83 Crossfire TA

iTrader: (2)

What rear bars were available for 3rd gens?

Somehow I assumed that most of the 3rd gens that came from the factory with a performance suspension came with a 23mm rear bar, the 24mm bars were pretty rare and most of the rest came with a 3/4 or 7/8" bar. I never really paid attention to what rear bars I had sitting around, but I always figured that I had one of each common size by now... I don't

I went and measured what I have sitting around and it turns out that out of 6 rear bars all except 1 are 24mm, and the one smaller one is a 21mm which I've never heard of before. The odd thing is that my '83 TA came with a solid 32 front and 24 rear (no wonder I always liked that car better with poly front bushings and rubber rear), my '87 TA has a 36/24 (I'm pretty sure that they're stock based on how stock the car was when I bought it), and my '87 Formula 350 is the oddest with a 21mm rear (and 36 front, this is even weirder since I bought the car from a locally competitive autoxer that bought it new, put the stock wheels/tires in the attic and started racing it from day one, why it would have a 36/21 I don't get).

blyth18md

There may be others but these are the ones I have recorded with possible part numbers.

REAR (24 MM) 10035033
REAR (18 MM) 10021220
REAR (21 MM) 10021221

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

You might find something interesting in the following link:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...-sway-bar.html

JamesC

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yup...

"Performance Suspension" varied quite a bit over the years, and from model to model.

Additionally, just jamming a "bigger" (or whatever) one on there, is no guarantee of "better".

Generally, assuming front & rear springs are well matched (not something you'd want to just "assume" in the case of an old wore-out stock setup), there will also be an "optimum" match of front & rear sway bars. It's pretty easy to get the car too tight (goes straight when you try to turn) or too loose (tries to swap ends and spin out) under some circumstance or other, if the sway bars are too heavy/light on one end or the other.

Never saw a 24 bar on a car from before about 85 myself; not saying it didn't happen, but I am suspicious. Hard to get "features from the future". Most of the 84-back "hi-perf" cars had 21mm bars.

83 Crossfire TA

iTrader: (2)

yea, funny, I don't know what to make of that list. Assuming that the firebirds got the same PN's:
- there's no 21mm rear bar for '87 (what my '87 formula 350 has)
- no 24mm for 83 (what my '83 TA had)
- no 36mm front bar for '87 (what both my '87 Formula and '87 TA have)

I wouldn't be surprised if the previous owner of the '87 Formula swapped parts, but I'd be shocked if either the '83 or '87 TA were messed with. The 83 was _completely_ stock when I got it in, holy crap, 20 years ago, and the '87 was totally stock except for a pink shift **** and sticker on the nose that someone stuck on it.

BTW, all 3 are WS6 cars (so is my 4th gen)

Actually, I have all the suspension parts from a base model late 80's camaro (another car I'm pretty sure never got messed with, bought by a friend's mother new and was totally stock when we messed with it), which looking at that list should have had a 30mm front and 18mm rear, and I don't have either of those sitting around.

I also don't see the 23mm rear bar that everyone keeps talking about.

So based on that list I should have:
2 34mm
1 30mm
1 21mm
1 18mm
that I don't have, just based on the cars I've had.

83 Crossfire TA

iTrader: (2)

Huh... one thing that that thread does seem to confirm is my suspicion that my favorite setup (32mm solid front) would be the same but lighter with a 34mm hollow (which appears to have been matched up with the same rear bars in that list.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I've heard members make mention of the 23 mm as well, but I've never seen one. It may be a question of mis-measuring.

My 85 IROC, BTW, was equipped with the 34/24 combo.

JamesC

paul_huryk

From what I understand:

18mm (6 cylinders with rear bar)
21mm (Z28)
23mm (IROC)
24mm (WS6)

I know all these bars exist because I have had all of them and some were mounted on one of my third gens.

In terms of racing rear bars, depending on your style of driving will dictate your rear bar - heavy on the gas typically requires less rear bar. I'm running a 36/18 combo with a 12 bolt. If I drive it normal, front end pushes a lot; drive it hard and the car is very balanced and is controllable under power.

87350IROC

iTrader: (2)

My IROC was factory equip with the 23mm rear and 34mm front.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Interesting. Is there documentation for the 23? If so, why were some IROC's equipped with a 24, some with a 23?

JamesC

87350IROC

iTrader: (2)

No idea. Surely I'm not the only one with the 23mm. Mine is an Iroc option level 3, rpo code 1SC.

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

82-84 Level II Y99 - 12MM
82-early 84 Level III WS6 - 21MM
late 84 Level WS6 III - 23mm
84 15th Anniversary T/A-early '85 WS6 - 25MM
late 85-up Level III WS6 - 24MM
85 Level II - 23MM

This is what the GM master parts catalog specs out for V8 cars. V6 cars typically ran 2-3MM smaller bars with WS6)

My late production(5th week 8/1984, Van Nuys) '84 T/A with WS6 has the 23mm bar. Confirmed with a digital caliper.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Many thanks. Are those numbers from Birds only or do they incorporate Camaros as well?

JamesC

ZZ3 Z28

To add to the mix, my 1986 Z has a factory 34/23 (edit) set up. Confirmed with a digital caliper gauge.

88 vert guy

Dens71TA,

The "GM master parts catalog" you mention: What model years(s) and vehicle lines does it cover. Where did you find it?

Myself and others would be grateful if you could share the GM part numbers to the sway bars quoted in your note, as well as the matching bushings.

Thanks!

blyth18md

I'm not sure if this is what he is referring to, but there are at least two GM parts catalogs on ebay currently. I don't have the resources currently to add either to my personal literature library. Check them out here, I have no affiliation with the auctions.


Here

and

Here

88 vert guy

Those are exactly what I'm referring to! Thank you for pointing those two out. By the looks of it, Dens71TA either has one of these catalogs, or access to one, and we hope he can provide the GM part numbers to the sways bars he listed, as well as matching bushings.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The following is from my 82-85 Parts and Illustration Cat.

Research (FWIW) says that 10035033, listed below, is the 24mm shaft.

JamesC

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

I have what is shown in the eBay auctions although mine is on microfiche instead of paper. Its what the dealer's parts department uses to look up parts. Mine is for '82-92 Firebird, April 1995 edition so some parts may have been discontinued and no longer listed or have superceded part numbers.