I have drilled hardened steel with masonry bits in the past. Just try not to let the drill bit get too hot.

Paul

70 SS ACADIAN wrote:

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if someone has an iron worker you maybe able to punch the hole in

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 Now there's a thought which hadn't crossed my mind. Three local manufacturing plants here likely have tooling to do that. Thanks for the idea! 

a421cat wrote:

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If it is hardened steel you will either break the punch or die in the iron worker. Use a carbide drill.

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 x2  but carbide drill$ can al$o get damaged or break,and you may need a number of them in different $ize$ to do the job

 

My choice is to go to a local shop that  has a EDM  (Electrical Discharge Machine) that is used

a lot in places that do tapping. These have been around for 40 or 50 years.

Lots of shops have them.

These machines are generally used to remove hardened broken taps from work pieces.

An alternative would be a wire EDM that would burn a circular hole in the right diameter using wire.

 

How a EDM works for taking out a broken tap.

 

Other things EDM can do.

 

-- Edited by Greaser on Thursday 10th of June 2021 05:17:21 PM

I've tried other levers in the past and yes they were hardened. I haven't actually tried this one. Maybe I'll give it a shot but I'm quite sure by looking at it that it is. Those short throw levers also came on the full size Canadian Pontiacs like mine. I'm actually surprised that these levers aren't set up for short throw because they are the right ones for my car. This is the first set for a full size 65 to 67 Canadian Pontiac or Impala that I've ever seen that didn't have the two sets of holes.

There is a good possibility that this piece is only case hardened and once you break

through the hardened skin the inside may be soft.

Grind a small edge of the piece to expose the inside,then use a file to see if the inside is soft.

If no metal shavings are on the file then it is hard throughout.

If it is soft inside, you can use a carbide center drill

in getting a smaller hole first in the piece, this will act as a guide hole . 

Then follow through with a masonry drill to open it up to the right size.

-G

 

Greaser wrote:

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There is a good possibility that this piece is only case hardened and once you break

through the hardened skin the inside may be soft.

Grind a small edge of the piece to expose the inside,then use a file to see if the inside is soft.

If no metal shavings are on the file then it is hard throughout.

If it is soft inside, you can use a carbide center drill

in getting a smaller hole first in the piece, this will act as a guide hole . 

Then follow through with a masonry drill to open it up to the right size.

-G

 

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 I have a small carbide bit. Maybe I'll put it in my drill press and try it.

Greaser wrote:

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4SPEED427 wrote:

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Greaser wrote:

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There is a good possibility that this piece is only case hardened and once you break

through the hardened skin the inside may be soft.

Grind a small edge of the piece to expose the inside,then use a file to see if the inside is soft.

If no metal shavings are on the file then it is hard throughout.

If it is soft inside, you can use a carbide center drill

in getting a smaller hole first in the piece, this will act as a guide hole . 

Then follow through with a masonry drill to open it up to the right size.

-G

 

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 I have a small carbide bit. Maybe I'll put it in my drill press and try it.

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 Carl, make sure the piece is fastened down really rigid, without any movement.

If it has movement it could wander and possibly chip the carbide bit.

 

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 Thanks for the tip. I would not have known movement of the part could chip it.

Do you buy that locally Pete?

Carl, Let me know when you have your EDM machine built, I would like to use it ??!! That thing is AWESOME !!