Drilling the frame...

[steved]

OK, got a question...



Need to mount a filter head and cooler somewhere... looking to mount it on the passenger's side like the FASS mounts to the driver's side... was contemplating drilling/tapping the frame. Should be nothing more than four #12 screws and three 1/4" bolts.



Now, when I mean drill and tap, I mean drill and tap... drill the holes through only one side of the frame, tap the hole, and mount the head/cooler. I might try to locate the top hole of the filter head where I can access the bolt and put a nut on it from the other side, but I would not be sandwiching the frame... it would only be on the one thickness of the frame... no chance of squeezing and possibly collapsing the frame.



Any ideas or thoughts... I don't see where it would hurt any with only a couple bolts and screws... not like I'm nounting a hitch that needs cranked down...



Comments??



steved

 

[evldsl]

I drilled my frame to mount my front shock res. for my DRC (KORE) system on my 2004. 5 and no problem yet.

 

[cojhl2]

Drill in the middle of the web. I had tapped threads in a frame one time they are a mess cause of rust etc. Better use bolts if at all possible.

 

[steved]

Drill in the middle of the web. I had tapped threads in a frame one time they are a mess cause of rust etc. Better use bolts if at all possible.

Middle of the web... I assume you mean the long side of the tube away from the corner radiuses???? The 3rd gens do have a "tube" frame, not a "c" channel...



Rust isn't much of a worry... but I was wondering if the frame had enough thickness to actually get more than a thread cut into it? I will try to use bolts if I can get access from the inside of the frame without needing to drill new holes to get that access.



steved

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I'm guessing that is what he means when he says middle of the web.



Is there any place that you would be able to measure the thickness of the frame? I know we use 1/8" stuff here at work all the time and tap into it(1/4-20 and 5/16-18 threads) and don't have any problems. If it was less than 1/8" I would be kind of leery of tapping into it. What size are you going to be tapping?



Jeff

 

[steved]

I'm guessing that is what he means when he says middle of the web.



Is there any place that you would be able to measure the thickness of the frame? I know we use 1/8" stuff here at work all the time and tap into it(1/4-20 and 5/16-18 threads) and don't have any problems. If it was less than 1/8" I would be kind of leery of tapping into it. What size are you going to be tapping?



Jeff

Would be tapping for probably 1/4" bolts and #12 screws... I could go with fine thread bolts to give more thread...



I would assume the frame is at least 1/8" thick...





steved

 

[Demons_Ram]

You could try drilling and installing nutserts (riv-nuts) if it won't hold a thread.

 

[steved]

You could try drilling and installing nutserts (riv-nuts) if it won't hold a thread.

Oooooooh... I could even use the rubber/poly inserts and give some "cushioning"... good idea!!



steved

 

[cojhl2]

Yes the long vertical side. There it contributes less strength to the frame than closer to the edges.



Sounds like you are on the way. . some good ideas on those insert whatchits!!

 

[MickeyMiller]

I drilled and taped the frame to install the factory fuel tank skid plate. Don't drill any holes close to an existing hole and you won't have any trouble. I was surprised how thick the sides of the frame were! Easy to get plenty of thread.

 

[steved]

I was under there last night... I eventually want to run the Amsoil BE110 (I don't know the new designation) filter which is about 10 inches long... so mounting to the frame is out... but I did look at how the FASS is mounted to the bed support and sure enough, there is enough room to mount a "bracket" (probably a 1/4" thick x 3" wide x 8" long piece of strap should do it... maybe a piece of angle) to the bed support, then attach the filter head to that... shoul give ample room to run the bigger filters.



I will still be mounting the cooler to the frame... I'm going to get one of those new extruded "tube" looking coolers that is basically a piece of pipe with fins. I can run in one end and out the other...



steved