Suspension markings Options

[scotty b]

I remember this being brought up before, possibly by myself, but I can't find any trace of it so I thought I would atart a new thead specifically dedicated to suspensions and in this case factory makings on them. These pics are from Jim McCloeds 73. All markings are on the rear trailing arms and I could find no evidence of anything onthe front suspension. Notice there is one brushed on and also one stamped mark on each side. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[wonkipop]

I'll stab a guess at this.

based on what we cracked with regard to engine stamps for 74 1.8s and some other 914 models.

the trailing arms would likely have been fabricated and assembled as an entire component at another VW factory.
it is very unlikely that this component was made at karmann.

(the front suspension and steering components for instance were closely shared with the 911 so likely came in from whoever made the bits for porsche and usually sent them to stuttgart for the 911s).

rear suspension is largely unique to the 914 and likely had another source.

this would be similar to engines that were assembled at hanover and sent out to other factories where cars were being assembled.

most of these trailing arms are marked with a K. i would say that is the letter that VW allocated to the 914 trailing arm. other VW models likely had a different letter assigned. like engines during the model life the letter could have changed from year to year for each model.

the K stamp is identical in typography to the engine number code stamps. the letter stamp is the basis for my guess its stamped on when the trailing arm component was finished at the factory these suspension sub components were made.

as to the other marking. a clue is perhaps in the karmann assembly line photos.
(or other VW assembly lines also give a clue)

all the suspension and drive train components were assembled together on a flat jig for the final stages of assembly and then mating to the finished and trimmed body.

i think the flat jig was lifted up the bodies for bolting up (though its a little unclear how that worked at karmann). i think all the components were positioned on the suspension including springs and shocks while it was on the jig.

given that they offered different spring rates and different shocks from factory as options or spec - and these bits may have been sub assembled away from the jigs i'd guess the hand painted numbers are about that. ie a rear suspension trailing arm was bolted up to a shock and spring away from the jig and possibly even stockpiled. this hand painted marking might have gone on the trailing arm at that point, in the karmman factory.

the hand painted marking may have designated the configuration of the assembled sub component. to ensure the correct one was picked up by an assembly worker and brought to the jig for the particular build/order. the build paper work probably had the code on it.

but its just a guess.

i'd be reasonably certainly about the stamped letter.

the hand painted number not.