Jay Gratton

I have decided to dump some $$$ into my '73 914 that only has 25K miles on it. Everything on the car is from the factory including the brake pads. The only thing not stock is the rotors, wheel bearings and brake lines. The car does not have a sway bar and I don't really want to cut it up to put one on. What are some other suggestions I could use to make this a more fun car to drive on the street? I have a good idea what I want, but I wanted to hear from you all as well.

racer

kiss: stiffer rear springs (stocks were about 75#?) , stiffer front torsion bars, KONI shocks. You still have steelies on the car? How about either some Fuchs or Mahles with some wider, grippier rubber.

IMHO, that car is TOO nice to want to cut up too much. Rear sway bar seems a bone of contention for 914 owners. I wouldn't want a 914 w/o one, but others swear they make the car handle worse (!)

Rotten Robby

Jay, I can't think of anything more fun than driving a 914 without sway bars! It would be like covering a linoleum floor with vegetable oil and then trying to stay on top of one of those exercise ***** as it slides around. Take video! 8D

Jay Gratton

The car is to nice to cut up, but right now a mini van handles better. It still has the steal wheels on it and I am looking for some nice rims. No rear sway bar for me please, I like the back wagging out there if needed.

Slantnose!

I don't think there's anything wrong with putting the front bar on..it's a great upgrade.
I have a rear bar, too...but it's not needed (wanted) for autocross, etc.

Jay Gratton

I agree there is nothing wrong with putting a front bar on, but the car is a Parade Preservation winner and I would hate to change to much on it. Thanks for the advice! Keep it coming.

Jay Gratton

Anybody have some used springs?

skl

If you're that concerned with Parade Concours ( I gave up on that after the '76 Parade in Minnesota though I did put it in at Aspen '78 cause I was there anyway) would putting a factory front bar on make that much difference if done correctly? My '73 has factory F & R bars and I retrofitted the factory bars on the '71... I have some old pictures from the early 70's with 914's autocrossing without sway bars and I'm surprised they didn't tip over!!

Jay Gratton

I am not a concour guy, but the value of the car is in keeping it stock. Putting a bar on the car would be to drastic of a change in my opinion. However, shocks, springs, etc. would not be and could certainly be changed back easily. The car is for sale and while I am not pushing the sale much, I don't want to put an option (sway bars) that the car never came with.

racing916

Hi Jay,

I might have a set of 140lb. weltmiester rear springs for sale very soon. Let me know if you have any interest.

Thanks,
Stephen Vasina

Rotten Robby

Jay, I have a set of used factory '75 rear springs. Supposed to be heavier than earlier springs but I am not an authority on originality...

Matt Romanowski

Stop being a panzy and just put a front sway bar in it (do a factory one), shocks and springs and be done.

Jay Gratton

Thanks Matty! You can always count on your friends to tell you how it is.

I would be interested in those 140 springs when they come up. PM me your thinking on the price if you can. Thanks!

Jay Gratton

Just agreed to buy some 140 pound springs. The process begins!!!!!

racer

Yeah! for fun, be sure to look for a used 2056 motor too...