DIY license plate mount. (NA)
08-18-2011, 06:04 PM
#1
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DIY license plate mount. (NA)
I did this a while ago, then improved on the original today, and I thought I'd actually contribute for once. Since I did it a few months ago I'm not sure that I'll remember how I did it exactly, but if you look at the pics it should be pretty self explanatory.
What you need:
This stuff: (somebody tell me what is)
2x bolts w/ nuts that will fit through the holes in ^that^ thing and your pre existing license plate holes
3x bolts w/ nuts that will fit through the aforementioned coil thingie
1x bolt w/ nut that is will also fit through the metal coil thing but is also at least 1" long
7x washers that will fit on the bolts you selected (you could do it with less)
2x rubber washers (you could do it with less)
4x Adhesive backed furniture pads http://like thesehttp://www.homedepo...atalogId=10053 (I used 8 and double stacked them)
2x Adhesive backed pieces of padding like this (except I used back ones that I had left over from a previous project)
A rotary tool or something capable of cutting screws.
How to:
On the bottom of the "mouth" on the front of your car, there are three or so holes cover up by a plastic cover, I took of the cover on the right side of the car (near the right tow hook if your facing the car). Under this cover there is a hole, thats where the longer screw will go through and hold the license plate bracket.
After you do that, get that rolled up metal coil stiff and bend a 1' or so long section of it straight, then break it off by bending the end of the 1' section until it breaks. This will be the piece that goes from one license plate hole to the other on the top of the plate.
Next bend and break off a piece that will make the "L" shape and go from the car to the first metal piece. Go do some measurements on how long each section of that "L" should be on your car.
Connect that 1st metal piece to the license plate but leave a little slack. Bolt it down and cut off the excess. Then on the middle of that first piece, put a bolt through it and the "L" (so the long section of the "L" sticks out away from the car). Tighten the bolt down and cut away the excess.
See where theres black on the assembly on the photos above? Put that adhesive backed padding there. Then put the 4-8 adhesive backed furniture pads where I put them on the license plate.
Put the bolt through the end of the long section of the "L" piece, next put the rubber washers on the underside of the "L", put the bolt through the hole, and on the underside of the car feel around until you feel that bolt. Put a washer on, put the nut on and tighten, by hand.
What you need:
This stuff: (somebody tell me what is)
2x bolts w/ nuts that will fit through the holes in ^that^ thing and your pre existing license plate holes
3x bolts w/ nuts that will fit through the aforementioned coil thingie
1x bolt w/ nut that is will also fit through the metal coil thing but is also at least 1" long
7x washers that will fit on the bolts you selected (you could do it with less)
2x rubber washers (you could do it with less)
4x Adhesive backed furniture pads http://like thesehttp://www.homedepo...atalogId=10053 (I used 8 and double stacked them)
2x Adhesive backed pieces of padding like this (except I used back ones that I had left over from a previous project)
A rotary tool or something capable of cutting screws.
How to:
On the bottom of the "mouth" on the front of your car, there are three or so holes cover up by a plastic cover, I took of the cover on the right side of the car (near the right tow hook if your facing the car). Under this cover there is a hole, thats where the longer screw will go through and hold the license plate bracket.
After you do that, get that rolled up metal coil stiff and bend a 1' or so long section of it straight, then break it off by bending the end of the 1' section until it breaks. This will be the piece that goes from one license plate hole to the other on the top of the plate.
Next bend and break off a piece that will make the "L" shape and go from the car to the first metal piece. Go do some measurements on how long each section of that "L" should be on your car.
Connect that 1st metal piece to the license plate but leave a little slack. Bolt it down and cut off the excess. Then on the middle of that first piece, put a bolt through it and the "L" (so the long section of the "L" sticks out away from the car). Tighten the bolt down and cut away the excess.
See where theres black on the assembly on the photos above? Put that adhesive backed padding there. Then put the 4-8 adhesive backed furniture pads where I put them on the license plate.
