A problem so stupid.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 247
Likes: 43
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
A problem so stupid.....
I cant believe I have to ask....
so good news is that my Vette finally has license plates and insurance!! And once I finish wiring up the temp. Sending unit tomorrow, shes off to the alignment shop!!
Now, you'll notice I said I finally got license plates, and I hope that a few of you know where im about to go with this so i dont feel so dumb..
in VA, antique plates only have top mounting holes, something that GM did not agree with back in the day, so what's the best way to mount this bad boy without having to drill holes in the bottom of my plates??
As for the front... my license plate holes line up with the larger diameter holes, where you will notice there is something hidden behind it.. it appears to be fiberglass.. if I drill through that, will it be sturdy enough to mount my front plates??
thanks and dont judge!
Last edited by VirginiaVette78; Aug 24, 2018 at 08:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 247
Likes: 43
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
My dad ran into something like this on his avanti,
He also thought plates were ahem, tacky,
He insisted on a thin black frame around his plates
So he mounted tag to frame, then frame to car....
He also thought plates were ahem, tacky,
He insisted on a thin black frame around his plates
So he mounted tag to frame, then frame to car....
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
See if you can find a couple of strips of flat bar or whatever and make up something that bolts into the bottom holes of the car and then you can put some of the plastic retainers in the top to screw the plate to
M
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 239
From: Southern CALIFORNIA
all the holes in the front bumper are for a plate bracket. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-C3-License-Tag-Mounting-Bracket-OEM/292625094383?hash=item4421d096ef%3Ag%3A0 Z8AAOSw4CFY5AtB&_sacat=0&_nkw=c3+corvett e+licnse+mount&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m 570.l1313
And on that bracket, it has these mounting style bolt and press in nut. https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Chevrolet...LH_TitleDesc=0
And on that bracket, it has these mounting style bolt and press in nut. https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Chevrolet...LH_TitleDesc=0
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 566
Likes: 64
From: Sebastian,FL
When I was working for MB they used to bring a lot of grey market cars in which were set up for european plates, we had license frames that were a thin chrome frame that mounted to a separate metal back and held the plate between you drilled the back metal piece to fit the hole placement slid the plate in and then the frame on top. If yours is like my 77 those rear upper bolts hold the cover onto the bumper bar. I myself would put holes in a $20 frame before I’d alter the car.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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will the cheap plastic license plate plugs fit in there that you get in the help section of the local parts stores? like this
https://www.autozone.com/license-pla...rew/464528_0_0
other solutions
mounts
https://www.autozone.com/license-plate-and-accessories/license-plate-bracket-and-frame?filterByKeyWord=license+plate&from String=search&isIgnoreVehicle=false
fasteners
https://www.autozone.com/license-pla...nting-hardware
https://www.autozone.com/license-pla...rew/464528_0_0
other solutions
mounts
https://www.autozone.com/license-plate-and-accessories/license-plate-bracket-and-frame?filterByKeyWord=license+plate&from String=search&isIgnoreVehicle=false
fasteners
https://www.autozone.com/license-pla...nting-hardware
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Aug 25, 2018 at 07:01 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,906
Likes: 4,479
From: Virginia
The orange Virginia antique tags have four holes in them, and are almost the same color as the Gadsden Flag tags that are commonly seen, so they don't look out of place at all. The black tags belong on a chrome bumper car, but if you like them, just drill holes in the antique tags. For your 78, you should only have to drill bottom holes in one of the tags. Otherwise, run the orange tags, or get standard tags if your car can pass an inspection (passing with my 79 after fixing the parking brake is still my proudest car moment).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 224
From: Pawleys Island, SC
get standard tags if your car can pass an inspection
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 247
Likes: 43
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
If you run standard tags, you get to pay property tax, and tag renewal and inspection every year. I didnt think to get the other antiques, probably should have, but too little too late. What I eneded up doing (that worked) was getting a $15 plate frame from autozone like suggested, and then only mounted the plate frame by the bottom bolts, giving me access to mount the top of the plate to the top of the frame. And in the front, I got the plastic retaining clips like everyone suggested, worked like a dream!
Thanks all!
Thanks all!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 239
From: Southern CALIFORNIA
ha. im in california. Its waaayy cooler to have yom plates. my buddy just spent over 800$ restoring and registering some 1951 plates.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
If you run standard tags, you get to pay property tax, and tag renewal and inspection every year. I didnt think to get the other antiques, probably should have, but too little too late. What I eneded up doing (that worked) was getting a $15 plate frame from autozone like suggested, and then only mounted the plate frame by the bottom bolts, giving me access to mount the top of the plate to the top of the frame. And in the front, I got the plastic retaining clips like everyone suggested, worked like a dream!
Thanks all!
Thanks all!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,906
Likes: 4,479
From: Virginia
FWIW, Virginia doesn't care about the registration. There is no tax for an antique car, period. The People's Republic of Fairfax County charges a registration fee (no sticker anymore), but that's maybe $33-. Original YOM plates can only be put on Corvette that originally came with a chrome front bumper, so 1973 and later can't use them,