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Bumper Bar
rabidbeetle - November 30th, 2010 at 08:44 PM

Hi all,

Have to drill holes in my front bar to fit the number plate will a standard drill bit do the job and will tnis cause the chrome plating surrounding the new hole to flake off or be damaged? What the best way to do this?.Thank you

68AutoBug - November 30th, 2010 at 09:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rabidbeetle
Hi all,

Have to drill holes in my front bar to fit the number plate will a standard drill bit do the job and will this cause the chrome plating surrounding the new hole to flake off or be damaged?

What the best way to do this?.

Thank you


it depends on the chrome...

the original thick VW bumpers are fairly hard to drill...

use a small drill bit first 3 or 4mm then use a 6mm and once the hole is drilled move the drill around so the hole will be slightly larger so a 6mm screw or bolt will fit...

I've never drilled a brasillian or mexican bumper so I don't know what they are like...

I know they are much thinner than the German made bumpers.. and much weaker...

stainless steel screws and washers should stop the chrome from lifting if it looks like it might...

Lee

jeremyluke - November 30th, 2010 at 11:16 PM

If there are holes in the bumper and they just dont line up with the number plate, drill holes in the number plate, thats what i did with mine... Im sure its legal haha

68AutoBug - November 30th, 2010 at 11:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rabidbeetle
Hi all,

Have to drill holes in my front bar to fit the number plate will a standard drill bit do the job and will tnis cause the chrome plating surrounding the new hole to flake off or be damaged? What the best way to do this?.
Thank you


Hi Pete,

i WAS ALSO JUST THINKING...

Easy to redrill the holes in the number plate

I see many holes in number plates all the time...

New Japanese cars come out with screws in place for Japanese bumpers.. and these do NOT line up with the holes in Australian number plates...
so they are all redrilled....

LEE

PS: there is a local falcon with the 5 digit number plates and on the boot... they have used one of the Falcon holes...
and redrilled another hole..
so, the number plate is NOT in the middle.... lol
YIKES...... Lee

vw54 - December 1st, 2010 at 05:53 AM

make a bracket of the inside maount bolts so you sont have to drill the bar

HappyDaze - December 1st, 2010 at 06:29 AM

A small tip....when drilling stainless steel, DO NOT use a centre-punch to mark the hole. It work-hardens the stainless, and can ruin a good drill bit.

I agree with Dave, don't drill holes in the bar if you can use existing mount-points.

Joel - December 1st, 2010 at 09:29 AM

As long as the bit is sharp and not a 10c one from crazy clarks it will drill through them fine,

I've put heaps of holes through my german bumpers over the years mounting spoilers, foglights, phone aerials etc, they're not made of titanium.

It does pay to hit them with some protective paint though as the metal will rust quick

68AutoBug - December 1st, 2010 at 11:11 AM

Hi

I didn't know that..

but don't come across stainless steel much...

and the cheap drill bits are rubbish....
they even bend when drilling soft wood... lol
they can go 90 degrees without breaking... ??

LEE

Joel - December 1st, 2010 at 11:25 AM

There was a bug at run to the sun with the front numberplate cable tied to the bumper......classy.

European cars are the worst for fitting aussie plates to, cos they're designed for the large europlates so the holes rarely line up.

What model car are we talking here anyway?

with late model bumpers I put the holes in the strip where the tape goes, you can always cover it up with tape if you change plates.