GeorgeC

I'm going through some different stuff trying to get the suspension fine tuned for the Thunder Shootout (and having little luck, but that's a different story). The instructions for the Wolfe swaybar say to set the bar with enough preload that the driver's side of the car sits 1/16-1/8th" lower than the passenger side. There is a correction on the last page that states just the opposite. It would make sense to me to have it preloaded so that the driver's side is lower, since the body will want to twist to the right on launch. The small amount of preload on the bar would effectively level the car out under power. Having the passenger side lower (like the addendum to the instructions suggests) seems like it would have the opposite affect, and the car would actually want to twist and unload the left tire some.

Any opinions? Which way is correct? Is my thinking totally off here?

SJH

The rear end rotates the opposite of the chassis because of pinion trying to climb the ring.
If your looking at it from the rear, it will try and rotate counter clockwise pushing the right tire upwards.

Basically just adjust it until you launch straight.
If it pulls left, then you have to much load on the right tire and vice versa.

Steve

chevyguy3

iTrader: (4)

i havent played with preloading my Wolfe bar yet. i just have it set neutral, and the car pulls the front end off the ground totally level. watched 10 runs on video in slow-mo and the RF comes up exactly the same as the LF.

Colonel

Good question. I can't remember how we set mine up. I doubt it's going to make much difference either way.

If the right side were a little lower wouldn't that help to compensate for the weight of the driver being on the left?

Not to change the subject but do you have any idea how much lighter a powerglide would be than my 350? Did you weigh your powerglide? Thanks! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

<small>[ October 23, 2002, 07:14 PM: Message edited by: Colonel ]</small>

highgmc

I plan on buying the wolfe too once I get my 422. <img border="0" alt="[Firebird]" title="" src="graemlins/formula.gif" /> is it hard to weld in correctly?

chevyguy3

iTrader: (4)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by terry99ta:
<strong>is it hard to weld in correctly?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">nope, its pretty simple

the Wolfe sway bar has been some of the best $ i have spent on this car, worth every penny <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Colonel:
<strong>Not to change the subject but do you have any idea how much lighter a powerglide would be than my 350? Did you weigh your powerglide? Thanks! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">My TH350 had a JW ultra-bell on it, which adds a few extra pounds. It weighed right at 150lbs (with the ultra-bell), and the powerglide was ~99lbs (both empty-no fluid in them).

As far as my swaybar, I need to tweak it just a tad. The car goes a little to the left when the front tires are in the air. Drives nice and straight with all four on the ground.

Colonel

Thanks for the info. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> I guess that ultra-bell weighs about 10 lbs?

Terry Burger

iTrader: (4)

Wow the glide saves 40#s?? and still cuts low 1.4 60' times with a 4000rpm flash converter in a 3100# car? I might need to get a glide. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Colonel:
<strong>Thanks for the info. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> I guess that ultra-bell weighs about 10 lbs?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">11-12LBS from what I gather. I never weighed the TH350 w/o the ultrabell on it.

Yes, Terry, it's 40-50lbs. less weight with a 'glide. Plus, you'll usually see a little more mph with it vs. a three speed due to the efficiency. I'm down ~2mph or so with the TH400. The car is quicker on the 1st half of the track now, but about dead even as far as 1/4mile ET goes (but with a slight loss of trap speed).