Build a Grand Prix Bar?

[kustomss]

I recently went to my local junkyard looking for a grand prix bar for my Monte. I found one in the whole yard, and some moron torched it in half :evil: . I really hope he got whatever part he needed that required him to cut that bar! Anyway, has anyone ever just made one? Or is this even possible?

 

[81Regal]

You can make one with a press, or possibly a vice, its hollow tubing with a couple of bends. Use a piece of wire to mock up how long a piece you need and where to bend it.

 

[1983regal]

I recently went to my local junkyard looking for a grand prix bar for my Monte. I found one in the whole yard, and some moron torched it in half :evil: . I really hope he got whatever part he needed that required him to cut that bar! Anyway, has anyone ever just made one? Or is this even possible?

Here is a pic of member 565bbchevy gp bar, I took measurments of an original and gave them to him. He made his bar. I scored two on the same day in the same yard, but have never seen anymore.

 

[kustomss]

Any idea what i.d. and o.d. tube he used?

 

[1983regal]

Any idea what i.d. and o.d. tube he used?

I don't know what he used, you could try sending him a pm and see if he could help you with that info.

 

[GregC-HCG]

This may be dumb question- but, why is it called a grand prix bar?

 

[565bbchevy]

I used 3/4" rigid emt conduit used in the electrical industry to make mine which is nearly twice as thick as the original bars.
I used a hydraulic tubing bender to make the bends based off the measurements 1983regal sent me and I also made a jig set up to crimp the ends in a press. I had already made my own thicker jounce bars but had never seen a GP bar in person.
I had originally planned on making these but after looking into the cost of shipping and purely a lack of time I ended up only making 2 bars and the one on my car I designed to get around my trans cooler so it is different than stock. The second one I'm saving for a future gbody project.
Here is the crimped end of the GP bar that I made in my jig and it has already been test fitted and I also made the fender to core support braces but designed them to mount below instead of on top for a cleaner look.
My original post "support braces" has more of my mock up pictures.

 

[Evan11]

This may be dumb question- but, why is it called a grand prix bar?

They're called that because they were only used on the 81-87 Grand Prix, since the GP's didn't receive jounce bars like the other gbodies. They basically tie the front end together, many of us run them along with our jounce bars. It just ties everything up well. Greg, I'm not sure that your GP has this bar?? I checked under a '78 GP at the pick & pull a while back & it had jounce bars.

 

[timo22]

I have thought about that myself but I think it would be too costly and time consuming. If you can weld, another member has a great idea. He welded a straight bar between his jounce bars.Go to the Monte ss malibu section and find "my 1980 malibu" go to page 2 and take a look...Great idea ...Tim

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Before I bought a gp bar I just took a piece of square tubing and drilled a couple of holes then bolted it to the front frame horns where the bumper shocks mount. Worked just fine.