Davidwyard Posted June 2, 2016 Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 Hi all, Just got my TR6 back from the paint shop, with a nice new coat of paint, and stainless steel bumpers, I would like to put the front number plate just below the bumper, any way of doing this without drilling the bottom of the bumper, any suggestions, many thanks David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobinTR6 Posted June 3, 2016 Report Share Posted June 3, 2016 No really. You could fabricate something that is bolted between the bumper and the chassis leg and hang it from there tho. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jean Posted June 3, 2016 Report Share Posted June 3, 2016 Anyhow try to keep the opening in the front valance towards the radiator clear.. Half of the radiator is sitting behind. Have a look at the car of Guy it's the way it should be.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted June 3, 2016 Report Share Posted June 3, 2016 Drilling the stainless might be tough but it won't alter the integrity of the bumper, it won't show being on the underside and the plate will be in the right place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cj79 Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) Drilling the SS Bumper is incredibly tough, I centre punched a couple of notches and went through 5 bits before I got the job done. It's where it should be mounted though with the L brackets so unless there's a specific reason why you don't want to do this I suggest you go out and buy a job lot of HS steel bits and get cracking. It took about 30 mins of sweating but it looks good where it is and it's anchored firmly, if you tried clamping it in any way I would worry about airflow dislodging it down there... I wish I'd done it when the bumpers were off the car as I could have inverted them and done them on the pillar drill and lubricated the drilling, unfortunately I left it as pretty much the last job so was under the car with the drill... Edited June 11, 2016 by cj79 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnG Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 (edited) DavidMask the area to be drilled, to reduce the chance of drill slipCentre punch, then use a centre drill, a steady pressure and 'feel' for the best load on the drillThe centre drill will make the initial cut into the stainless better than a standard drill bit.Then open out the hole to the dia neededTake it in steps if the final dia is largeI have drilled stainless a few times and it is tough, but a bit of patience and a couple of back up drill bits, you should be OK.I even got to the finished dia with the centre drill on one occasion. Edited June 12, 2016 by wjgco Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sapphire72 Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 You could use c-clamps or glue strong magnets to the plate or use wires to wrap around the bumper backside (connecting top to bottom). Just thinking outside the box...; holes might rust. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 ... I'd hope not with a SS bumper. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Standard drills for metals have a top angle of 118 degr. For SS materials, drills with 135 degr top angle are better suitable. Buy a better material quality too, like with 5% Cobalt added, and reduce the speed to about 1/2 of that for normal steel, apply (drilling) oil and press hard. Regards, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) xz sorry, posted twice Waldi Edited June 12, 2016 by Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sapphire72 Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 ... I'd hope not with a SS bumper. https://www.theruststore.com/Can-stainless-steel-rust-W71.aspx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 OK, I know that some grades of SS can rust but why would drilling holes make it any worse? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sapphire72 Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Exposing rough surface area with fresh drilled holes promotes oxidization. The original poster asked for alternatives to drilling, just tried to suggest some. Take a deep breath. It's okay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill944T Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 You could use c-clamps or glue strong magnets to the plate Will a magnet work on SS? Regards Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Deep breath. Polish the holes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnG Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Deep breath. Polish the holes. Hand reamer? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 You could use c-clamps or glue strong magnets to the plate Will a magnet work on SS? Regards Bill A magnet won't work on good SS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prefect Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Is there a "correct" position for the front number plate? I thought the TR6 was designed for the USA with no front plate leaving us on this side of the pond with a choice! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sapphire72 Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) You could use c-clamps or glue strong magnets to the plate Will a magnet work on SS? Regards Bill http://www.wisegeek.com/is-stainless-steel-magnetic.htm Is stainless steel magnetic? There are two types of stainless steel mentioned in this article. 400 series contains no nickel, so is magnetic. 300 series contains nickel, so is non-magnetic. You would need to inquire whether your SS bumper was made with nickel. Or, simply test with a magnet. Edited June 12, 2016 by Sapphire72 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Ferritic SS, like 410 is magnetic Austenitic SS, like 304 or 316 is (almost) non-magnetic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Davidwyard Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 Thanks for all your comments. I decided to drill underside of bumper, I did this with a cobolt drill, (not to painful) then hung the number plate on stainless brackets with stainless nuts and bolts, it now looks the dogs b******!. David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Bourne Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Picture please best Bill Thanks for all your comments.I decided to drill underside of bumper, I did this with a cobolt drill, (not to painful) then hung the number plate on stainless brackets with stainless nuts and bolts, it now looks the dogs b******!.David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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