Front sway bar removal

MrBhp

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Do you mean weight of bar and end links, bolts, etc?
 

MrBhp

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I can weigh mine next time in at the storage building. Mice is the larger Shelby seat bar and end links. Could be a bit heavier than stock.
 

AHaze

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Stock bar, end links, bushings and bushing mounts from my '05 GT are in the 15lb 10oz range according to my digital bathroom scale. Not sure exactly how accurate that is but gives you an idea.
The bar is hollow so not as heavy as it looks.
 

the sandman

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Thanks Brother, I'm taking mine off for strip when I get everything ready. I was just curious. My 07 gt with 3/8s tank of gas and me was at 3610lbs. Manual trans and street wheels and tires. Wouldnt hurt to loose alittle. It's no biggie, just thought if someone knew or not.
 

Pentalab

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Thanks Brother, I'm taking mine off for strip when I get everything ready. I was just curious. My 07 gt with 3/8s tank of gas and me was at 3610lbs. Manual trans and street wheels and tires. Wouldn't hurt to loose a little. It's no biggie, just thought if someone knew or not.
You could lose a bunch more weight by removing the passenger seat ( 50 lbs) and rear seat ( 40 lbs) ...and also spare tire, jack, etc. If you really wanted to go crazy, the entire AC unit could be removed, (65 lbs).
 

stkjock

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JC SSP

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the sandman

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I might do a back seat delete but car is for fun so air and wife's seat will stay. She enjoys the car also. Spare and jack are gone.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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Thanks Brother, I'm taking mine off for strip when I get everything ready. I was just curious. My 07 gt with 3/8s tank of gas and me was at 3610lbs. Manual trans and street wheels and tires. Wouldnt hurt to loose alittle. It's no biggie, just thought if someone knew or not.
How much do you weigh?
The curb weight will also vary depending on trim level and if you have the Shaker 500/ 1000 +/- trunk mounted subwoofer. I don't have any of that.
The real benefit of removing the front anti sway bar with end links is to allow more weight transfer to the rear during a launch. A 15lb weight reduction does very little but it's at the front which is welcome.
Removing the rear seat bottom/back, spare wheel, jack/handle, and running low on gas does save a good amount of weight but since it's at the rear with less weight above the rear wheels to limit wheel spin, don't expect much of a reduction in ET. The real benefit will be reflected in the trap speed.
 

JC SSP

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Removing the front sway bar has been an old hot rodder trick for many years. Used widely on the fox platform mustangs for weight transfer, although I never did since I like handling too.

On our S197 I think this will yield less results due to more body structural rigidity. Either way post some ET times and mph.
 

Midlife Crises

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Do you have adjustable dampers? Adjusting the front shocks for light, fast travel and the rear shocks stiff will have much more impact on your launch than removing the front anti-sway bar. I removed the front bar, links and mounts but didn’t see 1.5 60 Ft times until I started playing with the shock adjustments. Having someone Video your car during launch is an incredible help in seeing what adjustments to make.
:driver:
 

the sandman

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I weigh 165ish. Car is 3610 3/8 tank of gas and heavy 18,s with me onboard. Suspension is all original. None of the good stuff. It's disappointing that I can never be as quick as a stock 2011 with a TC. But I've always liked the 05 thru 09,s style. I would like to get 12.5s NA eventually. A friend's ls firebird ran a best of 12.6x. I'm hoping car shifts better with new engine mounts. Originals were bad. 180k.
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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I weigh 165ish. Car is 3610 3/8 tank of gas and heavy 18,s with me onboard. Suspension is all original. None of the good stuff. It's disappointing that I can never be as quick as a stock 2011 with a TC. But I've always liked the 05 thru 09,s style. I would like to get 12.5s NA eventually. A friend's ls firebird ran a best of 12.6x. I'm hoping car shifts better with new engine mounts. Originals were bad. 180k.
My 12.6 was in full street trim (I also weigh 165-170lb) and with a 3/4 tank of gas for ballast! The shocks/struts are stock, and a pair of firmer rear shocks would help some. I already have BMR rear LCAs and all suspension bushings are polyurethane.
I also prefer to preserve the car's handling by not removing the front anti sway bar. A pair of quick disconnects for the end links would be ideal for the strip if they existed.
I think the "sweet spot" for these cars where they can be fun to drive for a modest budget is in the mid 12s. It's pointless trying to outrun a Coyote in a straight line but you can certainly make your 05-09 GT handle better so it can outrun a Coyote in the corners!
 

Pentalab

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If you want weight transfer, move the heavy start battery to the trunk...on the drivers side.
 

JC SSP

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I always thought the battery goes opposite of the driver… right side passenger side of the trunk?
 

Pentalab

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I always thought the battery goes opposite of the driver… right side passenger side of the trunk?
Nope. The car is trying to lift on the rear driver's side. The eng itself is trying to lift on the driver's side. Battery goes on Drivers side trunk.
 

Pentalab

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Nope. The car is trying to lift on the rear driver's side. The eng itself is trying to lift on the driver's side. Battery goes on Drivers side trunk.
The pass seat comes out pretty quickly. For hardcore strip use, even if ur wife went with u to the strip, it's easily removed.....then u can dump a lotta weight.
 
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