install and the car feels much more refined and predictable...

watts and leafs is used widely in scca and av8 open track racing, which is what fays2 started out making the unit for.... and its a direct bolt in deal.... all you need is a drill, and a handfull of wrenches

http://www.fays2.net/images/Gen%201%20%20Rear%20view%20watts%20link.jpg

[CarlC]

Carl: You thinking a Watts link might be pretty good with composite leafs?

I'm always thinking Mike, but it's not always pretty. :goofy:

[dwfastcam]

I had a Competition engineering panhard bar that I made work with leaf springs on my 69 Camaro. The Watts link kit above looks badder asser though!

[69MyWay]

VERY COOL!

Thanks for the info

[BBC69Camaro]

I wonder how the Watts link with leaf springs compares to say a 4-link setup say the G-Bar in terms of handling and ride quality?

[Mrfixit]

One of my closest car buddies uses a PHB on his 69. It's a simple home made set up using a PHB from Speedway Motors. He road races it at Sebring, FL in SCCA Vintage class. While the PHB may not be as precise as the watts link, it's real cheap to build and it provides a significant improvement in lateral movement over just the stock leaf springs. Keep in mind that both the PHB and watts link will create exhaust routing difficulties.