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MG TD TF 1500 - How to Drill Chrome Headlight Ring on TD

I'm installing stone guards on my TD headlamps and was wondering whether there's a correct way to drill the mounting stud holes in the chrome ring. I would normally drill from the reverse side (no chrome) but that presents the problem of transferring the locating marks and also squaring off the drill bit inside of a small ring. Also, if drilling thru the chrome plate side do you need a carbide tip drill? Any suggestions?
Thanks
Mike
Mike I

I would start by going in from the Chrome side. Use a Cobalt 135 Degree drill. These are only about 50% more expensive than a good HSS drill. Avoid high carbon drills. They break easily.
Center punch first. This will give more contact to the drill. Start with a small drill. 3/32 should be good.
Once you have a hole you can drill out from the inside.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

My stone guards came with spring clips that went under the trim ring No holes needed
W A Chasser

The spring clips do not fit under the trim ring of the TD headlamp. Thanks for your comments. I'm going to check the legality of the stone guards in NY, and if ok, I will just attempt to drill through the ring. I'll soon find out if hard chrome plate will make drilling difficult.
Thanks again,
Mike
Mike I

If you are concerned about stone damage, you would place a screen over your thousand dollar chromed radiator cover.
I would think hard before I drilled my chromed light rings.

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

Guards were fitted on my 1933 MMM MG when the car left the works.

Drilling through masking tape with a biro mark for target was all that was required.
Ian Bowers

"If you are concerned about stone damage, you would place a screen over your thousand dollar chromed radiator cover.
I would think hard before I drilled my chromed light rings. "

I have been known to drive around in high impact areas with a piece of nylon window screen material wrapped around my radiator for just that reason.

Unless you have expensive or hard to replace headlamps or drive off road a lot, the screen gaurds are really purely aesthetic IMHO.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 21/06/2017 and 23/06/2017

MG TD TF 1500 index

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