dumb oil pan drilling question.
 

What are you guy's using to drill your oil pans? A hugemongous drill bit or a holesaw? I used a holesaw on my last car and had no problems. I just cant imagine finding a regular drill bit big enough and then finding a drill small enough to accept that bit and still fit in that tight spot there.

A 37/64" drill bit. The diameter is smaller where it goes in the drill. It fit fine in my cordless dewalt.
A holesaw might be a good alternative but make sure you have the correct size.

http://www.bellengineering.net/image...e/PB162798.JPG

BEGi Oil Pan Drill Bit and Tap Set BEGi

This should be one of those items where people can just borrow from the members here. Hell, if someone paid shipping both ways, they could use my set. I used it once and now I have a one size drill and tap that I will probably never use again.

what about for a 1/2npt

11/16" drill bit

I allways use a Unibit, or step drill what ever you wanna call it. looks kinda like a christmas tree. very short, and makes perfectly round holes.

i did 9/16". But i drilled smaller sizes first before I stepped up to that one.

I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to fit a long ass drill bit and drill there.

It's been done, many times. Read page 12: http://www.bellengineering.net/templ...eries1,2,3.pdf

The gist of it is the hole doesn't have to be drilled perfectly straight. The tap should be straight though. For that stick the tap in a 12 point socket of the correct size (I forget what I used but it's common) and use some long extensions and it's easy to get it straight.

This is what I used, I had to buy a 1/2 drill. It cut through like butter.

You don't have to drill in perfectly straight. but when you use your tapp, get it straight.
I placed the tapp in the hole, and turned it by hand with a open wrench.

I wanted it right. And I have no leaks. It was so simple. but I was scared to death.

And were they recommended 1qt of mineral spirts oil......... I used a gallon of kroger brand veg, oil. It is thin like water. Super cheap, I wanted every particle out.:)

If you have a drill bit and fitment issue...I frequently use a metal lathe at work. I can turn down a drill bit to fit it in your keyway of your drill. That's what I did to drill my oil pan. I can shorten drill bits, whatever you need done. I actually lathed the bit used for my car down to be accepted in a 3/8" chuck, and I used my buddies right angle drill. As far as drilling your oil pan...do the air regulator on the breather thing, and I'd recommend tapping it out to accept a ?pipe thread to -10AN fitting.

Ok I did it...and it was a success....whew....

First I bought a 90 degree angle air drill and a step bit.
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7021/img0138mc5.jpg

Even still there's barely enough room to get the fucker in there. I had to start at an angle, but once the bit was through I was able to straighten it out.

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/42/img0139wn9.jpg

Yay... a hole...
Oh and I'm incredibly lucky. I picked the right spot to drill that hole because I narrowly avoided drilling through the pickup tube. I drilled right, and I mean right above it. You cant see it in the pic but it's there and fortunately doesn't even have so much as a scratch on it. 1mm down an I would be fucked right now.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/7519/dsc01390uj0.jpg

It's straight... it just doesn't look like it in the pic.
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4067/img0140jc9.jpg

And I didnt take a pic but the fitting threaded in nice and tight. So I'd say that this is a success? Didn't seem to get too many shavings in there either.

long drill bit, no rinsing....ganster shit, few years ago now no problems. though i use black oem type silicone on the threads and then thread it in, no jb weld, to me it seems less prone to vibrations and heat cycles.