12a for VW bug adapter questions
 

I bought a complete adapter kit from someone but it ends up it doesn't bolt up to my 12a. The flywheel and counterweight work but the bolt pattern on the adapter plate doesn't fit the motor. Is there different mating patterns of 12a to their respective transmission?

Yes, there was an early twin distributor version that fit the 73 and older engines. I bought one of those, trying to be cheap, and ended up not being able to use it. So I bit the bullet and bought a new adaptor designed to fit the 74 and later bellhousing pattern. Oh and it turns out the old flywheel couldn't be used either due to being iron and wasn't machined correctly for the 74 and later form factor. I had to buy a new steel flywheel as well.

If I had simply bought the complete kit from kennedy, I'd have saved a lot of money and a lot of time. Lesson learned.

Can you post pictures?

Wow I guess I had to learn the hard way like you. Good lord now I have a $400 paperweight

This is good to know.