Front Plate Bracket - WTF?!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,430
Likes: 3,620
From: Commerce Texas
The front license plate bracket (we need them in RI) almost rubbed through the paint on the bumper after just 81 miles worth of driving.
I noticed it today as I was walking towards the car.
The plate was a little crooked; I went to straighten it and noticed the scuff marks at the point where the top of the front bracket contacts the front fascia.
It was installed "correctly" and the bracket's form lines right up with the fascia. But man, it almost ruined my damn paint!
It's only held on with three sticky-tape pucks, so it's hard to believe that it would even stay on the car.
What are C6 owners who need front plates doing?
I noticed it today as I was walking towards the car.
The plate was a little crooked; I went to straighten it and noticed the scuff marks at the point where the top of the front bracket contacts the front fascia.
It was installed "correctly" and the bracket's form lines right up with the fascia. But man, it almost ruined my damn paint!
It's only held on with three sticky-tape pucks, so it's hard to believe that it would even stay on the car.
What are C6 owners who need front plates doing?
I've got 30,000 miles with the stock front plate holder and no problems. I'd go to the dealer....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 983
Likes: 2
From: CT
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 54
From: Granbury, Pecan Plantation TX
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 983
Likes: 2
From: CT
So is the factory one. The plastic rubs right against the fascia's paint. I just called a co-worker who has an '05 C6. (He almost never drives it to work).
He had the same problem with his factory bracket that I've had. It's junk...
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 564
Likes: 0
From: Tri-Cities Washington
I've been nose to nose with a number of LEO's and have not had a problem. Until I do, it works.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 564
Likes: 0
From: Tri-Cities Washington
Wait
Maybe that would be junk too. I'd say you're doomed. Sell it and buy a Fiat.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 983
Likes: 2
From: CT
Thank you so much.
However, I'm buying a C6 Aero-Plate for $126 shipped:
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_merchandise.htm
The fact that Chevy didn't bother to engineer a proper front plate mount for this car is nothing short of LUDICROUS!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 484
From: Portland Oregon
......
However, I'm buying a C6 Aero-Plate for $126 shipped:
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_merchandise.htm
The fact that Chevy didn't bother to engineer a proper front plate mount for this car is nothing short of LUDICROUS!
However, I'm buying a C6 Aero-Plate for $126 shipped:
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_merchandise.htm
The fact that Chevy didn't bother to engineer a proper front plate mount for this car is nothing short of LUDICROUS!
. The only thing that would worry me with the one you bought is that it looks like in the picture it will rub against the bottom lip of the bumper. The Top Flight bracket doesn't touch any part of the bumper except for the under side where the adhesive attaches to the under side of the bumper. Also as far as the air flow goes, the car is a bottom feeder so air is sucked up from under the bumper's bottom lip, therefore, you won't see any difference in engine temps (at least I don't see that from times I have it on to times I have it off).
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Ames Iowa
I had the same problem with my GM front plate bracket which I decided to try because of where it is placed on the car. The adhesive came loose after a couple of weeks but fortunately didn't harm the paint on the car. Also fortunately, my dealer refunded the cost of the bracket for me. After a lot of research, I selected a bracket from SLP Performance Parts.
http://www.slponline.com/search.asp
This bracket is kind of pricey, but mounts with existing screws and no drilling. It also places the plate at same location as the stick-on GM plate, that is, above the air intake but does not touch the car(clearance is small but it does not touch the paint). I noted that you were looking for something that didn't mount in the middle of the air flow which was my objective also. This bracket is quick removeable by pulling a couple of pins, though not as easily as some might like, and is rigid when in place. I'm very pleased. One thing I don't like about the Topflight bracket is that the base is attached to the car with an adhesive and I just don't consider that as foolproof as screws.
http://www.slponline.com/search.asp
This bracket is kind of pricey, but mounts with existing screws and no drilling. It also places the plate at same location as the stick-on GM plate, that is, above the air intake but does not touch the car(clearance is small but it does not touch the paint). I noted that you were looking for something that didn't mount in the middle of the air flow which was my objective also. This bracket is quick removeable by pulling a couple of pins, though not as easily as some might like, and is rigid when in place. I'm very pleased. One thing I don't like about the Topflight bracket is that the base is attached to the car with an adhesive and I just don't consider that as foolproof as screws.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
I've never had a problem with the factory bracket rubbing the paint. Maybe because I keep it in the garage while I wait to get my first ticket for not having a front plate. 16K miles and counting. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix NY
Your right about the National Corvette Museum plate bracket not being acceptable. I posted my story couple of weeks ago about being warned by the local police agency with this front plate setup... I hated to do it but went with the removable bracket from Top Flight..