Put the bolt through the end of the long section of the "L" piece, next put the rubber washers on the underside of the "L", put the bolt through the hole, and on the underside of the car feel around until you feel that bolt. Put a washer on, put the nut on and tighten, by hand.
Last edited by gearhead_318; 08-18-2011 at 06:21 PM.
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08-18-2011, 06:38 PM
#2
No offense, but that looks pretty ghetto not to mention would scrape all over the ground on any semi-low car.
This is my lic. plate mount I made. One bolt attached to the front plastic bumper under support connected to flat alum I bent around to work.
Took all of 15min to make with spare parts I had around the garage, a vice and a drill press.
This is my lic. plate mount I made. One bolt attached to the front plastic bumper under support connected to flat alum I bent around to work.
Took all of 15min to make with spare parts I had around the garage, a vice and a drill press.
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08-18-2011, 06:53 PM
#3
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I saw Braineaks(?) mount and thought it was too high, I had thoughts of mounting it up on the tow hook like he did but I think it still might be too high. I like it where it is, but I would like to mount it more securely and make it look less ghetto-rigged.
Looks clean, maybe V2.0 will look more like that.
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08-18-2011, 09:44 PM
#6
On this page:
http://www.thompson-automotive.com/D...ing_plate.html
Disappearing license plate holder. I know the guy who makes them... hint, the white NA used to belong to a guy named SamNavy.
They are very stealth. I don't know if they'll swing up if you are doriftorz sidewayz, but but he top of 1st gear, they disappear completely unless you're a squirrel about to die.
http://www.thompson-automotive.com/D...ing_plate.html
Disappearing license plate holder. I know the guy who makes them... hint, the white NA used to belong to a guy named SamNavy.
They are very stealth. I don't know if they'll swing up if you are doriftorz sidewayz, but but he top of 1st gear, they disappear completely unless you're a squirrel about to die.
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08-18-2011, 10:22 PM
#7
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I like that a lot, but I live in a hole in the ground somebody named "Ohio" where you can be executed for not having a FLP. Even though it's still technically there I don't think the Highway Patrol would let it slide since it isn't visible while the car is in motion, thanks for the effort though. I'm going to start working on a new version that will look somewhat like falcons, except mounted lower and if it doesn't work out quite right then I'll take another look at the swinging plate.
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08-18-2011, 10:50 PM
#8
I like that a lot, but I live in a hole in the ground somebody named "Ohio" where you can be executed for not having a FLP. Even though it's still technically there I don't think the Highway Patrol would let it slide since it isn't visible while the car is in motion, thanks for the effort though. I'm going to start working on a new version that will look somewhat like falcons, except mounted lower and if it doesn't work out quite right then I'll take another look at the swinging plate.
. priceless
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08-18-2011, 11:25 PM
#9
What about the plate in the front window, that's what I do. I was pulled over once for not having my headlights on at dusk-ish, it was 8:00 in May and no street lights were on yet. I had the marker lights on but for some reason just having DRL's on is ok for all cars except Miata's. There was no ticket but he came flying at me siren blaring and blocked the street to tell me "turn your lights on" but no comment on the plate in the window.
My wife says he just wanted to see the pop up lights go up like everyone else that flicks their lights at us.
My wife says he just wanted to see the pop up lights go up like everyone else that flicks their lights at us.
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08-19-2011, 11:15 AM
#12
I like that a lot, but I live in a hole in the ground somebody named "Ohio" where you can be executed for not having a FLP. Even though it's still technically there I don't think the Highway Patrol would let it slide since it isn't visible while the car is in motion, thanks for the effort though. I'm going to start working on a new version that will look somewhat like falcons, except mounted lower and if it doesn't work out quite right then I'll take another look at the swinging plate.
I decided not to run one at all; it just kills the lines of the car IMO. Had an OH Highway Patrol tell me that the main reason they want a front plate is to give them something to hit with laser. He went on to say that the Miata with lights down and no front plate is very difficult to hit with laser, especially in a dark color. The rounded front doesn't leave them much of a target (according to this guy anyhow). At night they go for the headlight.
