Odd Hewland adapter

[Charlie Schmidt]

I've got this Ford/Hewland adapter that has no timing hole cast in the top. It looks like it's NOS.
Were the early ones made without a hole, as if still using a stock front pulley.
Is this something special, or just weird. It does have Hewland in the casting.
If I need to use it, am I correct in assuming TDC is centered between the top 2 bolts?

[Robert J. Alder]

Is the width of the adapter same as a known adapter? i.e 2.125" (or whatever that exact depth is)? If different, it could be for some weird application, not a Hewland MK8-9.

[Bob Posner]

I've got this Ford/Hewland adapter that has no timing hole cast in the top. It looks like it's NOS.
Were the early ones made without a hole, as if still using a stock front pulley.
Is this something special, or just weird. It does have Hewland in the casting.
If I need to use it, am I correct in assuming TDC is centered between the top 2 bolts?

I recently installed a similar no window adapter and Jay Ivey said TDC was centered between the bolts.

[Charlie Schmidt]

same thickness as "regular" ones
only odd thing is lack of a hole

[Phil Creighton]

A lot of the 70-80s standard hewland FF adpters had no timing hole. drilled quite a few in my time with the old hole saw.
phil

[Charlie Schmidt]

A lot of the 70-80s standard hewland FF adpters had no timing hole. drilled quite a few in my time with the old hole saw.
phil

works for me thanks

[Phil Creighton]

A wise old english FF engine builder said - dont mess with the timing - all you can do is ---- it up. Its perfect.
Maybe thats why it was considered redundant

[billtebbutt]

I've often thought a timing hole at about 2 o'clock on the adapter, viewed from the back of the car (and an appropriately re-marked set of timing marks on the flywheel) would be a heck of a lot better/easier in terms of setting the timing. Especially so on cars with an over-the-top exhaust, etc.

cheers,
bt

[old 59]

On my RF92 I’ve put a window on the RHS adapter plate down by the block/oil pan interface, then made another mark on the flywheel with an oil pen marker. Can reach the carb and distributor easily from that spot.