Front Plate Mount Solution - LotusTalk

Paul MD · 03-13-2005, 03:33 PM

Folks

I swore I wasn't gonna mount my front plate either, then I got chased by 3 people, photographed by another 4, stopped in the street by God knows how many and 'observed closely' by more policemen than I've seen in Maryland in my life... and all of this in one week.

This car attracts so much attention I found my bowels loosening everytime I saw a police car!

So I mounted my front plate in hopes that I can drive by grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Flame away if you like but I'm 'mostly legal' and frankly don't think the result is too bad. I got used to driving a UK car with UK front plate so this is actually a smaller, neater solution almost Germanic in its aesthetic. Maybe this will help some folks.

Yeah, yeah, yeah I know, you've been driving since before the war with no plates at all and your ass hanging out the window and have never been stopped... well alas I was born genetically unlucky so I'm pretty much risk-averse.

INSPIRED BY MERLIN... THANKS MERLIN... I bring you:

"Borderline Illegal Front Plate"

Pictures pretty much tell the story...

Bend plate to suit between two bits of wood so it looks kinda straight. Yep I know, that's the illegal part but I figure that most plate surrounds blank the bottom portion of the plate below the number and frequently half (or more) of the state lettering...

I mounted it from underneath (for obvious reasons) with two galvanised sheet metal screws into pilot holes drilled into in the clam plate bump thingy (I used a dremel with flexible drive). I'll probably change them out for stainless at some point.

The innovation is I spaced the plate off the clam with two rubber grommets, this giving some flexibilty and load spreading/absorbtion. Now at present the grommets I used are a little too small (height-wise) and the plate sits pretty snug to the clam. I'll be looking to change these out for slightly chunkier versions so that the PLATE IS FRACTIONALLY LOWER THAT THE 'CHIN- BUMPS' to the left and right... PURPOSE? If I drop the plate by about 3/8" then IT will hit (scrape) the ground BEFORE the main clam does - thus I build in an early warning of imminent clam-catastrophe.

So I'll post the pics now and you can imagine the taller grommets...

At the moment I've just put foam tape on the back of the plate to protect the paint - like Merlin I'll replace this with those felt furniture pads next time I 'have it off'.

Think that's about it, maybe it'll suit some folks.

Lotus F1 · 03-13-2005, 03:41 PM

Very nice my man! You did what I was thinking.

PS I think i will just use super strong Velcro.

pianomaniac · 03-13-2005, 03:43 PM

You defaced state property? How could you!

Paul MD · 03-13-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pianomaniac

You defaced state property? How could you!

Well I didn't really 'deface' it... I just 'faceditdifferently'

pianomaniac · 03-13-2005, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul MD

Well I didn't really 'deface' it... I just 'faceditdifferently'

Good come back!

lotus270 · 03-13-2005, 04:25 PM

Paul,
Looks good but I'll probably wait until I get a warning before I mount mine.

Jim A.

swimbikerun · 03-13-2005, 04:48 PM

Thanks, Paul.
Good post - nice, detailed pics. I'm going to try to do without them, but it's nice to have a good backup plan if the police aren't cooperative.

Surferjer · 03-13-2005, 05:09 PM

Two birds with one stone! Nice move!

Chris D. · 03-13-2005, 05:38 PM

Great solution. Thanks for the post! I will be adding my plates in the same way.

Buck Dharma · 03-13-2005, 06:11 PM

I did it the same way but did not want to drill holes at all. I bought a bolt at Lowe's that matchs the tow hook width. I painted it black and attached the plate to the bolt with some rubber "washers" and screwed it into the tow hook opening. Then I used double sided tape to keep the plate from rocking back and forth.

peck555 · 03-13-2005, 06:25 PM

nice idea,did something similar on my elan rear plate,becouse it was just too tall.

J-Son · 03-13-2005, 06:40 PM

i just added my plate to the front this weekend too.
i got a bolt that matched the tow hook and drilled a hole in the middle of my plate and put the bolt through and used a plastic spacer to keep things tight.
the only problem i think i might have with the plate in the front is now the grille is covered and engine temperature might rise quicker since airflow is restricted a little more.

MERLIN · 03-13-2005, 09:08 PM

Nice adaptation Paul. I'm going to stick with the exterior double-sided tape and try to avoid any drilling in the clam, unless the tape does not prove durable enough. If the tape separates, then your method of mounting the screws from underneath will be my fall-back. Thanks!

I already have the plate extending slightly below the two clam tabs as an early warning for scrapes -- but if I'm hitting it too often and it begins to separate the plate from the clam, then I'll have to raise it slightly (with another layer of furniture pads under the top fold).

Rich · 03-14-2005, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck Dharma

I did it the same way but did not want to drill holes at all. I bought a bolt at Lowe's that matchs the tow hook width. I painted it black and attached the plate to the bolt with some rubber "washers" and screwed it into the tow hook opening. Then I used double sided tape to keep the plate from rocking back and forth.

