Hole in top of Tii front cowl, what's this for?

[bergie33]

2781566 (March 74), has the hole. 

[Schon '02]

‘73 VIN 2590923, but no clue if it’s original to the car having acquired the car four years ago.

[Conserv]

20 hours ago, MikeD said:

 

My 74tii has the same hole.   I am an original owner and hole has been there since new.

 

 

O geez, Mike! 

 

I was 100% ready to blow this off as some post-factory oddity — a fad of the ‘70’s or ‘80’s — and then you weighed in…

 

Sometimes it’s best if the original owners simply keep their facts to themselves! ??

 

I’m kidding, of course. But now we have to explore the VIN and date ranges for these darned holes, which have probably gone un-used for 50 years! Is yours 2782393?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[NYNick]

2780188

January 1974

NO HOLE!

 

So far we have January no hole, March with the hole, July no hole. WTH?

[bergie33]

Maybe it was a dealer installed option. ?

[Charles in PA]

VIN # 2781801

Manufactured May 9, 1974

No hole

[MikeD]

32 minutes ago, Conserv said:

O geez, Mike! 

 

I was 100% ready to blow this off as some post-factory oddity — a fad of the 1970’s — and then you weighed in…

 

Sometimes it’s best if the original owners simply keep their facts to themselves! ??

 

I’m kidding, of course. But now we have to explore the VIN and date ranges for these darned holes, which have probably gone un-used for 50 years! Is yours 2782393?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Steve...I figured that you needed something new to work on. if anyone can get to the bottom of this it is you.

I distinctly remember on my first service back to the dealer I had asked the service manager what the hole was for.  He replied he didn't have a clue.  I had forgotten all about it and never knew what it was used for until this thread started.  Another 2002 mystery.

Yes....VIN 2782393.

[Conserv]

On 7/9/2022 at 7:42 PM, BarneyT said:

JohnS is correct, That hole was added to adjust the points…

Wait, Barney! We need more info than this teaser…

 

We need anything you’ve got on this issue!

 

How do you know the points theory? Have you actually used one of these holes to adjust points? Or have you heard about it from a credible source? It now appears these are a “factory thing.”

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[Conserv]

4 hours ago, MikeD said:

 

… I had asked the service manager what the hole was for.  He replied he didn't have a clue…

 

I suspect the same service manager worked at my dealership, because my service manager didn’t have a clue about anything…

But you should be proud because you just saved 400 of these holes from being welded shut! ??

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

['76mintgrün'02]

On 7/9/2022 at 7:28 PM, dlacey said:

Depending on dizzy body orientation it is difficult to get a screwdriver on the clamp screw for the points .. but drilling the body rather than twisting the dizzy 45degrees seems a bit much...

 

Agreed.  At one point, I thought it'd be cool to put the vacuum pod on the carburetor side when installing the distributor, until I saw that it put the points at the back; so I put it back the way it was. 

 

Wasn't '74 the first year for vacuum retard distributors with "backwards" points?  That might have something to do with it... but then, Schon '02 has the hole in their '73. (?)

 

I drilled a hole to adjust my points, but it has nothing to do with this thread.   

 

[JsnPpp]

Super cool thread. ?

 

I will check if my '73 has the hole later today.

[02Les]

Interesting!

So 2782393 has the hole, but nearby cars, 2782375, 2782379, 2782394, 2782396 do not have the hole.

Also, bergie33's car 2781566 has the hole and 2781573 also has the hole, but the holes are in slightly different location. 2781557 & 2781577 do not have the hole.

 

Methinks not factory.

 

[jimk]

Given all the holes are in the same place and these cars are in all parts of the country/world, it has to be a factory free feature.

[bergie33]

I wonder if there was a service bulliten that came out and recommended to dealer service centers that adding the hole was recommended for servicing the points. 

[02Les]

While we're on the topic of holes.

What was the reason for the two holes added around October '74 to the driver & passanger side of the cowl?