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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Are Panhard Bars Worth Doing?

I am going to another track day on Aug 7th. In preparation, I plan to put in a Panhard bar this week-end. It will be a simple contraption; one side mounted to the front left side of the spare tire well(after a lot of reinforcing) and the other on the righ side of the axle. Has anyone installed one of these and how does it affect the handling of the car? The bar has solid heim joints and I wonder how they will feel when the car is street driven? Thanx

Pete 67gt
Pete Plouf

Pete..have you been to doug jackson's web site? or, are you using his bar setup? let me know as i'm almost ready to mount one....do you have anti-tramp bars (hot rodders call them traction bars) yey?
Anthony Barnhill

Anthony:

Doing my own design. I am using the same stuff I would use for doing 4 link suspensions on 1/4 milers. I've never heard of a comercial panhard bar for an MG, though I do know that some of the V8 crowd has them. I don't have the track bar set-up as the car is only a 4 cyl and not enough power to wind up the springs on a road course. My concern is wether the rear steer induced by the bar moving the axle sideways (a bit) will negate the benefits of solid placement on the lateral plane.

Pete
Pete Plouf

Pete,
After putting the bar on my MGBGT V6 (Buick), the handling was transformed.
I would strongly suggest that you continue with your plan.
For anyone else interested, I used the Panhard Rod from an Austin Healey 100/6. This is the correct width, and can be installed with either rubber or polyurethane (my choice) bushes.
Brackets are easy enough to fabricate, and a small amount of welding required to add a tab onto the rear axle tube.
Randy
Randy

Anthony, you mentioned Doug Jackson's site ... I am interested in installing a panhard rod and his seems like by far the easiest solution. Is that one up to the V8 task, though? E.g., I don't really like the aluminum clamp that clamps around the axle tube ... I don't see how it can possibly stay in place. Are there any other solutions commercially available?
David Duquette

I asked Doug some of the same questions a few days ago...his panhard is built for the V8..he says the billet alumnum is strong enough & that he was working on a mod for where it attaches to body....I'm going with Doug's unless I can find a complete one out of an old Healey 100/6 like Randy did..Doug is sending me one of his front anti-tramp mounting brackets to see if it will work with my tophats..so, will probably go w/Doug for panhard & anti-tramp & am using Ron's larger anti-roll bar.
Anthony Barnhill

I don't know whether it it is of any interest but I'm working on a panhard rod body bracket to replace the item supplied with the Doug Jackson kit .I'm in the process of fitting the kit for Bob Pulleyblank and I felt that the body bracket left a lot to be desired. I think that the axle bracket can work on a well cleaned up axle tube but that the body bracket is too heavy in construction and has no hope of distributing the loads throughout the corner of the boot floor as a bolt on item.
When you can hook one up rigidly-a panhard rod will make a real difference to a well driven V8 in at least two ways:

It will make the car feel more precise and increase the feel-important if you want to know when the rear end is going to let go.....

It will, allow the use of at least the largest size size of rear tyre that will fit in the rear arch with say a nominal clearance of 10mm to the body wheel arch lip-larger tyres= more grip.

I'll post a picture of the bracket when I'm done ......


Regards

John Bourke
John Bourke

OK Guys, time to share! :-)

Were is This Doug Jackson website?? please share.. My V8 will definitely need some help, with probably 250-300hp and 250+ft/lbs..
Larry Embrey

www.mgbmga.com....&, John, I'm still interested in your front valance (e-mailed you about a month ago)....can you share photos/plans? or, will you build another? waiting to see what your panhard looks like...when I talked w/Doug, I shared the same concern w/him & he's looking into it--but yours is also a nice design.
Anthony Barnhill

Tony,
Most of the parts houses carry the Healey's Panhard Rod.
It was used on the six cylinder cars up until the revised version of the MKIII suspension.
I have to agree with John, keeps the axle well located side to side ...
saves on sidewalls if you run big meats, and much better "feel" of what's going on back there!!

Randy
Randy

Sounds like I definitely need to go that route. I am hoping to slap some 205's on the car and will need all the space I can get. Plus keeping that axle solid will help putting down the gobs of power that should be at my disposal.

THANKS FOR THE INFO GUYS!!
Larry Embrey

Well, its in and it does transform the way the car feels on the road. Funny, but it seems to sharpen the turn-in at the front end. I made a braket that wraps around thre sides of the spare wheel well. Bolted in with 8 bolts. The other end is welded to the axle. I hope this is going to be strong enough. The bar is heim jointed and so far no problem with noise or harshness. I will load the car up, beat the @!$#@$@! out of it today at the race track, and post back with anymore feedback.

Pete 67gt
Pete Plouf

This thread was discussed between 04/08/2000 and 07/08/2000

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