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License Plates - Several Mounting Concerns/Objectives - Help requested - Stock 89 LSI
Topic Started: Jan 27 2014, 06:21 PM (864 Views)
metrologic
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Hi, searched tons. Found nothing.
EDIT: kinda long - yeah it's now looking too long - sorry - I'll leave it as is though jumping to bottom should cover my request for ideas/experiences.

OBJECTIVES/QUESTIONS:

1) Put front and back plates on securely. Currently mounted with just 2 top screws on front and 2 top screws on back.

2) Deduce how to use bolts (not screws?) each WITH a nut to mount them - difficult? removed bumpers first? use deep socket perhaps?

3) The BACK license plate is such a snug fit I don't think any frame can be used. Correct? That's OK as it's not getting banged up though would perhaps like to use nuts and bolts and can't see how that might be sensibly possible due to no access to inner-back bumper. correct? how to do if logical?

4) The FRONT license gets smashed up badly. There's no backing plate currently. There's just TWO mounting holes in the front bumper and there's two screws currently holding it on. It appears there's TWO holes on the inside of the front bumper that may allow feeding a nut through using a deep socket. Need ideas on what might be best for using TWO nuts and TWO bolts.
It's also allowable for only the front bumper to use a clear plastic cover and of course frame and I think necessarily a backing plate which could only be bolted/screwed with the top two holes.


So the main concern is the front plate. The back one I figure it would be good to use nuts and bolts though I correctly have no idea how to get into the back bumper to get a but on what would be two bolts if it's possible.

So, for the front plate I looked into WeatherTech's super expensive frame with weatherproof gasket and clear plastic cover. I think I'd still need to get some kind of backing plate which could only be as-fixed with two bolts as that's all the front bumper allows. Kinda hoping to rule out the WeatherTech one and just go with something that doesn't have a weatherproof gasket I guess.

Where I'm at now is a plastic backing plate for about 5 bucks - it's kinda of a double-T light thing though would provide at least a firm base for the 14 buck frame that comes with a clear plastic cover.

I'd get the result of protecting from rocks etc. with the clear plastic cover - and have a backing plate that keeps the plate hopefully straight and not all bent up.

It's not allowed to cover the back plate with any plastic cover or other and the way it fits on the back with the two tabs at the bottom and just the two screw/bolt holes on the plate top I figure it's gonna have to go without frame which is fine as it doesn't get mangles or exposed.




ANY help would be fantastic as I've been on this for some while and have come up without anything that feels right.

Mainly without a break-through I'm gonna go with the cheap backing plate for the front and the front plate rests on that with the frame and plastic cover on top of that - then I'd like to use two nuts and bolts which is where the lack of knowledge on whether those two holes on the inside of the front bumper are useable for deep-socket and nut or whatever . How I'm gonna tighten the two bolts is the doliem for the front.

For the back the issue is how to use nets and bolts as there appear to be no obvious way to access the back of the rear plate when it's in position to get nuts on two bolts.




THANKS for reading.
Anyone know what's in those bumpers and how to use nuts and bolts front and back?
And if anyone has a great idea for stopping the front bumper from getting smashed up that would be very great.
There's only two top holes for the front bumper and two top holes for the back bumper as far as mounting the plates goes of course.


Guess I coulda shortened this post.
Just hoping to be clear.
Another big thanks for reading!


Edited by metrologic, Jan 27 2014, 06:23 PM.
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t3ragtop
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Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker

to keep your front bumper from getting smashed.....

quit smashing into things with your front bumper. :D

you had to see that coming. :P

seriously, i've been driving metros for about 12 years and i don't recall ever even bending a license plate secured by the 2 m6 bolts and an oem backing plate behind the lower bumper fascia.
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metrologic
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That's great to hear - mine was mashed when i got it though i figure I'm in your camp and haven't hit anything - so now i have some info - gonna get a backing plate and roll. thanks!


Thing is, still wanna go the distance to at least finding out about bolts and how to perhaps get nuts on the end of bolts instead of the screws that are there.

So, thinking to look at bumper removal info and manual pages.
Have searched bumper and bumper removal - similar for plates etc.

