68 912 front struts replacement?

[Mark_s]

Currently fitted with BOGE P/N 902.341.067.00, what insert fits and what do you recommend? Boge, koni or bilsteins? I understood that 68 is a one year only, I am having a hard time locating the correct bushings for my a-arms. Can anyone help?

Mark

[Peter Graham]

I rebuilt the front end on my '68 using Elephant Racing bushings and Koni 86-1394 (fits 65-68). Bushings went on like a dream following the included instructions. I had a hard time locating the strut inserts but that was a couple of years ago.

[Rick Becker]

Personally I favor Bilsteins for coupes, they can absorb a lot of energy, and like old Porsches have few parts to fail. They're a bit too stiff for Targas.

[Mark_s]

Thank you for your answers.
I am getting at bit confused when I look at the pelican suspension site; they have bilstein inserts for 1965-09/68 and for 10/68-69. I dont know the production date of my car but my vin starts with 12803xx, as far I remember. Which one fit, can you tell me from my current part number?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/912M/POR_912M_SUSshk_pg1.htm#item0

[Rick Becker]

With a '68 VIN in the 300s, it sounds like yours was built very close to revision in the suspension. My '68 Targa was built in 10/23/67 and had the later suspension.

Here's the 912 Registry link for 68 Karmann Coupes built the same time as yours:

912 Registry Owners List 1968 Volume, VIN 0001-0500

[Mark_s]

How convenient:-) I will try to call Porsche and hopefully they can tell the production date of my car.

[Peter Graham]

I was thinking about it this morning and it should be very easy to determine whether you have early or late model style struts: The '68 and earlier model strut uses a ball joint with an arm that attaches to the a-arm using two through bolts (which also captures the sway bar bracket if sway bar is installed). The earlier strut also has a removable pivot arm in order to access the ball joint castellated nut. The later style '69 ball joint is threaded and seats into the a-arm and attaches to the strut using a pin; the pivot arm is part of the spindle casting. I have attached a photo of my early-style '68 suspension: my sway bar brackets were made by a friend from stainless steel and were too pretty to paint.


Here's the PET for the early style:


..and the PET for the later style:

[Mark_s]

Hi Peter, I am pretty sure that I have the early and expensive style balljoint, I will order some early bilstein inserts. Thanks.
Btw, nice looking front end!

[Mark_s]

Just received an email from my Porsche dealer, my 12803xxx is from March 1968, thanks for your input.

[Rick Becker]

An earlier post showned 12803xx ; 1968 VINs should be eight digit numbers

If yours is in the 3000s rather than the 300s, a build date in March 1968 would be feasible. There are low 3000s from February 1968

There are two dates to track, the date the factory constructed the car, and the date the original owner took delivery