License Plate Mounting
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 44
From: Loudon/Lake Mary Tennessee/Florida
License Plate Mounting
Hi,
I just recently purchased my '02 vert and today I went to mount my new plate and found that there were no mounting screws. Off to Walmart and I purchased a simple package by the license plate frames. These are screws with machine type threads.
These look to be corerct but will only screw in about 1/4 inch. Meanwhile I noticed that the plate frame is made to snap apart and hold the plate. So, I put the plate in and snapped it back together. I do not like trusting just plastic so I inserted one screw as far as it would go.
1) Do you use the plastic frame and no screws?
2) Can you tell me the correct screw size?
TIA
J
I just recently purchased my '02 vert and today I went to mount my new plate and found that there were no mounting screws. Off to Walmart and I purchased a simple package by the license plate frames. These are screws with machine type threads.
These look to be corerct but will only screw in about 1/4 inch. Meanwhile I noticed that the plate frame is made to snap apart and hold the plate. So, I put the plate in and snapped it back together. I do not like trusting just plastic so I inserted one screw as far as it would go.
1) Do you use the plastic frame and no screws?
2) Can you tell me the correct screw size?
TIA
J
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Use screws. The plate is cosmetic only. I don't know the size of the screw. If no one else chimes in, I'll check it when I get home from work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,049
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From: The second childhood is the best one of all.
The screws GM uses have a courser thread than normal machine screws. I know my Audi uses a smaller machine screw. You want to get the correct screws and put both screws in. I got some chrome caps to go on top of the screws and it makes for a much cleaner look. I got them from an auto parts store like Nationwise. Also, I put the Kewl plate frame which is painter to match my car. I think it looks almost as nice as no plate. It's too bad we have to have a front plate in Ohio.
And welcome to the forum.
And welcome to the forum.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 44
From: Loudon/Lake Mary Tennessee/Florida
Originally Posted by Cozmo
Use screws. The plate is cosmetic only. I don't know the size of the screw. If no one else chimes in, I'll check it when I get home from work.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 44
From: Loudon/Lake Mary Tennessee/Florida
Originally Posted by sailohio
The screws GM uses have a courser thread than normal machine screws. I know my Audi uses a smaller machine screw. You want to get the correct screws and put both screws in. I got some chrome caps to go on top of the screws and it makes for a much cleaner look. I got them from an auto parts store like Nationwise. Also, I put the Kewl plate frame which is painter to match my car. I think it looks almost as nice as no plate. It's too bad we have to have a front plate in Ohio.
And welcome to the forum.
And welcome to the forum.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 723
From: Chicago N/W Suburbs
ALL MY CARS, Corvette or otherwise.....
I get all new license plate mounting screws from ACE Hardware.
- Flat Blade
- Pan Head (low profile)
- Self Tapping
- Stainless Steel
The low profile pan head screws are clean and never rust.
I learned years back from an old 1987 Taurus we had, when my son tapped the rear of another car. The stock license plate screws pierced the bumper skin of the other car causing $400 damage that would have been $0 with the low profile panheads.
It also saves our clothing and skin when we walk around the car in our garage. Those stock license plate screws are so very sharp, stick up high, etc.
I do realize the stock Corvette screws are low profile. At least in the back. I don't mount a plate up front.......though by law I should.
I get all new license plate mounting screws from ACE Hardware.
- Flat Blade
- Pan Head (low profile)
- Self Tapping
- Stainless Steel
The low profile pan head screws are clean and never rust.
I learned years back from an old 1987 Taurus we had, when my son tapped the rear of another car. The stock license plate screws pierced the bumper skin of the other car causing $400 damage that would have been $0 with the low profile panheads.
It also saves our clothing and skin when we walk around the car in our garage. Those stock license plate screws are so very sharp, stick up high, etc.
I do realize the stock Corvette screws are low profile. At least in the back. I don't mount a plate up front.......though by law I should.
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I use both the license plate surrounds and the screws to hold the plate in.
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On our rear plate/frame, I utilized four 1/4"x1" anti-theft license plate fasteners (special allen-head machine screws) from Cruiser Accessories ( www.cruiserframes.com ), which I purchased from my local Kragen Auto Parts store. I also purchased a set of AutoLogic license plate fasteners which came with black plastic decorative screw head cap covers. These covers snap onto a retainer to cover the screw head, and which I used on the anti-theft fasteners to match our black license plate frame on the C5. I utilized the same, but with chrome covers, on our new Chrysler as well. 
Me too.