Still, yeah, just doing my best and really, not a biggie - hehe

EDIT ADDITIONAL: whoa, actually, yeah, I could screw on the backing plate (if the bolt/nut thing gets silly trying to figure/do) and then nut and bolt on the plate to the backing plate.
interesting.
Edited by metrologic, Jan 27 2014, 08:20 PM.
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Deleted User
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There are supposed to be two "built in" nut plates on the inside of the front bumper for the purpose of attaching a license plate, or perhaps, a license plate bracket.

If you go to a Pick-n-Pull self service salvage yard, remove a front bumper, and look, perhaps you will see these nut plates. There are a couple of dimples in the front bumper of cars that have never had the holes drilled out.

Front bumper license plate holes can be in seriously molested condition after 20 years or so.

That's all I know about that. Good luck.

Warn me if you're driving anywhere near me. I wouldn't want you to bend your front plate on my bumper. :lol
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vr4


t3ragtop
Jan 27 2014, 07:10 PM
to keep your front bumper from getting smashed.....

quit smashing into things with your front bumper. :D

you had to see that coming. :P

seriously, i've been driving metros for about 12 years and i don't recall ever even bending a license plate secured by the 2 m6 bolts and an oem backing plate behind the lower bumper fascia.
Lol beat me to it. I've had my current plates over 3 years and they still look new.
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DTM GTi
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Geo Glenn
Jan 27 2014, 09:41 PM
There are supposed to be two "built in" nut plates on the inside of the front bumper for the purpose of attaching a license plate, or perhaps, a license plate bracket.

If you go to a Pick-n-Pull self service salvage yard, remove a front bumper, and look, perhaps you will see these nut plates. There are a couple of dimples in the front bumper of cars that have never had the holes drilled out.

Yes, there are two nut plates built into front bumper. Take your old license plate off , go to MVD and ask for a new one , use M6 bolts to attach it to your bumper . Don't hit anything .................

If you are so inclined, taking the front bumper off is at least half day affair. You have to remove both fender liners (have new plastic clips ready , you will need them) , or at least loosen up the front of them , undo the nuts holding upper bumper cover to fenders , take off the bolts holding braces for lower back corner of the bumper , take the turn signals out , take off the bottom bumper reinforcement bolt through turn signal hole , take off upper bumper reinforcement nut, take out the bolt holding bottom center part of bumper cover to core support, slide the bumper forward and off the car . Depending on year undo the bolts holding bumper cover to bumper reinforcement or undo the plastic clips (buy new ones ) pull reinforcement and Styrofoam out of the bumper cover to get to license plate holes .

Personally , don't think its worth the effort but , knock yourself out if you do.
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metrologic
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GREAT INFO!

So, Even though what i now have for both front and back is just two screws for the top two holes in the plates
it's possible I have some sorta plates (or similar) welded inside the front bumper that would actually have and make nuts available to maybe really tighten down m6 bolts.

Will try tomorrow. And maybe the back bumper has the same sort of rig and there's as-fixed bolts inside there.

Having gotten to this point, and with all the help here I'm feeling I've got a result... and for one I'm certain I won't be taking off the bumpers. Just wanna avoid mangling, falling off or vandalism.

I'll be writing back soon to comment on whether m6 bolts tighten as expected.


Grrreat!
Edited by metrologic, Jan 28 2014, 04:21 AM.
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aaronvincent
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Mr Mojo Risin'

If you are really determined to have a good straight front plate (makin' up rhymes!) then you could take off the bumper and drill the holes through. Then you could get the license plate holder from a 98-01 metro and trim it to fit an older bumper. Attach it all together and thread the screws through the bumper, put nuts on the end of the screw and voila! A ridiculously over-imagined front plate holder that wont bend the plate.

Here is what I mean by 98-01 license plate holder, this is the one from my 2000

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Old Man


I was not too choosey. I just drill two holes in the middle of my plate to match the holes in the bumper. Then I jammed two hunkin #12 sheet metal screws thru the holes and thru the center of the bumper.

Took a hammer and rolled the top and bottom to fit around the bumper----Been there a few years
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