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

[Conserv]

21 hours ago, bergie33 said:

Mine is 2-3/4", so not consistent with yours. 

A 1/2” difference in location (2 3/4” vs. 3 1/4”) would today — in the age of assembly-line robots — definitely announce “not done in the factory”. But in the early ‘70’s, at a small-ish and likely under-capitalized auto manufacturer, such a difference could be within an acceptable range, particularly for something only some cars needed. Some guy with a stamping machine could be doing it free-hand.

 

So I’m not counting out factory, dealer, or post-delivery creation at this time.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[Conserv]

On 7/11/2022 at 2:08 PM, Schon '02 said:

I understand that some of the tii notches were "factory" tin shear cut, so a cleanly drilled hole wouldn't necessarily be a guarantee, would it? I'm just curious if they're all in the same place, dimensionally. If so, it would rule out the randomness of individual owners doing so, maybe???

Simply re-arranging your words, firewall notches (formerly known as “tii notches” ?) began life in June 1972 — with the arrival of the E12 head and aluminum intakes runners — as handcut features but progressed, by September-ish 1972, into machine-cut features.

 

Similarly, assuming the firewall holes were factory created, they could have been drilled early on, but stamped later on.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[Conserv]

On 7/10/2022 at 1:29 PM, conkitchen said:

 

… BTW my 74 tii has the hole in question…

 

And what’s your tii’s VIN? If you had to guess, would you characterize the hole as drilled or stamped? And how far is it located, on center, from the plenum cover panel?

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

 

 

[John_in_VA]

No hole in my '74 tii (Dec '73, 2780572).

 

[MikeD]

14 hours ago, Conserv said:

A 1/2” difference in location (2 3/4” vs. 3 1/4”) would today — in the age of assembly-line robots — definitely announce “not done in the factory”. But in the early ‘70’s, at an under-capitalized auto manufacturer, such a difference could be within an acceptable range, particularly for something only some cars needed. Some guy with a stamping machine could be doing it free-hand.

 

So I’m not counting out factory, dealer, or post-delivery creation at this time.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Just measured my hole.  it is 3 1/4 inches.

[Mike Self]

15 hours ago, Conserv said:

A 1/2” difference in location (2 3/4” vs. 3 1/4”) would today — in the age of assembly-line robots — definitely announce “not done in the factory”. But in the early ‘70’s, at an under-capitalized auto manufacturer, such a difference could be within an acceptable range, particularly for something only some cars needed. Some guy with a stamping machine could be doing it free-hand.

Considering the wide range of windshield washer bottle bracket locations on the passenger side inner fender, (Hans and his spot welder must have eyeballed each one) Steve's surmise is a valid one.

 

mike

[Schon '02]

‘75 Turbo with 41k miles has one…

[Conserv]

7 hours ago, Schon '02 said:

‘75 Turbo with 41k miles has one…

I suppose “turbos have points, too!”

 

But (semi-)seriously, is this a right-side-only hole, or 1/2 of a pair of holes, as Les is showing us on 1975-model ‘02’s?

 

Thanks and regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

[bergie33]

I've seen some with a whole on either side. 

[Conserv]

28 minutes ago, bergie33 said:

I've seen some with a whole on either side. 

That’s what Les was showing us earlier. All the examples of twin holes seemed to be 1975 models.

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[otisdog]

My very late (12/9/74) '74 tii has them.

[SydneyTii]

On 7/13/2022 at 10:13 PM, John_in_VA said:

No hole in my '74 tii (Dec '73, 2780572).

 

Nice engine bay John!

btw is this a US thing, I don’t think I’ve seen the hole on euro/Aussie cars?

[Dudeland]

It kinda smells like some sort of locating pin for the stamping.  It makes no sense to drill the hole at the dealer.  
 

Edited July 25, 2022 by Dudeland
Fixed grammar

[wojo]

Just saw this thread.  To add to the confusion, 4227595 built 5/7/74 has one hole.  Have owned it since '78.  Was told by BMW mechanic early in my ownership that it was for adjusting points..

[bergie33]

On 7/23/2022 at 4:30 PM, Conserv said:

 

 

I just saw a 74 on eBay 4228086, has one hole over the distributor. 

Edited July 26, 2022 by bergie33