Last edited by vettnut69; Sep 19, 2008 at 07:16 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,836
Likes: 9
From: Rushsylvania Ohio
It blocks air flow to the radiator.
I want a bracket that is going to place the plate ABOVE the lower grill and about where the piece of crap OEM "bracket" would fit.
I can't believe how bad the factory "bracket" is. It's junk, it almost instantly ruins the paint and it will fall off in hot weather. They should have removable, body-colored plugs in the front bumper with threaded holes beneath them.
I am BS about this.
I want a bracket that is going to place the plate ABOVE the lower grill and about where the piece of crap OEM "bracket" would fit.
I can't believe how bad the factory "bracket" is. It's junk, it almost instantly ruins the paint and it will fall off in hot weather. They should have removable, body-colored plugs in the front bumper with threaded holes beneath them.
I am BS about this.
1. The TopFlight bracket DOES NOT block airflow. Does not cause increased water temps or decrease performance. Tests have been ran by a few forum vendors to prove this. The one that comes to mind is Corvettes of Winchester (COW).
2. While the factory bracket sure looks bad, alot of people have ran them with no problems at all. Threaded holes in the front fascia is not an acceptable solution. Period.
3. To make intelligent decisions on the products you plan to purchase for your Corvette, you should spend a little time here on the forum asking questions and doing a little research. You learn alot here by listening to the experience/recommendations of others. Not doing this is why you ended up with the factory bracket on your car.
Most here in this thread are telling you to get the TopFlight bracket, but your going to "show us all" and go and get something based on no experience or recommendations of others? Think your about to make another mistake.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,052
Likes: 253
amazing
The Top Flight removable front license plate bracket is awesome. It's on when you want it and off when you don't with no signs of the plate being on since it never touches the paint on the bumper (on the exposed portions of the bumper that is). It takes all of two minutes to take the plate and bracket on and off using the two supplied wing nuts. Their website is http://www.topflightrepro.com/ and they are a supporting vendor on the forum.
nice to be able to drive without checking to see if front plate violation is about to be enforced.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 983
Likes: 2
From: CT
Going to have to be a bit cruel, but your lack of knowledge to the Corvette scene is showing through on this one.
1. The TopFlight bracket DOES NOT block airflow. Does not cause increased water temps or decrease performance. Tests have been ran by a few forum vendors to prove this. The one that comes to mind is Corvettes of Winchester (COW).
2. While the factory bracket sure looks bad, alot of people have ran them with no problems at all. Threaded holes in the front fascia is not an acceptable solution. Period.
3. To make intelligent decisions on the products you plan to purchase for your Corvette, you should spend a little time here on the forum asking questions and doing a little research. You learn alot here by listening to the experience/recommendations of others. Not doing this is why you ended up with the factory bracket on your car.
Most here in this thread are telling you to get the TopFlight bracket, but your going to "show us all" and go and get something based on no experience or recommendations of others? Think your about to make another mistake.
1. The TopFlight bracket DOES NOT block airflow. Does not cause increased water temps or decrease performance. Tests have been ran by a few forum vendors to prove this. The one that comes to mind is Corvettes of Winchester (COW).
2. While the factory bracket sure looks bad, alot of people have ran them with no problems at all. Threaded holes in the front fascia is not an acceptable solution. Period.
3. To make intelligent decisions on the products you plan to purchase for your Corvette, you should spend a little time here on the forum asking questions and doing a little research. You learn alot here by listening to the experience/recommendations of others. Not doing this is why you ended up with the factory bracket on your car.
