Why my car has no front or rear sway bars?, Suspension upgrades or not Options

[Spoke]

My '71 didn't have front or rear sway bars. So I knocked off 2 projects at once: 911 underbody sway bar and 5-lug conversion. No drilling or welding; bolt on.

[gandalf_025]

My factory 6 came without sway bars, but it did have the tabs on the A arms.
I bought a 19mm front bar from H+H Specialties in 1974, The owner of
H+H lived 2 towns away from me and I drove to his house to get it. I went with the H+H because you could install it without removing the gas tank..

I have ABSOLUTELY no track experience, but what I noticed with the bar installed was
A corner I could normally take at 70 mph before the bar, was fine with the front bar installed at 80 mph.... Then the back of the car started feeling a little loose.
So I went back and bought the rear bar and that same corner could now be taken at
90 mph.. It really felt locked down and well planted..

What nobody explained to me at that point was.... You can OVER drive a set of sway bars and when that happens... It happens fast and you have absolutely no control..
You are just along for the ride..
I was 19 at the time and I survived.. Still have the car too.. I did manage to spin it
a few times and was lucky to never hit anything..

[mepstein]

My factory 6 came without sway bars, but it did have the tabs on the A arms.
I bought a 19mm front bar from H+H Specialties in 1974, The owner of
H+H lived 2 towns away from me and I drove to his house to get it. I went with the H+H because you could install it without removing the gas tank..

I have ABSOLUTELY no track experience, but what I noticed with the bar installed was
A corner I could normally take at 70 mph before the bar, was fine with the front bar installed at 80 mph.... Then the back of the car started feeling a little loose.
So I went back and bought the rear bar and that same corner could now be taken at
90 mph.. It really felt locked down and well planted..

What nobody explained to me at that point was.... You can OVER drive a set of sway bars and when that happens... It happens fast and you have absolutely no control..
You are just along for the ride..
I was 19 at the time and I survived.. Still have the car too.. I did manage to spin it
a few times and was lucky to never hit anything..

My friend had a GT3 and he said the limit was so high, he knew when it let go, he’d be in a lot of trouble.

[CCE]

My 72' was the same way. I put them front and rear and wow what a difference.

Tabs:

https://www.elephantracing.com/911/swaybars...bars/u-tab-kit/

I have a quotation from elephant racing, it’s just too much for the moment, I know I will do eventually. Just need to be sure of all the options.

914world is helping a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[CCE]

My '71 didn't have front or rear sway bars. So I knocked off 2 projects at once: 911 underbody sway bar and 5-lug conversion. No drilling or welding; bolt on.

Ooooo nice!, and vented disks in the front.

[CCE]

My factory 6 came without sway bars, but it did have the tabs on the A arms.
I bought a 19mm front bar from H+H Specialties in 1974, The owner of
H+H lived 2 towns away from me and I drove to his house to get it. I went with the H+H because you could install it without removing the gas tank..

I have ABSOLUTELY no track experience, but what I noticed with the bar installed was
A corner I could normally take at 70 mph before the bar, was fine with the front bar installed at 80 mph.... Then the back of the car started feeling a little loose.
So I went back and bought the rear bar and that same corner could now be taken at
90 mph.. It really felt locked down and well planted..

What nobody explained to me at that point was.... You can OVER drive a set of sway bars and when that happens... It happens fast and you have absolutely no control..
You are just along for the ride..
I was 19 at the time and I survived.. Still have the car too.. I did manage to spin it
a few times and was lucky to never hit anything..

I think “that” is the mid engine configuration for you, I am used to drive VW beetles here (had 4 in a row, from 92, to 2004) love them, I had one tuned with bars and Bilstein it was hard on the back as a rock, it was hilarious, but oversteer was a daily thing, and 360 turns in the rain was also a thing, (till my brother took it for a ride) you get used to it. Now with the 914 It’s very similar only 400,000 times better. I am loving the process (IMG:style_emoticons/default/irish914.jpg)

[brant]

look for used.

also check the pelican parts forums
the 911 (through the body bar) is the same as the 914

steer clear of the 911 underbody sway bar, as it will require different mounting tabs and is generally used when doing a full 911 suspension swap

the through the body bar (early 911, and 914) gives better geometry anyways.

[ndfrigi]

My 72' was the same way. I put them front and rear and wow what a difference.

Tabs:

https://www.elephantracing.com/911/swaybars...bars/u-tab-kit/

I have a quotation from elephant racing, it’s just too much for the moment, I know I will do eventually. Just need to be sure of all the options.

