Today we hooked up a rear swaybar on the wagoon. Most 510 race cars use a rear-mount style rear swaybar, like the type made by Speedway Engineering. But the wagon’s rear frame rails were cut up pretty good during the IRS/coil-over install, so I needed to go with a front-mount bar. I was hunting for an OE 5/8″ rear bar and found that the IRS Celica/Supra one was pretty close. You could definitely make one of these work, but not in the location I wanted to use for the rear mounts. So I used an adjustable 3/4″ ST swaybar, with it’s awesome neon green paint scheme ;-) We welded the rear mounting tabs into the spot where we cut out the stock coil spring pockets, and welded the front mount tabs to the rear crossmember. We’ll give the new rear swaybar a test drive shortly, and if it works well, we’ll give it a new paint job…
Ian, I’m glad to hear you’re gonna compete in your wagon! I have raced against several Datsuns who have sucessfully set up a solid axle rearend without having to go through all the fabrication of an IRS swap. My wagon was originally track-dayed with a multi-link solid axle set-up, lowering blocks, and Konis. Sticky tires, stiff springs, and lots of practice seem to be the important factors in autocrossing. For my IRS project, we didn’t make a jig, but I’m sure my fabricator, Paul Moore of the Moore Speed Company in Salinas, CA could do another if you really wanted to go that way.
Hey there,
I have been driving a 1971 510 wagon for about 6 months now and my friends have gotten into autocrossing. I would like to join them on the course but I feel that the straight axle of the wagon will hold me back. I have become inspired by the rear end work you and your team have made. I was wondering, do you have a jig? Or are you located in CA? I would like to do something like the setup you have! Thank you for the consideration!