Most here in this thread are telling you to get the TopFlight bracket, but your going to "show us all" and go and get something based on no experience or recommendations of others? Think your about to make another mistake.
I'm not "showing" anybody anything.
A co-worker has an '05 C6 and he had THE VERY SAME problems with his front bracket (scuffed paint near the top edge of the factory "bracket" after just a few miles of driving). The top edge of the factory front bracket is shaped like a knife edge. It's a very poor design. It should have a a 1" wide strip around the rear perimeter and the 3M should be stuck to that. That would have eliminated scuffing altogether and would have also adhered much better by providing a much larger adhesive contact area.
The Top Flight bracket WILL impede airflow to some degree. Whether or not that difference is visible on the temp gauge is another question. Plenty of people on this board have expressed concerns about that; it's not just me.
Example: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...8&postcount=18
I am not getting that bracket; I am getting this one. It's a personal choice; others are free to run whatever they'd like.
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...8CC81A969F8384
Last edited by harddrivin1le; Sep 19, 2008 at 09:38 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburb Illinois
The front license plate bracket (we need them in RI) almost rubbed through the paint on the bumper after just 81 miles worth of driving.
I noticed it today as I was walking towards the car.
The plate was a little crooked; I went to straighten it and noticed the scuff marks at the point where the top of the front bracket contacts the front fascia.
It was installed "correctly" and the bracket's form lines right up with the fascia. But man, it almost ruined my damn paint!
It's only held on with three sticky-tape pucks, so it's hard to believe that it would even stay on the car.
What are C6 owners who need front plates doing?
I noticed it today as I was walking towards the car.
The plate was a little crooked; I went to straighten it and noticed the scuff marks at the point where the top of the front bracket contacts the front fascia.
It was installed "correctly" and the bracket's form lines right up with the fascia. But man, it almost ruined my damn paint!
It's only held on with three sticky-tape pucks, so it's hard to believe that it would even stay on the car.
What are C6 owners who need front plates doing?
Is it possible someone 'bumped' you?
Only way I could see this happening in 81 miles.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 983
Likes: 2
From: CT
Nobody bumped the car.
A co-worker experienced the very same problem with his '05 C6, so it's not just me. And what are the odds that the only two people who experienced this problem would work together in the same place?
The upper back portion of the factory bracket is almost like a knife edge. I can't see how it wouldn't scuff the paint now that I'm fully aware of the situation and the poor design.
Last edited by harddrivin1le; Sep 19, 2008 at 09:34 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
I don't do car shows, nor do I ever expect to have to remove my front plate bracket, so I opted for the fixed Top Flight bracket.
I found that the top edge of my plate actually rubbed on the paint, so I trimmed down the plate by about 1/2" all around. It now clears and is just a bit less intrusive. Since the area behind the plate is totally unobstructed, I can't see air flow as being a serious issue at all.
I haven't seen the bracket the OP mentions on a car, and the web site doesn't show it mounted, but I'd imagine it will do at least as good a job as the Top flight one.
I would have to agree though, that GM really made no design provisions for the front plate when they did the nose of the C6. The GM bracket is not at all integrated into the lines of the car, and seems like an afterthought.
And yes...the State police in New Hampshire have started an aggressive campaign against front plate non-compliance. It's nothing but revenue for the State and an expense for me, but it's something I don't want to have to worry about. I got away with it on my 2005, but I don't want to push my luck any further.
I found that the top edge of my plate actually rubbed on the paint, so I trimmed down the plate by about 1/2" all around. It now clears and is just a bit less intrusive. Since the area behind the plate is totally unobstructed, I can't see air flow as being a serious issue at all.
I haven't seen the bracket the OP mentions on a car, and the web site doesn't show it mounted, but I'd imagine it will do at least as good a job as the Top flight one.
I would have to agree though, that GM really made no design provisions for the front plate when they did the nose of the C6. The GM bracket is not at all integrated into the lines of the car, and seems like an afterthought.
And yes...the State police in New Hampshire have started an aggressive campaign against front plate non-compliance. It's nothing but revenue for the State and an expense for me, but it's something I don't want to have to worry about. I got away with it on my 2005, but I don't want to push my luck any further.