Bite the bullet

[justjon]

I am finally going to cave in to Californa law and mount a front liscense plate on my virginal bird beak. That said I have got as far as filing out the form but not clicking send for an OEM bracket. They come "without hardware". What do I need? I know I have to drill some (two) holes, but what is behind the bumper? I don't seem to be able to reach behind to attach a nut or am I not trying hard enough? Anyone done this?

[BJHEN]

Re: Bite the bullet

Jon,

When I purchased my T-Bird it did not have a front lic. bracket or plate even thought TX requires one. I don't know what previous owner did to avoid tickets. I got stopped within the first few day I owned the car for not having a front tag.

Dealer I purchased car from provided a OEM front bracket. It came with all hardware needed to mount on bumper but I didn't want to drill the two holes in the bumper.

See here:
http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=20847

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...icense+bracket

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=21067

You can do a search for lic. plates and probably find some additional info.

Good Luck,

Cliff

[justjon]

Re: Bite the bullet

Thanks Cliff,
I had seen the dbsupercrew version but it seemed pretty shakey and the underside screws are very small. I missed your solution and I like it. I will order the hardwareless bracket and try your method. I like the idea of a "little something" for my audible parking neighbors to "feel' before they scratch/or worse my nose. I assume you have felt no need to attach the top? Jon

[DavidA]

Re: Bite the bullet

My '02 came with the front bracket and hardware in the trunk. I still have it, sill in the original packaging.

[SugarBabe]

Re: Bite the bullet

Jon,

Have you been stopped for not having the plate? We have had Blackie for seven years and have never been stopped for that reason (or any other reason!!! Knock on wood)!!!! We just keep taking our chances!!

[MATBird]

Re: Bite the bullet

I am finally going to cave in to Californa law and mount a front liscense plate on my virginal bird beak. That said I have got as far as filing out the form but not clicking send for an OEM bracket. They come "without hardware". What do I need? I know I have to drill some (two) holes, but what is behind the bumper? I don't seem to be able to reach behind to attach a nut or am I not trying hard enough? Anyone done this?

Jon: To answer your question, if you buy the stock license plate holder, it slides up and over the top of the front bumper. Once hooked on the bumper there are two holes on the front face of the license plate holder about mid way down. Two self threading screws are used to hold it to the bumper. (no need to get behind it).
Once attached, you take your plate and slide it up under two tabs on the top of the license plate holder and then use two self threading screws to hold the plate to the bottom of the holder.
Hope this helps!

[BJHEN]

Re: Bite the bullet

Thanks Cliff,
I had seen the dbsupercrew version but it seemed pretty shakey and the underside screws are very small. I missed your solution and I like it. I will order the hardwareless bracket and try your method. I like the idea of a "little something" for my audible parking neighbors to "feel' before they scratch/or worse my nose. I assume you have felt no need to attach the top? Jon

Jon, After six months and about 5K miles I did not notice any additional "flop" at the top of the barcket. It still only moved very slightly at the top of the bracket. However, last month I used some double sided foam tape and placed two small pieces, one on each side, under the top side edge of the bracket to secure the top of the bracket to the bumper. Tape is flush with outside edge of bracket and almost the same color as my bumper so it is not noticeable. So far everything seems to work great.

Good luck with your installation. If you have any problems or questions give me a shout.

Cliff

[Brad]

Re: Bite the bullet

I've seen the "no-hole" solutions and I think they are great, however I'm still looking for a temporary type solution. I need to have a front plate a few times a year when I have to park the car on the street downtown Chicago. When you park on the street you are pretty much guaranteed to get a ticket (they use automated vehicles that scan plates so when one is missing they get you right away). Normally what I do now is keep the plate with some pieces of insulated copper wire in the trunk and toss it on when needed. I'm pretty carefull putting it on and haven't scratched the grill yet, but I'm more concerned with someone stealing the plate, since it clearly looks only temporarily installed.

[BJHEN]

Re: Bite the bullet

Brad,

Do you use the OEM bracket to temporary attach? If so, you might try one or two of those spring loaded clamps, Home Depot or Lowes, and place the clamps under the bumper in same spot I attached my clamp. This would clamp the bracket to the bumper. It would be fairly secure and not noticeable unless someone looked under car. Installation and removal should be quick and simple except when you have to kneel down in the snow and slush - I love South Texas weather.

Good Luck,

Cliff

[islandtime]

Re: Bite the bullet

My Moondoggie was a California car and never had the front bracket. I've driven it for 19 months without a problem here in Virginia, which does require a front plate. If I ever get stopped, I'll just say there's no place to mount the plate (I keep it in the glove box). My friend on the Norfolk police force says, "I know, Corvettes and T-Birds - we just look the other way".

[gladiator99]

Re: Bite the bullet

Up here in BC Canada we too have to have a front plate. I resisted for a year until I got pulled over on the same fall night I was intending to put the bird away for the winter. I didn't get a ticket, just a warning and was supposed to return to show the nice man that I had installed the front plate. I returned without the car ant explained that my insurance had expired and my bird was in storage but I would install the front plate. I had the mount that came with the car and simply used some good double sided mounting tape and as a backup I threaded some strong clear fishing line through both sides and tied it in case the tape let go. No holes and no drilling. It hasn't fallen off yet but damn that thing looks ugly on the front of our Bird.
Take care!
Jim

[justjon]

Re: Bite the bullet

UGH ....
What kind of bad karma exists for the person at the dealership who has drilled hundreds of holes into Thunderbird beaks for "SELF TAPPING SCREWS!" I don't know if I can do it once.
How about self insuring ourselves? Everyone who "runs the risk" in plate states chips in 10 bucks and then if you get a ticket and get fined we pay you off.

[FEsTbird]

Re: Bite the bullet

Jon--
In California you are supposed to have two plates according to the DMV stuff. I think the only jurisdictions where it makes a big difference are the larger metropolitan areas where they take photos of cars running the red lights. I occasionally drive in San Francisco where they are a little c-- s-- about things like that, I decided it would be better to go ahead and put the plate on. I got a ticket in SF when in my previous car and it is no fun.

So, I guess you evaluate how the LA County authorities are and make your choice. Since I got my car new, the dealer put the plate holder on for me. However, I imagine that the person doing that job could be the same guy that drives the car up when you pick it up, and does the detailing, etc. I would guess that the idea of doing hundreds of mounts might be a pretty high guess.

[Sweet T]

Re: Bite the bullet

A state trooper pulled into traffic five cars behind me, lights flashing, 1/10th of a mile from my house. I knew he wasn't after me because I hadn't done anything wrong. Doing a quick calculation in my head, I knew I could take a right turn before he reached me. I pulled up in front of my house, and before I could get out of the car, he and two local cruisers pulled up.

The offense.....failure to stop for an officer. After explaining I didn't know he was after me, I asked what he was pulling me over for in the first place. The trooper said driving without a front plate. He then left to let the local officers deal with it. It was a gorgeous weekend and I asked the local cops if that meant I couldn't drive all weekend because the registry was closed.

The local officers told me, "Have a great weekend. Only a real d*ck would pull you over for that on a car like this".