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[DRG]

I know this is more than likely a stupid question but I have noticed that many of you seem to drill holes in some very small places. I have a Dremel tool but the small bits will not tighten up in the chuck.

How do you guys drill those darn holes?

I have also noticed that many of you run brake lines, fuel lines, hoses, ground straps and just about everything else that is needed to start and operate a real car. But where do you find the information as to the correct routing of these lines?

In closing the models I have seen on this forum are pure works of art and I am in awe of the craftmanship.

[MikeMc]

Not Stupid at all. You need small drill bits...these range in size from #1 - #80. A couple of pin vises and your set. You can get pin vises many places...the middle one has 4 collets and you move them in the handle as you need the different sizes. A word of caution about the dremel...GO EASY as you're working in plastic. Where to run the wires and hoses??..Google the car your building and go from there!

Edited June 6, 2010 by MikeMc

[JamesW]

If you have a Walmart nearby, you can get a 4 piece collet set for your dremel. That should take care of your problem. The collets allow you to use many different attachments with different sized shafts (mandrels) or drill bits.

Edited June 6, 2010 by grimreaper

[highway]

First, there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers! I hope I don't give you a stupid answer! Seriously, though, the way I drill the very small holes, such as for distributor wiring, is with a tool call a pin vise. It is a simple hand tool that is designed just for the very small drill bits, and the chuck in it has an outer ring you twist to clamp the chuck teeth around the drill bit. I'll try to post a pic in a little while so you can see what I mean. I have a simple style one, and I think it was only about $10 at my local shop, and the drill bit set was around $15.

As for the routing question, my best advice is find a 1:1 prototype and take pictures to research these things. I was lucky enough that my local Quaker Steak and Lube was hosting a car show a week or two back, and while I was there I also snapped some pics of the this new Camaro they had on the lift outside promoting a local dealer.

This is a far shot to give me a general idea of component locations:

and these are closer pics showing brake and fuel lines:

I have also found sometimes you might find nice underside pics by searching your specific project online. If your project is really rare or off the wall, you could either use your judgement and run them in a logical location, or most cases, most kit frames have the lines molded in, like these ones I paint detailed on this 09 Challenger project.

My best advice is just take your camera with you when you go out, and research your project. You'd be surprised how nice most of the "car guys" at a show can be, I got some nice close shots at that show for a few projects, just keep in mind they probably have a mint wrapped up in their cars, so be careful not to invade the cars "space" to avoid damages. If the owner is nearby, like a few I talked with, just explain what your doing, you would be surprised how accomidating they will be.

[Harry P.]

  On 6/6/2010 at 2:24 PM, prg5609 said:

I have also noticed that many of you run brake lines, fuel lines, hoses, ground straps and just about everything else that is needed to start and operate a real car. But where do you find the information as to the correct routing of these lines?

In addition to the answers already given, you can get routing diagrams in shop manuals... sometimes you can even find these diagrams posted online somewhere. Try a google image search as a starting point.

For example, I googled "1957 Chevy engine wiring diagram" and got this:

http://www.google.com/images?q=1957+chevy+engine+wiring+diagram&btnG=Search&hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=2

[bill w]

You can get reprinted Assembly Manuals from places like Year One, D & R Classic Automotive etc.

Hosted on Fotki

[Jon Cole]

I was at the local Mopar dealer last September when a truckload of new Chargers came in. Wish I had my camera with me! That would be a great time to check out cars

[crazyjim]

You can get a chuck for your Dremel at Lowe's. Then there's no need for the different sized mandrels. I believe the Dremel part number is 1409. It goes from about 0 to 1/8".