My cheap and simple Engine Cover Hole Fix

[GS4me]

Doing some Spring Maintenance today, Oil Change etc, and decided to do something "more permanent" than the piece of Aluminum HVAC tape that I had covering the hole after my emblem fell off!  (Like they all do).

It's not exactly an "earth shattering mod", but I thought I'd post it in case anyone else need the part number etc.

I used a 1" Metal Hole Plug - Hillman Part Number 881269  (or H# 881269).  I picked it up at Lowes and I believe Home Depot (as well as other places) sell them as well.




It fits the hole almost perfect, and it's a pretty easy fix.  Just insert the metal hole plug , then bend the tabs over on the inside of the cover, then reinstall the cover. That's it. 



The tabs are easily bent over with a screwdriver and are very secure:



Fits great and looks good.  The plug is steel so it can be sanded, primed and painted.  (Which I need to do when I repaint my cover). I left it unpainted so it shows up better in the pics.

[lucas]

Cool!

[lefty1615]

This is awesome, I scraped my cover a while ago and couldn't figure out how to deal with, will be following your lead here!

[Joolstacho]

That won't fall OUT, but I'd also want to be damn sure it couldn't fall IN.
A very easy solution to that hole is just to insert a rubber blanking grommet that fits nicely.

[GS4me]

That won't fall OUT, but I'd also want to be damn sure it couldn't fall IN.
A very easy solution to that hole is just to insert a rubber blanking grommet that fits nicely.

No way it could fall in.  You'd be hard pressed to hammer it in!.  It has plenty of "lip" on it so it would never fall in.  Even if the tabs "somehow loosened" , it would simply fall out.  But that's not going to happen.  I originally had a rubber grommet in there but the rubber got hard (I'm guessing due to the heat) , and if pushed, that WOULD actually "fall in" / or "crumble and partially fall in".  This thing is there for the long haul.  The only thing better would be if it came in Stainless