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I've been working on my Spyder over the holidays and am finishing the installation of a few badges and trim pieces with much success... I got the rear coffin-key latch trim pieces for the rear clam and am a bit hesitant to start drilling into the car because of the size and angle of these holes... I got the template from Fibersteel but drilling the large holes seems a bit precarious... any suggestions since the angle of those larger holes could spell disaster?

Thanks in advance!

Matt

Last edited by Matt McNeil
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Tape the area and mark the location of the latch cover. X the center of the tube part and drill it slowly with a step drill. When the hole is almost big enough, switch to a mini drum sander on a dremel tool, or a fine round file. Take your time. When the part “seats” use it as a template for the three screw holes. Start those by spinning the drill backwards and you won’t mar the paint.

If you're making these functional key latches then just use the Fibersteel pattern as a general locator, but then you'll need to adjust so that you are as close as possible to the clamshell stiffener with the forward mounting bolt, without hitting it.  Then you need to project a line upward from the back side of the coffin lock to set your left to right, again, to avoid excess angle on the key.  This is critical to make sure your key will insert into the latch itself, otherwise you can get too much angle and not unlock them.  If you are doing just cosmetic then it isn't critical, just don't hit the stiffener rib or come through in front of it.  

Thanks for the tips. All went well... One thing I noticed... the welds on the back side of the trim pieces are NOT flat so you will have to remove more fiberglass to the left and right of the hole than you might think to make sure that the latch trim fits flush. Just make sure to NOT exceed the area that the chrome flange covers and you should be okay. Thanks again, everyone!

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