Drilling a Hole for Tow Hook or License Plate
 

I made a small DIY for creating a hole for either a tow hook or license plate holder, such as my Grimmspeed license relocation kit.

I take no responsibility for any damages that occurred. Do it at your own risk.

Tools needed:
1. Plastic trim remover or a flat screwdriver. I wrapped a flat head screwdriver with electrical tape.
2. Drill and 7/8 Spur-point drill bit. 1 inch or bigger drill bit will allow for more error if you messed up on measurements or you have a thicker tow hook or license plate holder.
3. Ruler
4. Paper/Cardboard
5. Wrench to remove and install tow hook or license plate holder.
6. Grommet (optional)
7. Spare tow hook cover (optional)

Steps to make the hole correctly.

1. Remove the tow hook cover with either your plastic trim remover or flat head screwdriver.

2. (Optional) Buy a spare tow hook cover just incase you mess up or want to keep the original for later. I bought mine from the local dealership for $20 painted.

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/kikim85/3C0***A0-E650-42A1-9169-0C54FE4673CF-4830-000005DAF859ABF6_zps5a0b405a.jpg[/IMG]

3. Insert the tow hook or license plate bolt you intend to use. Don't attach the rest of the license plate kit since you want room to make measurement.

4. Measure the top, sides, and bottom from where the tow hook or license plate bolt to the end of the tow hook area. It's not in the middle of the cover so it's crucial you get this done correctly.

5. Get your paper or cardboard and outline the edges with a pen/pencil. Now use your measurements and test it on the paper/cardboard. It took me 2 tries and I had to keep cutting extra pieces off to make it fit on my test paper.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...ps25fe6c93.jpg

6. Lay the paper directly on the tow hook cover and use your spur-point drill in the middle of the circle. Go slowly since the plastic can melt.

7. Install the tow hook cover

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...psb4437844.jpg

8. You can add a grommet if you want or if you end up using a smaller bolt it can accommodate the extra space around the open area.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...ps0072b136.jpg

9. Install the tow hook or license plate and you're done!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...pse26a3113.jpg

Added to the DIY Directory:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7365

wanted to say thanks. i also put a 1/8 vacuum hose, cut along the length and placed around the drilled hole.

it gives it a cleaner look on the outside.

That looks good. The vacuum hose looks easier to use. The gromment IMO has a better fit/finish but it seems you have to be exactly right with the sizing

I never thought about a grommet. Good idea!

-Zach

i never knew you needed a hole. i checked the grimmspeed site and it says "no drilling required"

You don't need to drill at all, but if you don't want the big hole from the cover you remove to install the tow hook license plate holder, then this is a handy DIY to use.

Been looking for this diy thanks!

Thanks a bunch Hanakuso! Could you tell me what kind of grommet you used in this pic?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...E5D3F53E30.jpg

Just typical rubber grommets. You can get them at lowes/home depot. If you want skinnier ones, I find the selection at computer stores(online) to be better

Thanks for the DIY! I went out to local Toyota and found part number SU003-01522 as the number for the Hot Lava color. Good looks with the grommet/tubing. I will use the idea for the tubing on a corner I need to protect from rubbing for another project on my 240z, thanks sinigang guy!

Eric G

I will contribute to this rather than making a new thread. For the BRZ do the same method but since the surface is not painted, it is a little easier to use a different tool. I actually went with a dremel stone circular bit and pushed at high RPM. It melted the center but kept the outside cool and with a clean cut.

Ended up with this:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...00480DBBDC.jpg

Took some wet sand paper to the edges afterwards and looked super clean. Trick is to not get it hot enough so it creates plastic goo. At that point you may end up making a hole bigger than intended. Go low then work up to fast. You start seeing some goo, then back off on the speed and let it cool for a second.

The same bit from above will work too. Just remember drill from the backside of the piece for a clean finish.

I have no "sealed" the hole I made in the tow hook cover door but will probably use some kind of rubber hose and cut down the center.

I just did this with a rotary tool and a 3/4 inch grommet from home depot (~$1). I used a couple cardboard templates to get the hole positioning just right. Afterwards, I drilled the hole and expanded it till it could fit the grommet.

I was surprised at how much cleaner it looks. The hole didnt bother me at all, but I figured I could do this project pretty quickly and easily. After finishing, I don't know how I lived with that gaping hole for so long...

Your install looks very clean! I might end up doing exactly the same as you.

What I did was order an extra tow hook cover plate just to be on the safe side and have a replacement that I put back in place if I didn't like the way it work out. It only cost a bit over $4
Attachment 55699
After removing the cover plate and inserting the Grimmspeed tow hook bar I used green painters tape to cover the opening working around the bar.
I then used a small exacto blade to cut the tape from around the opening I had covered.
Attachment 55700
That left me with a template that I could use to mark the exact place to put the hole in the cover, which was a bit of and oval rather than a round opening.
Attachment 55701
Attachment 55702
Attachment 55703

I was planning on doing this but being lazy, I may actually pick up the part now. Thanks for motivating me.

