Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Good point about the belly pan
being in tension. Also try to leave as much edge distance from any
drilled holes to the edge of the cutout - twice the hole diameter is a
good rule of thumb.
Steve Byers wrote:
>
> Chuck, if the opening is "small" it really doesn't matter whether you put
> the hole in the top of the tunnel or in the belly pan -- you're not going
> to weaken the structure significantly. However, theoretically speaking,
> you would be better off to cut an opening in the belly pan because that
> part of the structure is loaded in tension, while the tunnel is loaded in
> compression. Putting a cover plate on the opening in the bottom would
> restore some of the strength removed by the hole, but a cover plate on the
> tunnel would not matter strengthwise. Wherever you cut the hole, make sure
> the hole is circular or has rounded corners. If the corners are sharp,
> cracks may develop out of the corners (not likely, but possible).
>
> If you put a hole in the tunnel, I assume you would also have to pull up
> the carpet for access, no?
>
> Steve Byers
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