Installing the license plates

6258 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by wash, Nov 8, 2013

wash

Discussion Starter · Nov 1, 2013

When it comes time to instally your plates, a little trip to Pep Boys can make it look nice and clean.

I don't like the look of exposed metal edges so I got some flexible rubber license plate frames. They are slim so they don't have any words, diamond plate, fake chain or cartoon characters.

The front license plate holder has a curve to it so I bent the plate gently over my knee. I made the bend tighter than the curve of the holder which then flattens out to match when the fasteners are tightened. The flexible frame works really well for this. The rear is flat, no bend required.

For fasteners I got a kit that has stainless security torx screws and also a set of screw cover caps. If you use the caps, make sure you remember the little plastic washers that retain the caps.

After a few $ and a few minutes I think I have my plates looking about as good as they can and the security fasteners protect the plates too.

I might spray paint the fastener caps white to match my plates but that's about the only thing left to do.

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Sil3nt611

· #2 · Nov 1, 2013

pics?

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wash

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 1, 2013

I might take a pic but I don't like broadcasting my plate number. Maybe I'll break out the painter's tape this weekend.

Any way, my setup is two of these:

http://www.pepboys.com/mobile/products/details/714679/01671

And the hardware was stainless with the security head. I bought the universal kit and only used 20% of it.

To make it easy, each plate needs two of the coarse thread large diameter fasteners that looks like a wood screw. It might be possible to use four fasteners and the small fine thread fasteners but it would take some work.

If you go that route, one package of four fastener caps will cover up everything.

I probably spent $35 on everything but from what I know now, I could do it for about $20.

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Sil3nt611

· #4 · Nov 1, 2013

Photoshop (or any basic photo editor) works too for covering up the plate numbers.

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FiestaST

· #5 · Nov 2, 2013

I covered up my license place in my photo from my iPhone. The app is free called aviary

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wash

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 2, 2013

I'm old school:

Automotive exterior Vehicle Bumper Grille Car

This photo kind of shows the curve of the front plate holder. Its pretty gentle but a flat plate would highlight it.

The next photo shows the effect of the flexible plate frame, it is a snug fit in the clips at the bottom but it effectively covers the edge of the plate. I'm not quite as happy with the fastener caps, I think they need some white paint to blend in.

Bumper Automotive exterior Auto part Vehicle registration plate Font

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rweidman

· #7 · Nov 3, 2013

How did you get the old holder off. I can't seem to get those big headed rivets off even when I drill out the centers.

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wash

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 3, 2013

That is the factory installed bracket, I just installed the license plate, the flexible urethane frame, security screws and screw covers.

No drilling required, just a slight bend to the plate to make it lay flush with the bracket.

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Sil3nt611

· #9 · Nov 3, 2013

haha, old school is sometimes fastest and easiest. Looks good. It's the little details that make it look that much less cheap.

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wash

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 3, 2013

Yeah, I think Ford figures that dealers will throw in a license plate frame for advertising so there is no point to do more than the minimum of giving us a place to bolt a plate.

I cringe when I see some of the crap that people install on their cars. I just wanted a clean look that blends with the car and I think I got it in the front.

In the back, I'm starting to think a white frame would blend more since the paint is Oxford White. Any other color and I think the black is about as good as it gets (it would be perfect on a Tuxedo Black car).

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wash

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 8, 2013

I just saw the FSwerks SEMA show car and I really like the subtle treatment of their car, especially at the back:

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Hatchback Bumper

They blacked out the license plate area, added Mountune winglets (in black) and the black sticker on the side of the wing.

I think a similar treatment on my car would look nice and minimize the appearance of the license plate because the black urethane rim would blend in with the black. The addition of black winglets would tie the look together with the black in the rear bumper area. I'm not 100% sure that the wing stickers are a good idea.

Any way, I think its a nice clean look without being over the top at all.

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