I think I might do this after my license plate is delivered (took delivery of my BRZ 3 weeks ago ha).


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Two cents
 

Wanted to add a few tips.

- I bought an extra bumper cover from the local (SoCal) dealership for $5.50, and it took about a week to get in.

- When installing the shaft into the car frame, don't forget grease! Also a torque wrench is a must, as it turns many more times than I would have expected.

- While some photos seem to show that the license plate is mounted in the lateral plane, it turns out it only fits on an angle. I have mine at about 10 degrees, which is a bit more than necessary but it gives me piece of mind that the bumper paint is safe.

GL HF:thumbup:

Quick question what did you torque it to? Ft lbs

45 ft-lbs

Complete installation instructions from their site: http://www.grimmspeed.com/content/in...seplatekit.pdf

Anyone wanna sell me a complete version of this for a whiteout frs? Say maybe 25-30 bucks?

Any chance we can bring this back and get one going for new models? I went ahead and tried this and only succeeded in installing the tow hook. The cover got butchered. I found an instructional video online with where to drill on the inside of the cover but the shaft would actually go through the cover and into the fender which I'd have to rub down a bit to get a flush fit. If I can find some covers to dabble with and figure out how to upload pictures without jumping through hoops I'd be willing to contribute

tl;dr
new tow hook with a lovely view of foam block and no cover willing to show what NOT to do on a '17 86

What I did, was remove the cover, took a sheet of paper, and cut a hole in it, the diameter of the shaft. Inserted shaft thru paper, and then into the car. Hold the paper taught to the bumper, and rubbed the edges with a pencil, to leave an outline.

Now you have a pattern, to locate the hole.

For the bigger geeks, I then scanned the outline, brought it into my CAD software, and copied the cover shape, and put a center mark on the hole. Printed it, placed it over the cover, and drilled.

Note, I managed to use the words "shaft", "inserted" and "hole" without giggling...

I laughed at the words "locate the hole" but good looks with the paper. I was on the fence about using pieces of painters tape adhered around the shaft but didn't think they'd hold the same placement when I'd have peeled them off but I'll give the paper-method you suggested the next non-rainy weekend

2017 86 "HOLE"
 

here's what i did to mine...
first pic is two parts removed
second pic is front clip without two parts
third pic is left side
fourth pic is right side
fifth is front, with add paper plate haha
After placing hex-sided threaded metal plate holder, push large black part up to it and slowly cut away at it with X-acto knife. i probably tried it 10 times just cutting off tiny bits at a time not to remove too much, it'll snap in place when close enough and with the hex metal tube in place, the color part is not needed. Body color part i just left off, hard to tell it's not there unless your nose is near the hole.

I did the tape method for the two in the rear and have a nice flush look.
My only issue was that the plate steps down a bit and is close to the center for where I had to drill so I had to be mindful of the bit walking.
The front one when I get around to ordering a new plate will be more challenging with trying to drill straight while it sits at an angle. I'm using a (lack of a better word) metal-step-drill bit??? So I have the exact diameter of the shank on the bit to give it that flush look but I'll have to be careful not to get a bevel.

Side note: Anyone have issues with their hook changing color or is it just the brand?

Opposite side note: Will post pics soon

Thanks to HANAKUSO for the great post.
I followed the steps to install the grimmspeed license holder that I got from Amazon (Manufacturer part #094029) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered covers from Subaru ($2.78 each).

https://i.imgur.com/NBnaEsf.jpg

Prepared the template with the painter's tape.

https://i.imgur.com/39jTirX.jpg

Slightly pressed on the tape to get the lines and drove my template.

https://i.imgur.com/28ordd7.jpg

Put the cover on the template, fixed it with tape, turned back and used a drill with a 7/8 spade bit. As suggested used a 3/4 grommet from Homedepot ($1.33). For a perfect fit, I had to trim a little on the right side of the hole. Thanks to the grommet :)

https://i.imgur.com/LqLK6aQ.jpg

Final look:

https://i.imgur.com/SgAcQ0P.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/I670JFm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Riokxh7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xN9uozH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ZGGWk8z.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kdZ6QhG.jpg

Looks good. I honestly just took the cover off and rolled with it, but I can see how the difference in color could throw some folks off visually. Looks like an inexpensive mod, so I might do this. (I don't even know where my original cover is or I'd just drill it).

For registration purposes I installed it without the cover at the dealer and got annoyed. In addition didn’t like the rain dust etc will be there. It’s really in expensive and took around an hour.


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