Raymond, Matt and I have debated this one back and forth over the last couple of years, and we agreed that it would NOT be legal.

The reason we think this is because the rules allows an *addition* of something to the car, with no allowance for removal of anything else to do so. In other words, to install the allowed stayrod in the manner you describe, you would have to remove a factory part where's there's no allowance to do it. Thus, no.

However, think about it this way: instead of removing the factory stayrod, why don't you instead use the same mounting points and install your solid rod parallel to the factory one? For example, on our Nissan the stock wishy-washy rod is a plastic link with two rubber end bushings, secured with through bolts. If/when we decide to install one, we're going to simply use longer bolts (allowed by the rules) and connect our solid rod to them.

GA