Drilling and Tapping Help?
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 921
Likes: 22
From: Houston, TX
Some of your replies just baffle me Mike..
Like the other have said, you need to build up the points where you will be tapping the tank.. You can drill and tap .100 thick stuff but it won't hold for more than a screw.. In order to mount hyd/oil lines you need to have bungs welded onto the tank where you plan to mount the oil lines.. Then they need to be drilled.. You can tap just the bungs or install helicoils.. Because aluminum is so soft and sooner or later you will hit one of the lines, I would probably go with the helicoils so you don't strip the threads in the aluminum.. And as others have said, the best way to weld al is with a tig welder... They're pretty expensive so you won't find them at just any shop unless they do a lot of stainless or aluminum fab work..
Bottom line.. You aren't gonna fab this tank at your house based on your responses to this point..
Like the other have said, you need to build up the points where you will be tapping the tank.. You can drill and tap .100 thick stuff but it won't hold for more than a screw.. In order to mount hyd/oil lines you need to have bungs welded onto the tank where you plan to mount the oil lines.. Then they need to be drilled.. You can tap just the bungs or install helicoils.. Because aluminum is so soft and sooner or later you will hit one of the lines, I would probably go with the helicoils so you don't strip the threads in the aluminum.. And as others have said, the best way to weld al is with a tig welder... They're pretty expensive so you won't find them at just any shop unless they do a lot of stainless or aluminum fab work..
Bottom line.. You aren't gonna fab this tank at your house based on your responses to this point..
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 166
Likes: 1
Someone offered to help... but with shipping to them, paying for the fab, and shipping return... probably easier taking it to a local shop.
I think I found a guy this morning. Yay!
My New Years resolution is to learn to weld.
Easier than loosing this spare tire I always claim on Jan 1.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 921
Likes: 22
From: Houston, TX
LOL... Maybe not.. Anyone can stick or mig weld steel.. It takes time and skilz to tig al or stainless... A high dollar doesn't hurt either... lol.. Good luck
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: San Diego (Poway), CA
Try using a bulkhead mounted MS or AN fitting with an o ring and teflon backup ring. Why do you find these? Got a small airport around? These parts are for aircraft and I'm pretty sure the guys there will explain how to drill and mount. No tap required. Just have to match up the fitting on the oil lines to match the tank.
Hot rodders have been doing this for years.
Hot rodders have been doing this for years.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
oil tank require that the return and breather lines either come in from the top or have standpipes to prevent back feeding. Also you're likely to want NPT threads, these require that you ream the hole with a tapered reamer, as they are tapered threads. I have sucessfully tapped straight holes for pipe thread before, but it's very hard to do nicely. Also, you will want at least about 3/8" of meat for good threads. Why not have the welding done at a welding shop, and then drill and tap yourself?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: Good Old "New England"
Don’t forget the fancy mount because when you vibrate it the mount or the metal will break.
shaking aluminum very fast while trying to hold it still, well not a good thing
(See my post on tinsel strength & atoms)
shaking aluminum very fast while trying to hold it still, well not a good thing
(See my post on tinsel strength & atoms)
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