gymkana susp-how do I tell?

[jorez]

Just got a new 1974 vette, how do I tell if it has the Gymkana susp?

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Welcome jorez!

Welcome to Corvette Action Center.
I'm not sure how you tell, I recall something about a swaybar...but I'd wait for a more knowledgeable person to come along to be certain.
You can check our Model Center and see if it has any detals about the gymkhana suspension.
Heidi

 

[jorez]

Checked everywhere, the other thing I find is something that says the rear springs have 7 leafs.??

 

[78SilvAnniv]

That could also be an indicator. I'll go out in the garage and check mine, it has gymkhana suspension.
Heidi

5 minutes later:
I am curious now, too. Kenny and I were told the 78 has the gymkhana suspension, but I don't see anything that looks like a rear anti-swaybar and I think I counted 9 leaves on my spring! It was hard ducking my head under the wheel well to see around the exhaust, so I could be wrong.
Heidi

 

[Dave L.]

Gymkhana

Yes 7 leaves instead of 10.
In later C3's (78-82) A rear sway bar was used in Gymkhana cars only. I'm not sure about 74 however. My guess is if you have the 7 leaf spring and a sway bar you have the Gymkhana option.

Dave

 

[clar2001]

I know my 75 had it a 7 leaf spring not sure about the sway bar have on of those too on the back .
I did replace the stock spring and weak stock sway bar with a composit 330 and a 3/4" sway bar like night and day much better.

 

[matchframe]

If you have access to your options list, the Gymkhana Suspension is listed as FE-7. One involved way is to retrieve your tank sticker, it should list the build out options list. Maybe that helps!

Bill

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Found this in the search feature:

This was on the second page of a Trailer Hitch thread.
It was referencing a question for a 1981, but it has a comment about 7-leaf springs and older vettes.

The actual spring is 2.5" wide and has 8 leafs in it for the 1981 year model. I talked with the Chevrolet Tech. Dept., and they told me that the very short leaf-like at the top is not considered a part of the spring as far as function is concerned. So when you count the leafs your count should come to nine minus the one that is not counted which leaves eight leafs. As a matter of fact, you'll find that if you order the Restoration Package from Chevrolet for the 1981 vette it shows on page 21 of the specification booklet at the very bottom has a note describing the FE7 Gymkana spring as an 8-leaf spring. I believe that the the 7-leaf spring was around in older corvettes. The rear stabilizer bar was unique to the FE7 suspension at the rear. As a matter of fact, the FE7 suspension also included "special" shock absorbers, but I have not been able to find the part number for them.

I also found a tidbit posted by Rare81 who commented "FE7 was the option for gymkhana suspension, which had a stabilizer bar that goes from one shock mount to the other."

It appears my 78 does NOT have the gymkhana suspension after all! :eek
Heidi

 

[Brack]

Doesnt the '82s with the this Suspension have 8 springs ???.

Just wondering...and still learning about my new toy...

 

[Driftwood]

HD Suspension

Not sure when they introduced rear sway bar. In my 69 I have heavy duty suspension with 7 leafs in rear spring, but no rear sway bar. I also think the suspension coils are stiffer. I've thought about going with a less stiff ride, but if the optional suspension is somewhat desirable, maybe I should leave it original.

 

[Culprit]

I'm not going to talk much on this subject because I don't want to add to any confusion or confuse myself, but I will post some pictures of my '78 documented with the FE7 Gymkhana suspention from the tank sticker. The pictures show a rear sway bar and a spring with 9 leafs (or 8 if you don't count the top one).

I have no idea if that is the original factory spring or if a previous owner replaced it. But chances are since the car is documented FE7 then if a PO replaced the spring and didn't go to composite he probably used what was original to the build.

Semper Fi,
Culprit

 

[Culprit]

Pic 2

Culprit

 

[GerryLP]

Most of the late model C3 Corvetes Ghyamkana suspensions had a stabilizer bar on the rear; however, I believe that different variations do exist between C2/C3/C4 vettes.

Chevrolet Technical Dept. told me that what most people call a 9-leaf spring is actually an 8-leaf spring, for they do not count the top smallest piece of bar on the stack-up of these springs (Apparently it does not add to the spring rate function).