Front Licence Plate?
08-06-2009, 09:21 AM
#1
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Front Licence Plate?
Hey guys, just got my 8 in. It came from a state that doesn't require a front license plate, though my state does.
What's the best way to put a plate holder on without jacking up the front it - i.e. doing damage to plastic or making it look ugly
What's the best way to put a plate holder on without jacking up the front it - i.e. doing damage to plastic or making it look ugly
08-06-2009, 09:53 AM
#3
If you don't want it smack dab in the middle of the grill you can use this and get some slightly longer screws (i needed them anyway)
It just screws into the bottom of the bumper. No drilling needed just remove two of the screws that are there and replace. Just depends on if you think it's ugly or not.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...brandName=Bell
looks like
http://chadcarey.com/car/p1020835.jpg
different angle
http://chadcarey.com/car/p1020823.jpg
Side view
http://chadcarey.com/car/p1020836.jpg
It just screws into the bottom of the bumper. No drilling needed just remove two of the screws that are there and replace. Just depends on if you think it's ugly or not.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...brandName=Bell
looks like
http://chadcarey.com/car/p1020835.jpg
different angle
http://chadcarey.com/car/p1020823.jpg
Side view
http://chadcarey.com/car/p1020836.jpg
Last edited by Bigbacon; 08-06-2009 at 09:56 AM.
08-06-2009, 09:58 AM
#4
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^ That is the best possible look available, but it isn't as good as it may seem. I have replaced mine 3 times since May from ripping it off, and just ripped off the last replacement yesterday. It really doesn't take much of a 'brush' against the ground for it to tear off (and I am not even lowered), and the one yesterday finally stripped the screw hole instead of bending the frame, so I have to find another option. And yes, I have it angled up, so it only extended ~1/4th of an inch below my stock air dam. RI roads are just that troublesome.
I think I am going to build my own that moves it up a bit higher, if I can find a proper mounting point for it.
I think I am going to build my own that moves it up a bit higher, if I can find a proper mounting point for it.
08-06-2009, 10:04 AM
#5
^ That is the best possible look available, but it isn't as good as it may seem. I have replaced mine 3 times since May from ripping it off, and just ripped off the last replacement yesterday. It really doesn't take much of a 'brush' against the ground for it to tear off (and I am not even lowered), and the one yesterday finally stripped the screw hole instead of bending the frame, so I have to find another option. And yes, I have it angled up, so it only extended ~1/4th of an inch below my stock air dam. RI roads are just that troublesome.
I think I am going to build my own that moves it up a bit higher, if I can find a proper mounting point for it.
I think I am going to build my own that moves it up a bit higher, if I can find a proper mounting point for it.
Guess that is one good thing about NOVA is the roads are pretty well kept up. I suspect if I still lived in PA this thing would have been long gone.
08-06-2009, 10:11 AM
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Yeah, I even had the last 2 buffered with window stripping on the back of the plate, held on with white duct tape, to see if it can cushion a blow better, but as always, it isn't a normal hit that rips it off, just a grazing of the bottom edge. I barely caught the ground in my wife's work parking lot yesterday, heard a scrape, knew was it was, and when I got out to check, sure enough my plate was dangling by 1 screw.
Those plate brackets also have a pretty bad problem with rust, so I recommend spraying them with something to seal them better.
Those plate brackets also have a pretty bad problem with rust, so I recommend spraying them with something to seal them better.
08-06-2009, 10:16 AM
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Hehe, I hear ya, although being a secondary offense doesn't do much if the officer chooses to ignore that part. My last plate ticket, the cop hit the brakes as we passed in opposite directions, spun around, and had his lights on before he finished the turn, and I was doing 20 in a 25 school zone, holding my lane, etc. He only pulled me over for the plate.
And I have the only white RX-8 registered in RI, so it's not like he was looking for a suspect driving a similar car or anything.
Ah well.
And I have the only white RX-8 registered in RI, so it's not like he was looking for a suspect driving a similar car or anything.
Ah well.
08-06-2009, 10:19 AM
#10
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IMHO, the stock location is the least bad place for it. One problem with that is the stock plate holder will rub against the lip at the top of the grill. (If not rub, then at least get in the way of washing/waxing that spot.) There's a DIY that shows how to lower the mount by one diamond to avoid that problem. Very easy. I did it and it's held on fine for the past three years.
There's also a DIY that shows how to mount the plate off to the side using an Evo plate bracket. I personally don't care for that look.
Ken
There's also a DIY that shows how to mount the plate off to the side using an Evo plate bracket. I personally don't care for that look.
