Suspension setup recommendations daily driver / rough roads Options

[skota23]

Hi folks,

Now that I have my car running well it’s time to start making it handle how I want and would like some advice. It’s a 74 2.0

Here’s what it has now,
Front sway bar (factory)
Stock torsion bars
Struts, not sure but the car came with a used set of konis (rebuilding konis an option?)

Rear
Kyb’s these I’m thinking about replacing with bilstiens with adjustable spring perches
140# springs, I’m thinking 100# to replace them

Tires are old 205/60/15’s that I’m planning on replacing with 185/70 vredestein

I’d like to raise the car up a bit for ground clearance and comfort but not compromise handling too much.

I’d appreciate anyone’s thoughts.

Thank you,
Steve

[JamesM]

Getting rid of those KYBs for a set of Bilsteins (or Konis) will change your world, especially if they are the white KYBs (gas-a-just).

Beyond that there is no softer setup than stock for rough roads.

My autox car with 180lb rear springs and solid bushings has a better ride than a stock car with white KYBs... they are unquestionably the worst thing you can do to the ride quality of a 914, so start there and then deicide where you want to go.

Given you are pulling the rear shocks anyways and looking to go soft, 100lb springs would be fine with everything else being stock in the front. I think AA even has 90lb which are even closer to (but still stiffer than) stock

Replacing the 50+ year old rubber control arm bushings will go a long way to improve ride quality as well.

Height wise, it already looks like you are pretty high for a 914. You could probably raise the front a little to get rid of the forward rake but wait until after you replace the rear shock/spring setup as the height will change.