Has anyone had experience

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

installing high beam and turn indicators into little holes in the dash? I bought the three LED lights and want drill the holes just above the two gauges on the dash. I know I won't have more than one chance to do it right. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to drill these little holes without screwing up my dash?
http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=PA180001.jpg

[FFredo]

I dont know if it's the right way but....
Take the dash out
Clean the dash
Lay out your holes on masking tape. If your tape is level, centered and square with the dash plate and the holes look right start drilling. Use smaller bits to start and go up.
Oh yeah go slow, cuz you only have one shot at it.

[mknittle]

I always use a step drill bit. A regular one will drill a triangle hole in sheet metal almost every time.

what i do is take a felt tip and mark all the way around the step up from the one that I want. that way I don't lose count and drill too bib a hole.
You can use a regular drill bit [no bigger than 1/8" for a pilot hole. Try it on a piece of scrap of the same thickness first to get the feel of it.


P.S. they make smaller ones. hope this helps.

mark

[FFredo]

Mark has all the fancy tools

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by FFredo

I dont know if it's the right way but....
Take the dash out
Clean the dash
Lay out your holes on masking tape. If your tape is level, centered and square with the dash plate and the holes look right start drilling. Use smaller bits to start and go up.
Oh yeah go slow, cuz you only have one shot at it.

I wish it were that easy. with the AD trucks it would be a lot more work than it is worth for a couple holes darn spot welds.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by FFredo

Mark has all the fancy tools

LOL I did 20 years as a prototype machinist.

[Daze57]

you can use a spring punch to make a indentation in the metal so your bit won't slip on ya

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

Originally Posted by Daze57

you can use a spring punch to make a indentation in the metal so your bit won't slip on ya

What is a spring punch?

[Daze57]

BG 3600

a spring punch is a center punch that has a spring in it, so all you do is put the point on your metal surface and push down - it;ll put the indentation in the metal then spring bk . its about the size of a sharpie - harbor freight has em - so does home despot
holla if ya need help

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by BIG CHEVY 3600

What is a spring punch?

A center punch that uses a spring and anvil inside.You mark where you want the hole and set the point of the punch where you want the center and push and "snap" automatic punch center for the drill bit.they are great for sheet metal.

[Root2812]

If I were doing this I would first get thin card board (I use part of a 12 pack of pepsi box). Use the cardboard to make a template. This way you can use a ruler and get them all positioned and test hole sizes. When its exactly how you want it position the template on the dash with tape so its exactly how you want it. Since you know your hole sizes mark the holes with marker and then use a punch and a step drill (mentioned above). This way everything is perfect before you drill since you only get one try.

Oh and clear out all the wires behind the dash so you don't drill into them. You can't just simply remove the AD dash.

Good Luck

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

That part about removing all wires behind the dash so I won't drill into them is exactly what would happen if you hadn't warned me. lol

[Daze57]

all the above should put ya in the right direction and good luck !

[mknittle]

like this.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Root2812

If I were doing this I would first get thin card board (I use part of a 12 pack of pepsi box). Use the cardboard to make a template. This way you can use a ruler and get them all positioned and test hole sizes. When its exactly how you want it position the template on the dash with tape so its exactly how you want it. Since you know your hole sizes mark the holes with marker and then use a punch and a step drill (mentioned above). This way everything is perfect before you drill since you only get one try.

Oh and clear out all the wires behind the dash so you don't drill into them. You can't just simply remove the AD dash.

Good Luck

good advice Root. i punch holes in the templates with a push pin and mark through them with a sharpie. If i cut the holes any bigger It is hard to find the center.

[parkwood]

Originally Posted by BIG CHEVY 3600

installing high beam and turn indicators into little holes in the dash? I bought the three LED lights and want drill the holes just above the two gauges on the dash. I know I won't have more than one chance to do it right. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to drill these little holes without screwing up my dash?
http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=PA180001.jpg

Take some tape and lay out the lights out on the tape before you drill holes in your dash... like you said you only get one chance to not screw it up...

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks for three thousand words.

[entourageguy]

If the light ends up a little loose in the hole a dab of silicon on the backside will hold it.

[parkwood]

Originally Posted by BIG CHEVY 3600

A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks for three thousand words.

no problem, glad to help.........