Sorry if this is a dumb question but...(vanity plate related)

[PurdueRifleman]

First of all, I would like to say that I'm not a complete idiot and I posses at least some mechanical ability, but this is driving me nuts!

I bought a front vanity plate with my alma matter's logo on it and tried to install it to my front bumper this evening since my friends are all busy being married and there was nothing else to do other than deplete my supply of fermented beverages. Anyway, I gathered my tools; drill, screws, ratchet, etc, got ready to go to work, and immediately ran into problems.

First of all, the bumper is slightly curved and nothing fits flush, but maybe a few washers can fix that. I dunno. Second, there were what appeared to be four dimples in the bumper that had a small, circular, raised section behind them (inside of the bumper) like that's where a hole should be drilled. This would be no problem except that the dimples are arranged in a trapezoid shape with an inside width of 8" on the bottom two and a little over 9" on the top two. In no way do they fit the license plate nor its bracket. Finally, there's a piece of metal in the way of the center of the bumper that might prevent me from drilling through in some areas.

This has me somewhat confused as you can see. So does anyone have any insight on this? How does one go about attaching a front vanity plate?

[-Matt-]

Your car doesnt have a plate mount?

[PurdueRifleman]

Your car doesnt have a plate mount?

It sure doesn't.

[-Matt-]

You can get em from a dealer

[Phrog_gunner]

MM-Matt is correct. Those holes are arranged so that only a plate bracket from the dealer will fit. The bracket will mount to those holes, and then your plate will mount to that bracket.

[PurdueRifleman]

Ahh, I see. Thank you both much for the help!

[-Matt-]

I may have one you can have. Let me check the garage tomorrow

[PurdueRifleman]

I may have one you can have. Let me check the garage tomorrow

That would be great!

[Blk Mamba]

I'll trade you front bumper covers.

Pre-drilled.

[Ms. Denmark]

I cracked my front plate holder bumping into something. I'm told they are pretty brittle. The dealer installed the new holder with large plastic rivets. Took him about 10 minutes to do the whole job.

[-Matt-]

Yeah your lucky yours doesnt have holes in it... Does your state require a front plate? ts ruins the look of a Marauder IMO. (hence why my front plate is in my window)


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/xxshowstoppaxx/IMG_3928.jpg

[mrjones]

If you don't have the holes for the front bracket, DON'T DRILL IT! Wait till you see your car next to another one with the bracket. It looks much better!

It is your money and your car though!

I live in a state that requires a front plate, but bought the car in state that doesn't. I've never put the bracket on and won't, unless I get hassled by the Man more than I have. I've been asked about it twice in 6 years and have not been ticketed.

[Phrog_gunner]

it ruins the look of a Marauder IMO. (hence why my front plate is in my window)



DON'T DRILL IT! Wait till you see your car next to another one with the bracket. It looks much better!

I agree it looks much better without, unless it's a blue, hard to make those look much worse.

[johnnyrauder]

my dealer gave me a hard time about giveing me the car without the f/plate. being in ny and all but i said if you drill holes in my bumper i wont buy the car....he didn't
but i did get a dealer plate holder.. i wouldnt drill any holes

[FordNut]

I wouldn't do it either. Ruins the look of the car putting a plate on the front.

[fastblackmerc]

i wouldn't do it either. Ruins the look of the car putting a plate on the front.

+15............

[justbob]

Mines going in next week probably to get the holes plastic welded, thanks to some 80 year driver that decided to park her SUV pumper on top of mine last week. No real damage atleast, just some scuffs.

[Egon Spengler]

I have a front license plate bracket....

Could possibly sell it to you instead of it sitting in my drawer... New condition never mounted

[Ktorres1]

I hated that damn plate! Haha I wouldve gladly donnated it but after my hard work at drilling it out I tossed it!

[Big Black Beast]

The factory front license plate bracket is stupid and huge and deserves to be hated by everyone. Once you drill holes, they can't be un-drilled. If you want a front plate, there is a way to do it without drilling holes. It basically involes bolting metal angles to the inside of the lower grill opening. Do a search on some of the Mustang forums. Or maybe, someone less lazy than me will post the link here...