KyGeezer

I was annoyed with the way the first licence plate I got from the county clerk looked on the bumper of the '04 GT I traded for this past January...the plate was slightly warped. A frame fixed the warp, but the frame and plate stuck out a bit at the bottom since the area for the licence plate on the bumper of an 8 isn't really a flat surface...it's very slightly curved. I also had two big empty holes at the bottom of the frame and plate. After having to renew the licence this month (don't ask) and trading the first plate and 10 bucks for a Nature Conservancy plate, I finally had time to look around for a fix. I used a little kit from Auto Zone with 4 plastic retainers, 4 SS screws, and a hex wrench.

What I did...

1. With the licence plate and frame on the bumper, I used a spring loaded center punch to mark the center of the bottom holes in the frame and plate on the bumper.

2. After removing the frame and plate, I started with a small bit and drilled a pilot hole though the bumper. There is about a half inch clearance between the bumper and gas tank. I enlarged the pilot holes with a larger bit and then used a 13/32" bit for the final hole size.

3. The base and legs of the screw retainers are square. The thin outer painted skin of the bumper and the thicker black plastic behind the skin is not that difficult to cut with a knife. I squared the two holes with a cheap X-Acto style knife and trimmed a little until I could force the retainers into the holes. Gave one of them a whack with a rubber mallet to get in quickly.

4. Sanded and painted the SS screw heads gloss black to match the top screws. (These particular screws are intended to help prevent licence plate theft. The hex slots in the screw heads have a pin in the center and the hex wrench with the kit is hollow...an ordinary hex wrench won't fit.)

While this isn't a perfect solution because the size of the screw heads at the top and bottom of the licence plate frame aren't the same size or type, I'm satisfied with the outcome considering the alternative. One of these days I'll decided if I want the frame and screw heads flat black, semi-gloss black or gloss black and paint every thing to match. Matching the frame and screw heads to the 8's color might make a more customized look?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Hmm ... ok.

teknics

or since its under your license plate at all times use a self tapping screw with a flanged head....

if you really want a clean look get a plate frame that includes bolt hole covers or bolt head caps, both are common in automotive stores in case anyone wants to know where to get them. Theyre generally the ones raised up like 1/4 inch...

kevin.

Socket7

Obsessive compulsive much?

I like it. Subtle things are where it's at.