help ID'ing right shocks, please

[911SCfanatic]

I have a '72 with the following:
rear: red Koni's
front: yellow Bilstein inserts, green dust cover, which should be Bilstein. However, there is no roll pin in the housing or retaining the bottom of the shocks.

Help me piece this puzzle together. What shocks should this car have?

[steve911]

Bill--
According to the Red Book:

"Boge shocks were standard on the E and T with Konis still mounted on the S. Konis and Bilsteins were options on the E and T."

In other words, it depends...

[johnsjmc]

I would hazard a guess I suspect Bilstien inserts made for Boge strut tubes If so the top is retained with a threaded collar and the shock body is down in the tube.

[Jim Richards]

Agreed. My Boge struts' dust covers were green and the inserts were yellow. The part numbers for these inserts corresponded to Bilstein HD's.

[911SCfanatic]

Yes, the Bilstein inserts are retained by the threaded collar. What got me very confused is the green dust cover, and my understanding that all Bilstein struts retain the insert with a roll pin.

Jim, you're saying you ran into the same thing? So apparently a black strut and a green dust cover was factory?...strange. Am I also right in understanding that Boge will accept either Konis or Bilsteins, so my options for replacement are wide open? Hey, with the red Konis on the rear I have a little of everything!

No way of telling how old they are. I find the "bounce test" unreliable. The shocks are difficult to compress, so who knows. I found a number on the Bilstein inserts (6240112H002) so maybe I can call Bilstein and get some manufacturing date info. I'm looking to cut cost wherever reasonable during this restoration so I can get the car on the road without breaking the bank initially.

Edit: PP webpage says that the struts and inserts are not interchangable on the early cars, but when I go to mid-year cars it says:

Front Pair Bilstein Shocks for 911, 911 Turbo, (1974-3/85)
(For cars with Boge strut only)
P36-0112

The "0112" is the same number as part of the number I found on my Bilstein strut. Bottom line, I need to figure out what I have before I order anything. Is there a part number on the strut somewhere that will give me a definitive answer?

[johnsjmc]

If you have the later insert then someone probably swapped the front suspension to get the more common on later cars 3.5" brake caliper spacing. Bilstien and Koni both make inserts to put their shocks in Boge housings but they are not the same as their original equipment part number. If you examine the housing carfully with a wire brush or sandpaper you should be able to find a part # and a Boge stamp Possibly a production date as well.

[911SCfanatic]

The caliper spacing is 3", so it's the earlier one. I'll have to look for the part numbers tonight.