Can you post pictures?

Ridgemanron · 03-14-2005, 12:34 PM

Showed the plate ' wrap-a-round' set up to a policeman friend of mine
and he claimed it was still illegal. Then he added, 'why not use a plain
sheet of base metal in the form of the wrap-a-round plate and secure
your actual plate to it, setting it so that the license plate's lowest
point is positioned at the lowest point of the base plate, thereby
allowing the same amount of ground clearance? If you don't want to
'screw' attach it, try magnets like the car dealers do with their dealer
plates.'

TimMullen · 03-14-2005, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridgemanron

If you don't want to 'screw' attach it, try magnets like the car dealers do with their dealer plates.'

It's a fiberglass bodied car - magnets don't stick...

abechen · 03-14-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridgemanron

Showed the plate ' wrap-a-round' set up to a policeman friend of mine
and he claimed it was still illegal. Then he added, 'why not use a plain
sheet of base metal in the form of the wrap-a-round plate and secure
your actual plate to it, setting it so that the license plate's lowest
point is positioned at the lowest point of the base plate, thereby
allowing the same amount of ground clearance? If you don't want to
'screw' attach it, try magnets like the car dealers do with their dealer
plates.'

You would block quite a bit of the radiator if you did that. Also the Magnet idea only works if their was something magnetic to stick it to where there is not in this case unless some metal plates were added inside the clam

I showed this to an officer friend of mine and he said that bending the plate is not illegal as long as the numbers and state display is clearly visible from direct view. The way the top was bent may cause some closer scrutiny though.

Lotus F1 · 03-14-2005, 01:53 PM

From what I understand number and state is all that is needed.

Ridgemanron · 03-14-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMullen

It's a fiberglass bodied car - magnets don't stick...

the plain plate you would be using in place of the actual license plate being shown in its bent shape would be metal. Your license plate is also metal. Don't understand why you are mentioning fiberglass? P.S. - With regard to the why
we need a front plate? Police Officer comment: " If we're looking for a stolen
car we are going to see a lot more cars driving toward us than driving with us."

Chris D. · 03-14-2005, 05:24 PM

Paul,
Exactly how many inches of the plate angle up under your car? It's difficult to tell from the picture. I'm not so sure that I have as much space under my Virginia license plate numbers as you do, and I want to avoid drilling holes to far forward and missing the clam. Thanks.

03-13-2005, 03:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul MD 2nd Timer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Back in Sunny Maryland Posts: 733	Front Plate Mount Solution Folks I swore I wasn't gonna mount my front plate either, then I got chased by 3 people, photographed by another 4, stopped in the street by God knows how many and 'observed closely' by more policemen than I've seen in Maryland in my life... and all of this in one week. This car attracts so much attention I found my bowels loosening everytime I saw a police car! So I mounted my front plate in hopes that I can drive by grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Flame away if you like but I'm 'mostly legal' and frankly don't think the result is too bad. I got used to driving a UK car with UK front plate so this is actually a smaller, neater solution almost Germanic in its aesthetic. Maybe this will help some folks. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know, you've been driving since before the war with no plates at all and your ass hanging out the window and have never been stopped... well alas I was born genetically unlucky so I'm pretty much risk-averse. INSPIRED BY MERLIN... THANKS MERLIN... I bring you: "Borderline Illegal Front Plate" Pictures pretty much tell the story... Bend plate to suit between two bits of wood so it looks kinda straight. Yep I know, that's the illegal part but I figure that most plate surrounds blank the bottom portion of the plate below the number and frequently half (or more) of the state lettering... I mounted it from underneath (for obvious reasons) with two galvanised sheet metal screws into pilot holes drilled into in the clam plate bump thingy (I used a dremel with flexible drive). I'll probably change them out for stainless at some point. The innovation is I spaced the plate off the clam with two rubber grommets, this giving some flexibilty and load spreading/absorbtion. Now at present the grommets I used are a little too small (height-wise) and the plate sits pretty snug to the clam. I'll be looking to change these out for slightly chunkier versions so that the PLATE IS FRACTIONALLY LOWER THAT THE 'CHIN- BUMPS' to the left and right... PURPOSE? If I drop the plate by about 3/8" then IT will hit (scrape) the ground BEFORE the main clam does - thus I build in an early warning of imminent clam-catastrophe. So I'll post the pics now and you can imagine the taller grommets... At the moment I've just put foam tape on the back of the plate to protect the paint - like Merlin I'll replace this with those felt furniture pads next time I 'have it off'. Think that's about it, maybe it'll suit some folks. Attached Images

03-13-2005, 03:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lotus F1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fantasy Island New York Posts: 3,850	Very nice my man! You did what I was thinking. PS I think i will just use super strong Velcro. Last edited by Lotus F1 : 03-13-2005 at 03:46 PM.

