Hmmm, I won't say who did that.

 

SO you think 32mm woudl be best to go, darn gave one away with my old car thinking I was gonna upgrade to a 35mm...

I am about 75% sure that y87 5-speeds came with 3.23s and autos came with 3.42s...

I wouldn't mind 3.42s though I had them on my last v6'maro 5-speed, helped me alot...

 

The 35 is a great bar, I love mine. But I also have a 19mm rear bar to help it out, you don't. You also don't have the torque and as much of a traction issue as the V-8 cars do either, which is a plus. I do use a solid 32mm bar, not a hollow. While pretty damn close in stiffness, if you are going to bother, you might as well go for the slightly stiffer one. IMHO

I think it's the other way around with the gears. At least that's how it's been from the time of the 3rd gen until production ended. Only '93's had 3.23's and a stick.

 

Facts I know abotu 4th gen v6s...

93-95.5(3.4Ls) all had GU5, 3.23s, manaul or auto.
95.5(3.8L california cars in 95)-97
-all manuals had 3.23s
-autos had 3.08s
-Y87 only had 3.42s, lsd, and other goodies if auto...
-Y87 manuals still retained 3.23s

98+
-autos had 3.08s
-manuals had 3.23s
-y87 had 3.42s
-around 00 or so, 3.42s were being put into non y87 cars, but still with an open diffy.


A few people think that G80 was a factory option withouty87 but not sure people still researching...

But no one has ever heard of 3.42s, on a manual form factory, in fact they bashed somoene that said he ran a good time "stock style" becuase he added 3.42s, and other y87 stuff to a 5-speed.

Actualy 1st gear is alot of gear in 4th gen t-5s, 3.42s would actually make it kind harder to drive, so I can see it never being a factory option...

As for not enough torque for a bigger bar...

my car has slowed, entered a corner, then accelrated out, been fine for a bit but towards the end started to push...

not sure if its me still being too aggressive or a car thing?

 

Alright found some facts about my car and Y87...

2000 had...

Auburn Limited Slip Differential (G80)
P235/55R16 Goodyear Eagle (QCB)
Dual Exhaust
Sport Steering (14.4:1 ratio – same as V8 cars)
4-wheel disc brakes but that was standard 98+


here is Y87 info for al year 4th gen v6s...
http://tech.firebirdv6.com/y87.html

Still working on if lsd was an option...

 

"FWIW, this is one car when prepped for stock that I would not use a 35mm bar on. Because you can't change the rear bar out, you end up with too much of a disparity. "

Sam (if you're around), a question.

I understand your point about the disparity. But, with no LSD, might that be less important than the combination of improved camber control and keeping more weight on the inside rear with the bigger front bar?

 

Hard to say, could be a lot of factors. Alignment, tires, pressures, shocks, diff, etc. can all play in. 99% of the time 98% of the push is driver induced....

Generally RWD cars with decent power and weak, worn-out or NO LSD's are power on oversteering types. Now if you try and just turn and slam on the go pedal you can make anything push too. I've seen two co-drivers make the same car act completely differently just because they drove it differently.

If it enters well, it's a sign you are not too fast in, which is good. Trick is; when do you start to accelerate? If it's immediately after turn-in, it's likely too soon most of the time, which will get you in an understeer.

 

A bar is only going to help get power down so well. No LSD is always going to send all the power to the tire with the least amount of traction. A 3" bar will not cure a car with any kind of torque and a solid axle in that case. A smaller rear bar would help more, but it isn't stock legal and most don't want to make the rear softer, though it will work with the right shocks and springs. Still not legal, but faster.

 

Well I am finding my rear sway may be 15mm, not even 17mm... SO it is a pretty small rear bar....


which would be better for the front though, 35mm, or 32mm?

 

IF you rear bar is that small, you wouldn't want to go larger than a 32mm in the front. IF you don't mind running in some class other than stock, change BOTH the front and rear, in which case you could go 35mm/19mm or maybe even 21mm OR 25mm.

 

15mm huh? I bet that's another difference with a Y87 car, the rear bar being 17mm...... I think 32 is still workable with a 15mm bar, or you could now go 30mm off a Z28 or Firebird Formula. I bet you only have a 28mm front bar. the Y87 is the fastest in the end. The LSD is only going to help, it'll allow a little more rear bar which means you can run more front bar to help the camber curve too.

 

"15mm huh? I bet that's another difference with a Y87 car, the rear bar being 17mm"

Nope. Y87 is just LSD, steering ratio, muffler, and 235/55-16 tires.

In 98 GM made the springs stiffer and the bars softer on all V6s.

 

I think he hit it on the head there Eric. You seem to tend to be a bit aggressive. I know that doesn't sound right coming from me. lol But as far as this LSD rear goes... I would just put it on and forget about it. If you start attending more regularly, your driving will get better too. But nobody is gonna protest you. If you start beating people then you might find it feasible to do the other upgrades. But by then I predict that you'll be wanting to do other stuff and move to Prepared class anyway. I know that isn't the right thing to do. And it's definately against the rules. But MSCC is a laid back club. Our priority is having a good time. When we start getting the "national" guys like Ian Stewart running their mouths eyes start to roll on most peoples' faces. If you were contending for Tiger points or a class championship I'd worry about it. Otherwise. just do it and have fun.

BTW guys - Martin Sports Car Club follows the SCCA model pretty closely. But we feel it's better to have a "stock class" where the only mods allowed are the front swaybar and airfilter. You have to run street tires too. I don't see the LSD as making that huge of a difference with Eric though. In fact I think he saves more time by spinning the inside tire. He used to spin both of them in the old car and loop around. lol

Maybe you should save up the money for the LSD and spend it on a day at the Evolution driving school on 2/7. It looks like almost the entire MSCC FBody crew is planning on being there. Looks like Sam might be coming to town. Any word yet Sam?

Chuck

 

Gang, I talked to the boss and it looks like I'm officially nuts. I'm coming to Orlando for the 2/7 Evo. school. I'm only doing it because many of you are my customers and I'd like to meet you.

I must be nuts. I get to drive to FL, back to Atlanta, back to Orlando, then to Fort Myers and back to PA on this trip. Only and extra 900 miles, just so I can instruct y'all!

I must be insane.

 

Maybe you'll be worn out for the Pro Solo and I'll get REAL lucky...

Any word yet on the re-classification??