I am planning to lower my Riv a bit (2"), and while I'm at it, I want to make it handle more like my 95 Impala SS. I plan to cut about half a coil from the front springs and get some heavy duty shocks all the way around. Here's my question: Has anybody used 1994-1996 Impala SS (or anly later model GM B-car) swaybars and rear lower control arms on a 71-78 Riviera? They look like they would bolt right up, but I was wondering if anyone has ever done it before I buy the parts and try it. Also, if anyone has any experience making these cars handle, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks in advance, Ryan
About 5 years ago I bought a '94-'96 Impala SS/squad car rear sway bar and it's mounting brackets over the counter at my local GM dealer for under $150. The U-shaped mounting brackets fit inside the lower control arms and also add stiffness to them. Mounted right up, but did require a slight bend at each end to get it to hang like I wanted. It hung lower than I liked without the additional bend. A local alignment and frame shop made the bend for me. I made a template of the angle I needed bent and marked where to bend it. They have a huge press for straightening heavy truck suspension components. Made short work of it for cheap.
I'd like to add to the original question: would a presumeably thicker front stabilizer bar from the same '94-'96 Chev Impala/Squad Car bolt right up to a 1971-'76 B-body Buick front end?
Steve, you have a beautiful car and thanks for the info. Did you also put a bigger sway bar in the front? It seems like the car would be prone to oversteer since the Impala SS rear sway bar is thicker than the Riv's front sway bar (or at least it is on mine). I'd be interested to know the rest of your suspension combo and its results if you don't mind me asking.
IF the answer is yes, then I *think* it's the second Gen Camaro/Firebird F-41 front bar that will bolt right up, as it bolts right up to an Impala. Steve- I have an ADDCO rear bar for my Riv that's sitting in a box. I'd like to measure the width of the bolt holt centerlines and see if they match the width of the Imp SS LCA's you have as mounted on your Riv. Would you be willing to provide a corresponding measurement? Thanks!
By LCA's, do you mean the Lower Control Arms? If so, I'm using my factory LCAs, so they're the same as your 72's. I've also boxed both the upper and lower control arms. Partially only on the lowers since I had to keep a section open to insert the sway bar mounting brackets, which are just a length of U-channel. Those would have probably provided enough stiffening to the control arm alone, without having to partially box the lowers. At least for my driving style.