He also pointed out that no front plate was a warning or a ticket (~$70 I think)....with no points on your license, while a speeding ticket....you do the math. He said "I'm not advising you to not run a front plate, but that might give you something to think about."
I'd love to try one of the electronic, retracting units, but I'm pretty sure it would scrape.
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08-19-2011, 01:14 PM
#13
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I used to have one of those (DIY with a couple barn door hinges). Never had any trouble.
I decided not to run one at all; it just kills the lines of the car IMO. Had an OH Highway Patrol tell me that the main reason they want a front plate is to give them something to hit with laser. He went on to say that the Miata with lights down and no front plate is very difficult to hit with laser, especially in a dark color. The rounded front doesn't leave them much of a target (according to this guy anyhow). At night they go for the headlight.
He also pointed out that no front plate was a warning or a ticket (~$70 I think)....with no points on your license, while a speeding ticket....you do the math. He said "I'm not advising you to not run a front plate, but that might give you something to think about."
I'd love to try one of the electronic, retracting units, but I'm pretty sure it would scrape.
I decided not to run one at all; it just kills the lines of the car IMO. Had an OH Highway Patrol tell me that the main reason they want a front plate is to give them something to hit with laser. He went on to say that the Miata with lights down and no front plate is very difficult to hit with laser, especially in a dark color. The rounded front doesn't leave them much of a target (according to this guy anyhow). At night they go for the headlight.
He also pointed out that no front plate was a warning or a ticket (~$70 I think)....with no points on your license, while a speeding ticket....you do the math. He said "I'm not advising you to not run a front plate, but that might give you something to think about."
I'd love to try one of the electronic, retracting units, but I'm pretty sure it would scrape.
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08-20-2011, 12:06 PM
#14
In CA its a $15 dollar fix it ticket for no front plate. I dont run mine. If you get stopped and the arresting officer wants to cite you for it, you put it back on, have it signed off, and then take it back off. Then get pulled over by the same guy lol he usually won't be as nice as the first time.
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08-21-2011, 09:32 PM
#17
**** running a front plate. You take the 2nd plate and put a nice bend in it, attack it to a broken bracket and throw it in the trunk. If you get pulled over for it you tell him that it recently broke off and you already ordered a new bracket.
Like someone else mention earlier though, probably wont work twice on the same guy. Regardless though, I don't run one and only got a ticket for it once in the 7 years I've owned the car. That was before I learned the above trick.
Like someone else mention earlier though, probably wont work twice on the same guy. Regardless though, I don't run one and only got a ticket for it once in the 7 years I've owned the car. That was before I learned the above trick.
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08-21-2011, 11:22 PM
#18
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Cueball has his mounted to suction cups and stuck on the windshield behind the rear view mirror. Doubles as a visor to cover the gap between the other two on particularly sunny days. I'm with Vash though, although I don't carry it around.
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08-23-2011, 04:34 PM
#19
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**** running a front plate. You take the 2nd plate and put a nice bend in it, attack it to a broken bracket and throw it in the trunk. If you get pulled over for it you tell him that it recently broke off and you already ordered a new bracket.
Like someone else mention earlier though, probably wont work twice on the same guy. Regardless though, I don't run one and only got a ticket for it once in the 7 years I've owned the car. That was before I learned the above trick.
Like someone else mention earlier though, probably wont work twice on the same guy. Regardless though, I don't run one and only got a ticket for it once in the 7 years I've owned the car. That was before I learned the above trick.
I do the same with both cars. Always works.
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08-23-2011, 04:51 PM
#20
In CA its a $15 dollar fix it ticket for no front plate. I dont run mine. If you get stopped and the arresting officer wants to cite you for it, you put it back on, have it signed off, and then take it back off. Then get pulled over by the same guy lol he usually won't be as nice as the first time.
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