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I am putting a 2.3 l TI engine in 70 TI pan and kit car. It has been recommended to me that I install a truss bar to beef up and stiffen the rear end. Will this bar also improve the handling?

I saw on the web some where how to build the truss bar and not use a commerical product. Can someone send me the url.

Thanks,

Mike
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Yes, it reduces the amount of flexing in the frame horns. Also wheel hop and it will feel more solid.

It will help with wheel hop by stiffining the frame horns but it won't do much to help with roll in the suspension. You'll need to add a sway bar for that.

I installed a kafer brace in my 69 Ghia. It did stiffen up the frame horns but I would say it was detrimental to the handling. I'm not sure why. I'm running 30 mm short rear torsion bars and the added brace may have stiffened it up too much.

Without the bar the frame horns were very flexible. I was surprised how much they flexed when jacking up the car or under acceleration. I wanted to stiffen this area up but had not realized it would slow me down ;-(

2 cents,

Theo

I did the same to my ghia, but am using 24mm bars (station wagon). Way better than any solid or urethane mounts.

I like it.

30mm bars must be great, what are you hanging of the swing plates like gear reduction boxes and 44 inch mud bogger tires?

Maybe with 30mm torsion bars, the frame horns were the only suspension you had left.

Ron

Plastermaster wrote:Maybe with 30mm torsion bars, the frame horns were the only suspension you had left.

Ron

hehe, about right. I autocross the Ghia and this is my first setup...

I may try going down in size a notch on the rear bars. She handles like a go-cart and that works good for autocross. I want to run on the local track and the 30 mm bars are too stiff for bumps and transitions.

Theo

Theo wrote:

Plastermaster wrote:Maybe with 30mm torsion bars, the frame horns were the only suspension you had left.

Ron

hehe, about right. I autocross the Ghia and this is my first setup...

I may try going down in size a notch on the rear bars. She handles like a go-cart and that works good for autocross. I want to run on the local track and the 30 mm bars are too stiff for bumps and transitions.

Theo

I bet it would be fun on a dead smooth track! What do you have in the front?

Ron

If you look around you can find T-bars from a porsche 924/944/944T/944S/968 and they come in the following dia 22/23.5/24.5/25.5mm
each 1mm equates to about 90lb spring rate difference IIRC

I have the 924 standard bars (22mm) in my 71 ghia drop in no modifications necessary
love em

Rob

I found my bars on ebay and paid $10 plus $20 shipping, it seems that noone wants the thinner sizes.

Rob

I forgot to mention that I now have a 924 rear 14mm swaybar in my possession and am trying to see if I can make it fit easily.

It cost me about 25 with shipping.

Rob

The front has CB 20% stiffer springs, koni's and a whiteline anti-sway bar. And an aftermarket ecentric for camber. I also have shimmed the beam for more caster. I'm runnning dual adjuster. A quick stearing kit. I usualy run the front about 1 inch taller that the rear.

Plastermaster wrote:

Theo wrote:

Plastermaster wrote:Maybe with 30mm torsion bars, the frame horns were the only suspension you had left.

Ron

hehe, about right. I autocross the Ghia and this is my first setup...

I may try going down in size a notch on the rear bars. She handles like a go-cart and that works good for autocross. I want to run on the local track and the 30 mm bars are too stiff for bumps and transitions.

Theo

I bet it would be fun on a dead smooth track! What do you have in the front?

Ron