shock combinations - upgrade questions

racemor · 11-20-2003, 08:48 AM

I am getting ready to do a shock upgrade to my '73E and have a couple of questions.

- It seems like I have read in the past where people use a combination of Sport and Heavy Duty Bilsteins. Is this to get some more grip on a car with a motor upgrade or is there another reason? Consider that I am working with a narrow bodied car with stock power and will probably change torsion bars at the same time.

- Along with the shocks I am installing S calipers. As a result I have to make the change to an SC strut. If I purchase a complete used strut from a parts car will that be a direct bolt in replacement? Will I also have to replace hubs, ball joints, etc or will these things be re-usable from my stock E strut?

As always, thanks for the help.

Tim Walsh · Tim Walsh's Garage

Tom,
Are you sure you have to change over to SC struts? My T has koni's on it with S brakes and so does Hal's car (not sure about the koni's but he has S brakes)

Jim Richards · 11-20-2003, 09:34 AM

My stock E struts only accomodate M calipers (3" spacing) so I expect Tom's in the same boat.

Tom, I completely refreshed the suspension on the E this past Summer and I have 21/26 t-bars and HD/Sport shocks. Our E is narrow bodied and it has 6"/7" wheels with 195/65/15 & 215/60/15 tires. It's a nice street / track compromise, except the 215's rub on the non-rolled rear fender lips.

Of course if I really wanted a track car...

KFC911 · 11-20-2003, 09:38 AM

Tom, I went with a 'known combination' that would work together for my car (and that seems to be the ticket). Based upon Steve Weiner's advice (I already had installed Bilstein HDs up front w/ Sports in the rear), I upgraded to Sanders 22 (F) and 29 (R) torsion bars. Steve indicated that those would be a 'good combination'...and I took his advice.

racemor · 11-20-2003, 09:50 AM

Jim's right, my E came Boge shocks and M calipers so I need the new strut. Your T may have been ordered with S options or maybe someone else made the upgrade over the year's. Jim's combo sounds like where I am heading, Nothing too extreme at first since there will be limited track use, mostly Saturday afternoon "hillclimbs" up highways 221, 16, 181, etc.

Any knowledge of what parts I may need to do the strut replacement?

racemor · 11-21-2003, 09:21 AM

...bump...

chuckw951 · 11-21-2003, 11:35 AM

My '69 E has S calipers mounted on BOGE struts

There part numbers are on the side of each of the struts
1 0221 32 917 0

901 341 080 00

Perhaps you could use early struts instead of SC struts...

Though if you going to use SC struts why not go ahead and use SC brakes (unless you already have the S calipers)?

Jim Richards · 11-21-2003, 11:55 AM

Chuck, from what I can tell from the PET program, the '73 Bilstein and Koni struts are for S-calipers and the Boge struts are for M-calipers. However, I saw listings for a "shock strut outer part" by Boge for both M- and S-calipers. Makes me wanna scratch my head.

BTW, I didn't see a listing for your part #.

jpnovak · 11-21-2003, 11:56 AM

If you upgrade to later struts you may have to change some parts. The later struts were secured to the ball joints via a pin and nut rather than a pinch bolt on the early cars. I believe this change happened in 72 so that shouldn't matter to you. The hub is interchangable as is the inserts for boge.

I assume you don't have the hydropneumatic struts or you will have many more parts to change.

21/26 would be a great ride for your car. Tighter than stock but not track only suspension. I would definately change all the a-arm and spring plate bushings while you have it apart.

I have bilstein HD's on all four corners on my targa. The front is a little stiff or maybe its the rear that's too soft. At least, that;s the feeling over bumps. Cornering has the usual low speed understeer followed by high speed balance. Love it.

chuckw951 · 11-21-2003, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Richards
Chuck, from what I can tell from the PET program, the '73 Bilstein and Koni struts are for S-calipers and the Boge struts are for M-calipers. However, I saw listings for a "shock strut outer part" by Boge for both M- and S-calipers. Makes me wanna scratch my head.

BTW, I didn't see a listing for your part #.

Hmmmm. Very strange. Well my car is a 69 911E which means it probably came stock with the funky pneumatic struts and was likely the converted to different structs. That is definitely the part number on the strut...I installed a sway bar last weekend and wrote down the number...I have a set of Bilstein for Boge shocks I want to install and I'm wondering if they will fit. And apologies for hijacking the thread!

racemor · 11-21-2003, 02:27 PM

Yes Chuck, I already have the S calipers and I'm trying to go with an SC strut since they are so readily available. I guess my car is late enough not to have had the hydro pneumatic front end. And as Jamie says, it looks '69 - '89 use the pinned ball joint should work through 89. Glad the hubs will work. Spring plates are also on the order list plus new bushings all over. But the aluminum banana arms are on Santa's list. I'll have to be good for another month.

Jim, that does sound strange. I thought that the bottom section was all one piece for 73. The Stoddard's catalog shows that earlier set ups have a few more parts. Maybe that covers 69 and earlier?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Here is a pic of the updated balljoint attachment

The change occured in '72 on 911s. I would want a 930 strut, as it was set up oem for Bilstein and is a straight bolt on. These struts come oem w/ HD.

I've used both setups sport all around and hd front sport rear(currebt setup) there is very little rel difference in the feel between them. Either works fine w/ the heavie t-bars.