Ken
08-06-2009, 10:35 AM
#11
Yeah, I even had the last 2 buffered with window stripping on the back of the plate, held on with white duct tape, to see if it can cushion a blow better, but as always, it isn't a normal hit that rips it off, just a grazing of the bottom edge. I barely caught the ground in my wife's work parking lot yesterday, heard a scrape, knew was it was, and when I got out to check, sure enough my plate was dangling by 1 screw.
Those plate brackets also have a pretty bad problem with rust, so I recommend spraying them with something to seal them better.
Those plate brackets also have a pretty bad problem with rust, so I recommend spraying them with something to seal them better.
08-07-2009, 01:00 AM
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speaking of front plates, has tx passed the law not needing them yet? i dont have one on mine, but itd be a nice piece of mind. pm me back about the rims! i wanna do it
08-07-2009, 02:20 PM
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you have to have one in my state (ohio) and my car came with one, but i took it off...they dont really care unless ure speeding or sumthin then they'll ticket u for that too..lol
08-07-2009, 02:38 PM
#15
Huge hole is huge
Just yesterday I got pulled over for having my plate in the window, not attached to my front bumper.
I also just recently renewed my plates, so I forgot to put my insurance in my car. He didn't bust me for my plate, but now I have a "No Proof Of Insurance" ticket
I also just recently renewed my plates, so I forgot to put my insurance in my car. He didn't bust me for my plate, but now I have a "No Proof Of Insurance" ticket
08-07-2009, 04:25 PM
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Dark tints and no front plate on mine here in Cali, and no PD attention.
I have a novelty oval-shaped front plate on my (loud, lowered) VW, and I've never gotten unduly pulled over in that either. The two times I was stopped by police, they didn't mention anything. Not even my lack of seatbelts, and that I was carrying a passenger before I had my license for a year.
All that said, LA area cops are pretty lax on minor things like those. It all depends on your location, I guess.
I have a novelty oval-shaped front plate on my (loud, lowered) VW, and I've never gotten unduly pulled over in that either. The two times I was stopped by police, they didn't mention anything. Not even my lack of seatbelts, and that I was carrying a passenger before I had my license for a year.
All that said, LA area cops are pretty lax on minor things like those. It all depends on your location, I guess.
08-07-2009, 05:33 PM
#18
I just moved from Arizona (no front plate) to Colorado (front plate), and it blows. I have the Mazdaspeed front but I threw away the front plate BS when I got it since I figured I wouldn't need it.
I'm not to keen about drilling holes in my genuine MS bumper, either. So far I still AZ plates on the car (good until Sept) but when I get CO plates I'll put it in the windshield.
My girlfriend has CO plates and the front bumper of her Saturn had no provisions for it since it was also an AZ car....we stuck in the windshield and haven't gotten any flack yet. But then again my girlfriend drives like a G-Ma and it's a 4-door Saturn so naturally she doesn't get attention by the Police.
I'm not to keen about drilling holes in my genuine MS bumper, either. So far I still AZ plates on the car (good until Sept) but when I get CO plates I'll put it in the windshield.
My girlfriend has CO plates and the front bumper of her Saturn had no provisions for it since it was also an AZ car....we stuck in the windshield and haven't gotten any flack yet. But then again my girlfriend drives like a G-Ma and it's a 4-door Saturn so naturally she doesn't get attention by the Police.
08-07-2009, 09:32 PM
#19
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08-07-2009, 09:35 PM
#20
Dark tints and no front plate on mine here in Cali, and no PD attention.
I have a novelty oval-shaped front plate on my (loud, lowered) VW, and I've never gotten unduly pulled over in that either. The two times I was stopped by police, they didn't mention anything. Not even my lack of seatbelts, and that I was carrying a passenger before I had my license for a year.
All that said, LA area cops are pretty lax on minor things like those. It all depends on your location, I guess.
I have a novelty oval-shaped front plate on my (loud, lowered) VW, and I've never gotten unduly pulled over in that either. The two times I was stopped by police, they didn't mention anything. Not even my lack of seatbelts, and that I was carrying a passenger before I had my license for a year.
All that said, LA area cops are pretty lax on minor things like those. It all depends on your location, I guess.
08-07-2009, 09:50 PM
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no all i did was tie wrap it to the honeycomb grill. I had to drill two small holes in the honeycomb for the top tiewraps. but they're hidden behind the plate. and wouldn't be noticable if the plate was off.
08-07-2009, 11:11 PM
#22
10-28-2009, 04:55 PM
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we require front plates in the uk, and mine is a little smaller than the law allows (actually quite alot smaller lol) before i had to take the bumper off to fit my grills, i just drove the car to the edge of a kirb or pavement (sidewalk) and screwed to 'L' brackets into the end of the splashguard, also popped a bit of double sided tape to be sure, so far 12 months on, still going strong, and even managed to evade the law (touch wood ;-)
hope this helps :-)
hope this helps :-)