03-13-2005, 03:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
pianomaniac Elise #76 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,531	You defaced state property? How could you! __________________ Owner of '05 Elise S/T- touring- LSS-Stage 2 '07 Audi RS4 4.2L V-8 420 HP - 6 Sp..(sold) '07 Toyota Prius

03-13-2005, 05:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
Surferjer No more cone damage! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Exton, PA Posts: 8,954	Two birds with one stone! Nice move! __________________ Jer-2005 Elise (retired from autox) 1993 MR2 autox car 2002 Ford Excursion DIESEL 4 X 4 1993 Miata (throwout bearing or clutch failure) 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 Lemons car (needs new head) 1984 Chevy Citation Lemons car (needs a motor)

03-13-2005, 05:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Chris D. Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Berryville, Virginia Posts: 1,675	Great solution. Thanks for the post! I will be adding my plates in the same way. __________________ Yeah, I get it. You're an outcast, always under attack, always coming in last, bringing up the past. No one owes you anything.

03-13-2005, 04:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
lotus270 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Owings Mills, MD Posts: 158	Paul, Looks good but I'll probably wait until I get a warning before I mount mine. Jim A.

03-13-2005, 04:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
swimbikerun Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: maryland Posts: 23	Thanks, Paul. Good post - nice, detailed pics. I'm going to try to do without them, but it's nice to have a good backup plan if the police aren't cooperative.

03-13-2005, 06:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
Buck Dharma Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 136	I did it the same way but did not want to drill holes at all. I bought a bolt at Lowe's that matchs the tow hook width. I painted it black and attached the plate to the bolt with some rubber "washers" and screwed it into the tow hook opening. Then I used double sided tape to keep the plate from rocking back and forth.

03-13-2005, 06:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
peck555 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: White Plains N.Y. Posts: 2,439	nice idea,did something similar on my elan rear plate,becouse it was just too tall. __________________ Laser blue,biscuit, micro mirror, "Blue knob" ,HID lights,modded rear lights,rear badge,blue starter button, replaced speakers,perma grin, Club111 The Sith lord of the LB's loyal henchman

03-13-2005, 06:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
J-Son Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: long island NY Posts: 548	i just added my plate to the front this weekend too. i got a bolt that matched the tow hook and drilled a hole in the middle of my plate and put the bolt through and used a plastic spacer to keep things tight. the only problem i think i might have with the plate in the front is now the grille is covered and engine temperature might rise quicker since airflow is restricted a little more. __________________ 2005 Ardent Touring Elise, 2007 Hummer H3, 2007 Infiniti Fx35, 2006 Infiniti M35x (sold), 2002 Audi TT quattro convertible (sold), 1999 Corvette (sold but not forgotten),

03-13-2005, 09:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
MERLIN Fulfilled @ Last AR Elite Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lotus-land (Upstate NY) Posts: 285	Nice adaptation Paul. I'm going to stick with the exterior double-sided tape and try to avoid any drilling in the clam, unless the tape does not prove durable enough. If the tape separates, then your method of mounting the screws from underneath will be my fall-back. Thanks! I already have the plate extending slightly below the two clam tabs as an early warning for scrapes -- but if I'm hitting it too often and it begins to separate the plate from the clam, then I'll have to raise it slightly (with another layer of furniture pads under the top fold). __________________ Member, AR ELITE a.k.a. Lotus-Eater (one who loses all desire for earthly pursuits or memory of family and home, whose only desire is to live in bliss in Lotus-land) 2005 Elise: Ardent red, touring, biscuit, starshield 2006 WRX wagon (CGM) with short shifter 1999 10th Anniversary Miata (for sale, 25K miles) 1990 Miata (sold) 1985 MR2 (sold) 1976 MG Midget and 1971 TR6

03-14-2005, 12:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ridgemanron Ridge Man Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,269	Showed the plate ' wrap-a-round' set up to a policeman friend of mine and he claimed it was still illegal. Then he added, 'why not use a plain sheet of base metal in the form of the wrap-a-round plate and secure your actual plate to it, setting it so that the license plate's lowest point is positioned at the lowest point of the base plate, thereby allowing the same amount of ground clearance? If you don't want to 'screw' attach it, try magnets like the car dealers do with their dealer plates.'

03-14-2005, 01:53 PM	#18 (permalink)
Lotus F1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fantasy Island New York Posts: 3,850	From what I understand number and state is all that is needed.

03-14-2005, 05:24 PM	#20 (permalink)
Chris D. Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Berryville, Virginia Posts: 1,675	Paul, Exactly how many inches of the plate angle up under your car? It's difficult to tell from the picture. I'm not so sure that I have as much space under my Virginia license plate numbers as you do, and I want to avoid drilling holes to far forward and missing the clam. Thanks. __________________ Yeah, I get it. You're an outcast, always under attack, always coming in last, bringing up the past. No one owes you anything.

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