How do I tell what type of strut I have?, I want to install Bilsteins. Options

[jagalyn]

How do I tell what type of strut I have? I have a 74 2.0 liter. From what I've read, stock shocks were Boge and I would like to replace my original shocks with Bilstein. Can I use a Boge strut with a Bilstein insert?

Thanks in advance for the help.

J.

[TheCabinetmaker]

I assume you have stock struts. they will be boge. Bilstein makes a direct replacement. They will give a little stiffer ride, but they make handling much better IMHO.

[jagalyn]

Shock absorbers: Most 914 LE cars were standard-equipped with Bilstein shock absorbers, where standard 914 Porsches received Boge shock absorbers. Bilstein and Koni shock absorbers were available only as optional upgrades. According to an acquaintance who contacted the Porsche Classics Center in Germany, the definitive source of factory 914 information, Bilsteins were not originally planned to be included with the 914 LE cars, but the decision to include them on the 914 Can Am cars was a safety decision. The factory was concerned that 914 cars with factory anti-roll bars and standard Boge shocks would have unacceptable and potentially unsafe oversteering. But I must mention that there is conflicting information from other sources. One of the earliest 914 LE cars on the 914 Can Am Registry has a COA stating that it was originally equipped with Koni shock absorbers as optional equipment. Maybe a few early 914 LE cars were built then the policy changed, hence the discrepancy?

This is from the rennlist 914 Limited Edition site. It states that most LE's came with bilsteins... but not all. My COA lists options but does not list bilsteins as one of them. So is color of the strut the "only" way to identify what type of strut I have or is there other distinguishing marks?

Thanks,
j.