So I have my new shift knob, and I need to drill it out and tap it. I have the proper drill bit, along with the proper tap. I don't want to mess this up. So what's the best way to do this without a drill press? I have a hand drill if I need it. And will wd-40 or pb blaster make a good enough lube?

Good luck.. Do you have one of those guides that will help you drill straight up and down? Anyway, drill it, use WD-40 for lube, only go a bit at a time and pull out often. Tap it by hand.

to ensure perfect concentricy, you should drill out the hole on a 3 jaw lathe using coolant with the drill bit.



Then you insert the tap into the chuck of drill attachment and put the gearbox in neutral. Apply a little bit of pressure onto tap while spining the 3 jaw chuck in neutral to get the first couple of threads started. Then release the tap from the chuck, install tap handle. Get tapping fluid and slowly rotate it 1/4 of turn while backing off slightly to let the chips break. You should also remove the tap every so often to empty the chips out.



Are you using a bottoming tap? You need to be because you are taping into a blind hole.

let me clarify, I don't have a drill press OR a lathe. I think the tap would qualify as a bottoming tap..? It's flat on both ends.

so you dont want any dating advice?

its only a shift knob, its pretty hard to mess up, put it in a vice with some rubber jaws, dont go nuts on the vice, just snug it up, the knob should already be drilled so all you are doing is making a larger hole, then tap by hand, check it on the car to see when the engraving lines up, if you got no engraving then its even easier.

ooooooh, that kind of tap. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683664.gif

you were fooled too huh?

tapping aluminumi s harder.

ive never tried to pick aluminum up in a bar!