Seemed to have got burned on evil bay..showed a new shock..
and got two that had been in for years..not a 'Year'!
Any one here ever seen rust on one in a year??
They are pretty buried under the hood?
Alright enough venting....numbers on the top..Are they date codes??
Thanx Rx

Since you said "hood" - I'm assuming you meant front strut inserts or housings. If not, you can see the OE Boge rear shocks at this link, which is the same 73 2L in the pic below. See post #49 - pic doesn't show stampings/markings, but PM to the owner Steve G & he can probably look for you:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...01921&st=40

These are the date codes on Steve's/smg Sahara Beige on the front Boge struts of his 73 2L, indicating Feb. 7 73 mfgr. date, which he posted in the O&H Forum under the nailed "The few, the rare..." topic. See post #144 for more pix -
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...1921&st=140



I know my rear Koni's from the early 80's have a date code stamped in them, but the front Boges you got would've been buried inside the strut housings, and therefore very hard to get rusty - unless either in there for many years, or an older NOS or new part which was already rusting when installed after sitting in a damp warehouse or shop somewhere IMHO.

I have pulled down to nothing but bits of sheet metal..
on many 914z.......................................
and the fronts stay away from the elements nicely ...
but the biggie is taking a stock photo, of a new one and using it...
live and burn I guess..
Okay now for the info...
top of one strut shock stamped in the steel
A48 the other C12
Bottom of the C12 shock
BOGE Made in Germany 1 0391 32 057 5
A48 the same except the stampings are in the middle..
if pics are needed can try..but black paint is tough to get
the pics right..
any info would be great..
Thanx Rx

I yanked my boges and put in new bilstein sports all around this past Nov. My boges were stamped 7/72 on the rears, car has an 8/72 karmann date and a 9/72 (1973 model year) on the black sticker in the doorframe.

The Boges were like mud. The bilsteins are rock hard. Had to reinstall my rear window just to knock off the rattle. And made sure the damn thing would not fall out!

J

Yepperz I know about the factory stamps on the tubes..
and thanx on that info.....
these are on the front inserts themselves....
stamped into the metal..
these are black and newer not original stock....
Again any insight - guidance- answers would be Great!!
PS now the evil bay guy said they were only in three months...
Trying to disguise the negative I slapped on him...
oh and he said he did use a stock photo from ebay with a disclaimer..
Hmmmm did not see any whatsoever.....
again live and burn....