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Best way to drill through the frame rail

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by DanStew, Mar 26, 2005.

  1. Mar 26, 2005
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,586
    Well i will have to drill through my frame rail to get the sleeves in to mount my Saginaw Box. Main thing is... i am lousy at getting this to drill "straight" and since i have to go through one side and out the other i really do not want to mess it up, would would be the best way to make sure i drill all the way through and straight. Sounds like a stupid question, but i am being honest.. just need some pointers to make sure the drill goes straight.

    Thanks
     
    DanStew, Mar 26, 2005
    #1
  2. Mar 26, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Nov 6, 2002
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    4,275
    Mebbe a piece of flat plate with a tube welded to it that is just big enough to use as a drill guide. Make sure the tube is at 90* to the plate and clamp it onto the frame. Drill away. BTDT.
     
    w3srl, Mar 26, 2005
    #2
  3. Mar 26, 2005
    Chuck

    Chuck Sponsor

    Southshore Ma
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    Sep 19, 2004
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    1,463
    You can try a torpedo level tape to the drill, keep the bubble centered. I wouldn’t trust the magnet alone.
     
    Chuck, Mar 26, 2005
    #3
  4. Mar 26, 2005
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    Mar 30, 2004
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    Dan, did this for a friend helping him put ps on his Samuria. Spot welded black pipe sections where i wanted to drill and used a new sharp bit. Came with template, just marked punched drilled alittle bit then welded and finished up holes.
     
    jd7, Mar 26, 2005
    #4
  5. Mar 26, 2005
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
    12,382
    Use a drill with a built in level? Dewalt sells them.
     
    Glenn, Mar 26, 2005
    #5
  6. Mar 26, 2005
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    5,349
    I just welded my spacers to the frame enclosure (hole already thru there) and then used the hole in them as the guide to go thru the other frame rail, the holes are straight as an arow. I didn't use pipe , I used 1" steel with a 15/32" hole drilled in it.
    Anytime you drill a hole in steel you should centerdrill it first regardless of using a punch mark or not!!!!!!!!!!!
    A center drill is a very short drill that will not walk off center do to the way its length and the way it is ground, good for drilling the 1st 1/8" deep.
     
    Mcruff, Mar 26, 2005
    #6
  7. Mar 26, 2005
    JIM.J.

    JIM.J. New Member

    ne nj off rt 80...
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    Feb 1, 2004
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    39
    if you have a drill press or if you can get the use of one, try this. take a short piece of 2x4, drill a hole, now you have a one time use drill gauge. center punch your mark, put the bit through the block, put the drill tip on the mark then clamp the block and drill. works great. good luck.
     
    JIM.J., Mar 26, 2005
    #7
  8. Mar 26, 2005
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,586
    Well th eholes are done. i do have issues with one bottom one not aligning. i may have to trch that hole and sleeve out and redo that hole, the 3 botls will thread into the mount. boy is this a PIA. I relly took my time but it is frickin hard to get it all the way through when you do not have bits long enough to go through both sides. :( O well, i have to go to the hardware store and gets some longer bolts.
     
    DanStew, Mar 26, 2005
    #8
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