914world is helping a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Try to change the front shock/insert for now and check if you will be okay with that for the meantime or even the rear shocks may also make a big difference from that old shocks/inserts.

[mepstein]

My 72' was the same way. I put them front and rear and wow what a difference.

Tabs:

https://www.elephantracing.com/911/swaybars...bars/u-tab-kit/

I have a quotation from elephant racing, it’s just too much for the moment, I know I will do eventually. Just need to be sure of all the options.

914world is helping a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Most of the elephant racing sway bars are pretty big and heavy duty. It may not be what you want for a road car. You should be able to get a stock 914 front bar for about $200-400. It will probably be the most bang for your buck. Then add a rear bar as money permits.

[Shivers]

My 72' was the same way. I put them front and rear and wow what a difference.

Tabs:

https://www.elephantracing.com/911/swaybars...bars/u-tab-kit/

I have a quotation from elephant racing, it’s just too much for the moment, I know I will do eventually. Just need to be sure of all the options.

914world is helping a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Well I can not afford anything from elephant unless I get a deal on it. If you want I'll pull a tape on mine, I know I could make my own if I needed to.

[autopro]

My car didn't have the sway bar either so I bought one from GR German Parts Restoration.




Brackets I made for mounting

[Brian Fuerbach]

My car didn't have the sway bar either so I bought one from GR German Parts Restoration.




Brackets I made for mounting

I have the same bar in 19mm. Nicely made, highly recommended.

[914Next]

Wait…..a Mexico barn find? In storage 40 years? Did I miss this story? I gotta know more! And w are you located in Mexico.

Steve

[CCE]

Wait…..a Mexico barn find? In storage 40 years? Did I miss this story? I gotta know more! And w are you located in Mexico.

Steve

That is correct. In Mexico city, it was last moved around 1981 after imported from LA/USA, I knew the car in 1985 more or less, but I was not allowed near the car, NEVER… the owner passed away 5 years ago, my friend called me to ask if I was interested last November…

So, next thing…

[914Next]

[quote name='CCE' date='Jun 28 2022, 04:10 PM' post='3011851']
[quote name='914Next' post='3011850' date='Jun 28 2022, 03:03 PM']
Wait…..a Mexico barn find? In storage 40 years? Did I miss this story? I gotta know more! And w are you located in Mexico.

Steve
[/quote]
That is correct. In Mexico city, I knew the car in 1985 more or less, but I was not allowed near the car, NEVER… the owner passed away 5 years ago, my friend called me to ask if I was interested last November…

So next thing…


[/quote

Nice. Would love to see more pics and hear more about the story.. What is the condition? I’m from the states but live near Guadalajara now.

[CCE]

[quote name='914Next' date='Jun 28 2022, 03:13 PM' post='3011853']
[quote name='CCE' date='Jun 28 2022, 04:10 PM' post='3011851']
[quote name='914Next' post='3011850' date='Jun 28 2022, 03:03 PM']
Wait…..a Mexico barn find? In storage 40 years? Did I miss this story? I gotta know more! And w are you located in Mexico.

Steve
[/quote]
That is correct. In Mexico city, I knew the car in 1985 more or less, but I was not allowed near the car, NEVER… the owner passed away 5 years ago, my friend called me to ask if I was interested last November…

So next thing…


[/quote

Nice. Would love to see more pics and hear more about the story.. What is the condition? I’m from the states but live near Guadalajara now.
[/quote]

I have a vey rustic video on you tube you may like.
https://youtu.be/uow_y-61hxc
https://youtu.be/0TKeQhttLHQ

[ndfrigi]

I think the owner also posted a video on youtube. If yes, hope the owner can share the youtube link here.

[CCE]

I think the owner also posted a video on youtube. If yes, hope the owner can share the youtube link here.

https://youtu.be/uow_y-61hxc

https://youtu.be/0TKeQhttLHQ

https://youtu.be/fouqlBMV-sk

https://youtu.be/lTHjHWGmVYk

Here you go…

[CCE]

My 72' was the same way. I put them front and rear and wow what a difference.

Tabs:

https://www.elephantracing.com/911/swaybars...bars/u-tab-kit/

I have a quotation from elephant racing, it’s just too much for the moment, I know I will do eventually. Just need to be sure of all the options.

914world is helping a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Try to change the front shock/insert for now and check if you will be okay with that for the meantime or even the rear shocks may also make a big difference from that old shocks/inserts.

I got the shocks yesterday, I will install right away.