Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

> 1971 914-4 Clearance Height?, Noticed my 914 is leaning ... should I be worried?
unclemoki
post Aug 29 2026, 11:48 PM
Post #1


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 7-November 24
From: California
Member No.: 28,450
Region Association: Northern California



My recently "partially restored" 914-4 seems to have a noticeable lean. I checked the distance from the ground to the wheel-well all around and this is what I got:

Front Passenger/Right: 26"
Rear Passenger/Right: 23.5"

Front Driver's Side/Left: 25"
Rear Driver's Side/Left: 22.5"

I don't know what's "normal" for 914's but I'm wondering if I should be worried? I want to do more work to the car (electrical, shifting) but I feel like this needs to get sorted out first. I checked some pics from 2024 to compare and it looks like it might have been like this for a while so not sure why it seems much more noticeable now.

Any advice/thoughts/suggestions?


Quick History:
My late dad was the original owner. It was his daily driver for many years and then garaged for many years after he retired. At some point he passed it along to me. I'm not aware of any major body damage. I've heard stories of it being involved in an accident in the early 70's but I don't have any details.

I like to tinker but I'm no mechanic and I don't know much about 914's. In early 2020's I started a restoration project with a local shop - body (remove rust and dents), fresh paint, rebuilt engine, new exhaust, refresh interior ... spent more than I should have but got it looking pretty and back on the road. Brought it home summer of 2024. I've driven it maybe 100 miles in 2 years.

Aug 2026 .... sorry about the orientation
Attached Image


Aug 2024 ... for comparison
Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
Replies
Superhawk996
post Aug 30 2026, 06:27 PM
Post #2


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,069
Joined: 25-August 18
From: Woods of N. Idaho
Member No.: 22,428
Region Association: Galt's Gulch



I keep seeing mention of bushings and inserts (ie dampers / shock absorbers) but let’s be clear here. The only thing that sets ride height is rear springs & front torsion bars.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

Posts in this topic
unclemoki   1971 914-4 Clearance Height?   Aug 29 2026, 11:48 PM
bdstone914   1 inch lean is significant. First thing i would ch...   Aug 30 2026, 04:11 AM
Shivers   I've been into old cars most of my adult life....   Aug 30 2026, 04:37 AM
Front yard mechanic   Just get a fat girlfriend   Aug 30 2026, 05:08 AM
Superhawk996   Just get a fat girlfriend :rotfl: the easy butt...   Aug 30 2026, 06:39 AM
mepstein   Old suspension. Worn out springs, worn out bushing...   Aug 30 2026, 05:59 AM
930cabman   Old suspension. Worn out springs, worn out bushin...   Aug 30 2026, 01:28 PM
Ninja   Nice looking car! Welcome to the menagerie...   Aug 30 2026, 10:39 AM
unclemoki   I appreciate all of the feedback, THANKS! My ...   Aug 30 2026, 01:09 PM
mepstein   Seeing that it’s a family car, the idea that it ...   Aug 30 2026, 01:22 PM
unclemoki   Oh, and thank you all for the warm welcome! I...   Aug 30 2026, 01:32 PM
rjames   It was mentioned already, but I would start with t...   Aug 30 2026, 01:46 PM
JeffBowlsby   I would start by measuring to the chassis not the ...   Aug 30 2026, 03:01 PM
Jamie   I would start by measuring to the chassis not the...   Aug 31 2026, 11:27 AM
930cabman   I would start by measuring to the chassis not th...   Aug 31 2026, 04:25 PM
unclemoki   I would start by measuring to the chassis not the...   Aug 31 2026, 08:06 PM
Superhawk996   I keep seeing mention of bushings and inserts (ie ...   Aug 30 2026, 06:27 PM
Cairo94507   That looks and sounds like a really nice car. I s...   Aug 31 2026, 07:30 AM
brant   I agree with all of the above I’d put new bushi...   Aug 31 2026, 08:42 AM
Big Len   Not that it would make that much of a level differ...   Aug 31 2026, 11:50 AM
unclemoki   Not that it would make that much of a level diffe...   Aug 31 2026, 04:22 PM
unclemoki   I found the invoice/receipt and right at the top i...   Aug 31 2026, 04:20 PM
Superhawk996   I found the invoice/receipt and right at the top ...   Aug 31 2026, 04:27 PM
930cabman   I found the invoice/receipt and right at the top...   Aug 31 2026, 05:39 PM
Superhawk996   . Can the bars (either one or the other) lose some...   Aug 31 2026, 07:56 PM
unclemoki   I found the invoice/receipt and right at the top...   Aug 31 2026, 07:28 PM
unclemoki   Actually, if this is all I need (replacing the str...   Aug 31 2026, 06:15 PM
mepstein   Remove the top nut with an impact. Pull the strut ...   Aug 31 2026, 06:58 PM
unclemoki   Remove the top nut with an impact. Pull the strut...   Aug 31 2026, 07:31 PM
914sgofast2   For what it's worth, when I got my 914, it was...   Aug 31 2026, 06:59 PM
unclemoki   For what it's worth, when I got my 914, it wa...   Aug 31 2026, 07:37 PM
Superhawk996   You have plenty of torsion bar adjustment to play ...   Aug 31 2026, 07:53 PM
unclemoki   BTW - Found this image at the site below ... does ...   Aug 31 2026, 08:23 PM


Reply to this topicStart new topic
3 User(s) are reading this topic (3 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 20th September 2026 - 07:33 PM
...