Ok i have an idea on how to do it. My biggest concern is starting the hole. I kind of want to use the drill to start the hole and then use the punch. what do you guys think? any sugestions on how to start the hole and what to use?

 

start w. a small punch and keep working your way up... its quite simple

 

my concern is that the pan metal is too hard and i wont be able to start the hole. Do you have to hit the center punch hard?

 

use a small one, like small that comes to a nice point, and yea, hit it like you have a pair

worse comes to worse, if you actually **** it up, you can get it welded up, but you wont **** it up

 

i started by drilling a small hole, maybe a 1/8" or so. then punched the rest of the way

 

You don't want to drill it at all because you need that extra metal so it can be threaded properly, By drilling you are removing metal and have less surface for the tap to grab on to.

 

OK,

1. Use a center punch to make a small indentation to stop the drill drifting off center
2. Start off with a small drill approx 1/8
3. Go up in drill size slowly until you reach the correct size specified to run the tap through.

What size is the thread you want to cut and I can give you the correct drill size ?

And the metal won't be hardened so it will drill just fine.

 

It's just an oil pan. How bad can you screw it up? Just use the right size bit for your tap. I wouldn't eve bother with a punch, just drill it.

 

Hahaha!
I had to laugh because after installing a Maximum Motorsports strut tower brace on my 2003 GT vert and having to drill 16 holes in some pretty hard metal, I have to agree with you!!

I would use a punch though to keep the drill from walking.

How bad can it be?????

BTW put heavy grease on the bit/tap so particles don't end up everywhere and then flush the pan as best you can, drain the oil etc....

 

Once again, we manage to have a bunch of people with no idea about what they are talking about posting opinions and not facts.

You can NOT drill the hole (full size) for the tap. If you drill the hole in the pan the correct size for the tap, your going to be replacing your oil pan. Drilling the hole will result in you getting about a 1/2 thread and nothing more, as the pan is very thin.

I did not use a drill at all, and I would not. Start with a starter punch, and then work your way up to the correct size. I used a starter punch to start the hole, and as it was tapered got it to about 1/2 size, then used a much larger tapered punch to finish the hole.

The easiest way to get the hole the correct size IMO is to use a dial caliper and measure the punch to find the correct spot in the taper where the hole is the right size, and then mark all the way around it with a marker. Tap the punch in (lightly/easily) until it reaches this point, and walla.

Once again, if you use a drill the connection WILL leak and it will NOT last. You will be pouring return oil out of hte connection, if it doesn't fall out alltogether. IMO there is no reason to use a bit at all, if the punch you are using will not put a hole in the pan your using the wrong punch.