When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 72 L-48. It does not have a front plate or mounting bracket. I think Bubba knocked it off. I want to replace the plate bracket and add a logo cross flag plate but I notice that that space is a great un-abstructed path for air to get to the rad. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I read a lot of stuff about cars running hot. Mine is fine. Don't know if this might screw it up.
You should be fine w/ the plate on & lower lip spoiler, rad. seals, etc.
For high power setups the Indy pace car ft. spoiler is great for aero. & cooling.
Re: Does front vanity plate block air flow? (Red73)
Don't know about other state laws, but in Ohio if you register you car as an antique you can use model year plates and only the rear is required..... :smash:
It should have no effect on airflow into the radiator. With all the seals in place around the radiator shroud/radiator, the air should be drawn up from underneath the car, up through the radiator and exit out the side grates..... :chevy
A front license plate makes your car much more visible to radar! I also much prefer the look of any car without extra legal adornment, vanity or otherwise. Even if there wasn't any radar, photo radar, etc. I still don't like putting plates or stickers of any kind on my cars. It must me the anarchist in me!
I see the original poster lives in Ga. I live just south of you in Jax Fl....
so we share the heat...
I had a tag filler on my '72 here for a year allmost, then discovered upon removing it there was a center eggcrate grill behind it...due to the bracket and never having to mess around with that area, I didn't know that...well...
it stopped the freeway summertime airflow/heating problem in it's tracks...
:yesnod: :eek:
I bought a center grill for my '74 and removed the front plate. Even when it hit 100* and high humidity the other day the car never went over 210*, this is a major victory for me! Other things that helped included, running the right mixture of water/antifreeze, all new seals, new clutch fan, installing a complete shroud, and a new front spoiler.
In mho I would not use a front plate if I didn't need to.
-harry
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Never really thought about it blocking air flow. Rodded the radiator, new fan clutch, thermostat, hoses, belts, and temperature never gets over 200 even on 100 degree days. Texas requires the front plate. NASCAR tapes the front of their cars for more speed.
73 Coupe with AC that runs hot at speed in CA during 100+ degree Summer weather. 3 row aluminum radiator, dual fans. Bought it that way, wish it had the original radiator, fan and shroud which is a better system. Out here you need a front plate. Took a look at the license mounting frame that blocked the entire opening and did a Bubba alteration.
Removed the license plate frame holder. Screwed a piece of strip steel to the upper bracket mounts. Attached the top of the license plate to the steel strip. Now the plate leans back, gained a good 11' of air flow with the plate acting as a mini air dam. Totally visible from the front to avoid the no plate ticket. Last pic is the air dam extension made from $10.00 of supplies from Home Depot for those who noticed it in the license plate pics.
Old bracket Steel mounting strip 11' x 6'' new upward air opening Mini Air Dam Looks original from front and hopefully legal $10 air dam extension
i was going to suggest dropping the plate down a couple inches and tilt the bottom forward making it into an additional air dam. great minds... 75-up would take some cutting and removal of stuff begind the bumper. and then get a vanity plate that says DAM and see if anybody gets it... Newroy, did the plate-splitter help with engine temps?
Last edited by derekderek; Aug 21, 2022 at 07:33 PM.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Generally the Mods dont like people answering old threads and lock them when this happens. Newtoy is doing a good job of documenting but should start his own thread
Does front vanity plate block air flow?
:smash:
