This DIY device was created for drilling a Porsche M96 block for an oil feed fitting. Looks simple enough to create for drilling the Miata oil pan too.



In action:

 

That looks brilliant, and woudl probably be even easier to make if you used a t-fitting instead of soldering the pipes together.

 

Ehh, I'd think their way allows for a nice clear, smooth pathway for the drill bit as well as the shavings, with no offsets or snag points likely to be encountered with any t-fitting.

 

Y'all need friends with TIG welders





But this IS cool, the vacuum thing is a pretty neat idea. After drilling my pan this last weekend there is no way in HELL I'd be comfortable doing it the BEGI or FM way. The "optional" air compressor should be mandatory as far as I'm concerned.

 

Explain how a TIG welder avoids the need to a drill a hole. Srsly- My point of the tool was for drilling the pan while installed on the block.

 

Well, welding obviously requires removal of the pan

...and I did say this was a neat idea. Someone motivated enough to make one could probably pair it with a drill and tap and then add it to the loaner drill and tap thread.

 

I've said it before, the amount of chips that went in my pan, and the pain in my *** from cleaning them all out, I seriously doubt a little grease on a bit could keep all that out. I'm glad others have had success with the drilling method, but I'm VERY glad I did mine with the pan off the car.

 

This doesnt solve tapping it, and there is hardly enough room for a very small drill alone, let alone all that stuff also.

Dann

 

Duh, you just push 300 amps into the pan and voila - a hole for your oil return.

 

I'll give you one guess as to whether tapping or drilling produces more shavings.

 

Tapping produces more that make it into the pan due to the fact that during 90% of the drilling procedure the pan doesnt have a hole in it yet.

Ive done dozens and dozens.

Dann

 

Aside from the fact I find it hard to believe that the tap puts more trash in than a standard bit (using the grease method)- I don't see why you can't use the vacuum with the tap.

I just did this job using a stepper bit with grease and was surprised it did such a good job catching the trash. I just pulled it out with every step, cleaned it, regreased and proceeded. In my experience the stepper does a way job of catching trash and producing a cleaner hole than a standard bit. The reality is that a large percentage are not going to pull their engine, and then pan to put an oil drain in. And of that majority very few every suffer consequences from the job. That said- I'm uncomfortable with job and doubt I could do it my own for exactly Curly's experience.

BTW- a right angle drill is a wonderful tool when working in tight spaces. If you find yourself empty handed, some genius came up with this

 

I could see how the tap would create more shavings that get IN, seeing as how the hole is already there for the entire tapping process, but that's probably why BEGi recommends greasing the tap and re-greasing it after like every single turn.