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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Drilling holes in firewall

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Drilling holes in firewall -- page: 1 2     shogun1940 12-21-2010 @ 6:04 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 464 Joined: Feb 2010 when you are using a hole saw with a 1/4" pilot , put solid piece of steel in for the drill , it will not walk around that way, I would make a braket my self and bolt it to the engine TomO 12-20-2010 @ 5:09 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7250 Joined: Oct 2009 Cutting holes in the firewall will let in engine heat and fumes. Make a small box out of aluminium and mount it to the firewall. It will look neat and save your firewall. Don't try to use a Harbor Freight hole saw to drill holes in the heavy gauge metal of your fire wall. Even a good Milwaukee saw will give you a little tear out at that size. Tom supereal 12-20-2010 @ 10:02 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 I'm not sure of the need for gauges under the hood, unless you are running a fuel injection system. We sometimes install those on the fuel rails to provide a check on the pressure. sturgis 39 12-20-2010 @ 3:01 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 74 Joined: Nov 2009 I think this is the dumbest thing. Just because other people do it does not make it a smart idea. I have gauges under my hood but the are attached to fittings on the engine. No need in running extra lines. Keep the engine compartment uncluttered. Somebody will be mad at you when he restores the car after you are gone. IF IT CAN NOT BE FIXED WITH BLASTING WIRE, DUCT TAPE OR JB WELD - IT CAN NOT BE FIXED 37RAGTOPMAN 12-19-2010 @ 4:02 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1958 Joined: Oct 2009 If you mount the gauges in the firewall, you still have to run the tubing from the engine compartment back into the inside of car, whats the point ? seems like a lot of work for nothing to me. more connections more problems. MAKE A REMOTE PANEL is the way to go,,,,, if I was going to run my engine at a meet, I would be sitting in the car,watching them. just my 3 cents worth.,37RAGTOPMAN and KEEP on FORDIN,,,, supereal 12-19-2010 @ 9:44 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Making a clean hole in sheet metal with a large hole saw is usually more luck than skill. We use a hole punch of the type intended for construction of electronic chassis. Buying one is likely too expensive for a one time use, so a "nibbler" tool is the next best choice. Most body shop suppliers, such as Eastwood, sell them. You can then drill a large, if irregular, hole and nibble out to the edge of the circle. The bezel of most gauges will cover slight imperfections. Stroker 12-19-2010 @ 9:26 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1460 Joined: Oct 2009 Well, Bill if you insist on doing it; I'd pitch your "hobby" hole saw, and buy a proper commercial metal saw, preferably with a fine-tooth Lenox bi-metal blade. Secondly, I'd use a slow turning, variable speed 3/8 minimum electric drill motor instead of an air drill. I'd tape off the area with masking tape, and then center-punch and drill a 3/16 inch "pilot hole" to ensure that the 1/4 inch hole saw pilot doesn't walk away from your chosen location. Drill slowly, so as not to overheat the saw or the paint on the firewall. I prefer to use pipe cutting fluid applied with a pistol oiler on the saw while cutting. Hole saws do not like to be turned fast, as it is hard for the teeth to dissipate heat. Just take it real slow, and you shouldn't even blister the paint around the hole. trjford8 12-19-2010 @ 9:20 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4214 Joined: Oct 2009 Check with Moon Equipment Company in California(I think Santa Fe Springs) they have gauges that mount in the engine compartment that are attached to brackets on the motor. ole_Bill 12-19-2010 @ 7:58 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 165 Joined: Dec 2009 The part I "donno" about is that I have never tried to use a hole saw to cut thru metal. The hole saw I have, purchased from Northern Tool, says it is for wood and light metal. I definitely prefer the "set-in" look of firewall mounted guages vs panel mounted, but then don't want to screw up a perfect, newly painted firewall. The car is not, and never will be, original. It is a street performance driver that retains most of its original appearance. A wolf in sheep's clothing so to speak. I want guages under the hood because I see the need to monitor water temp and oil pressure while the car is parked, motor running, hood up. Locally, we have a lot of informal outdoor shows where that is a common practice. If you have ever been to one of the shows in Pidgeon Forge you know what I'm talking about. deuce_roadster 12-18-2010 @ 8:49 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 284 Joined: Oct 2009 Find a piece of tin that is large enough for your gauges, use your hole saw on that, then find some existing screws/bolts on your firewall to mount your new bracket and mount the guages in it. That way you can change your mind without making a lot of work for you or somebody else. I have welded up more holes in firewalls then I can count. Usually because people would go find a junkyard heater and drill a new set of holes to mount it. My 2 cents worth. This actually would be easier then cutting blind holes not knowing what you were about to ruin on the other side (like wiring).

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