gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

Updated PICS on Page 2 (Post #37)

I live in Texas and a front plate is required. You can remove it and risk the potential hassles or tickets. I read about some people on the clubRSX board who relocated the plate with some zip ties and brackets.

Hardware
I bought some hardware from Lowes for about $8 and relocated my place over the weekend. It basically consists of some two “L” brackets, two “straight” brackets, and 6 sets of nuts, bolts, washers, and lock washers. I also bought some small plastic “bumpers” and stuck to the back of the plate to keep it from contacting the paint.

Directions
Remove the plate and OEM mounting apparatus. The plate is held on with 4 self tapping screws and the mounting “thing” is held on with 2 bolts up under the bumper. It takes about 2 minutes to remove.

I attached the “L” brackets to the original mounting locations with the original bolts. Then you attach the straight brackets to the back of the plate (see picture below) and then bolt the plate to the “L” brackets. I had to enlarge the holes on all of the brackets just a little to get everything to fit. Other than that, the alignment of the holes was pretty straight on.

Result
I think it looks cleaner than stock. It is not as clean as showing no plate, but I would rather not have the hassles. For 30 minutes of time and $8, it was an easy mod for a Saturday afternoon.

Before


After

dabuda

it def does look better, shows more blue and less of the black hole, good work!

fortunately for me they dont have front plates in FL

ClutchPerformer

Is your license plate really "WWW WWW"? Freaky...

That does look nice, though.

kurt_bradley

He photoshopped the plate so that people won't have his plates posted all over the place.

fdl

I'd like to see another pic, maybe from a bit further away if possible.

slo007

Looks spiffy!

captainjack

Whew. For a second there, I thought slo007 was a HUGE Bush, Jr. fan.

Nice work on the plate move. Very professional.

ABP-CL9-TSX

very nice configuration.

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Kurt is right, I PS'ed the plates. I am not very good with PS so you can really tell they were touched.

FDL
I will post some more pics when I get home from work today.

dabuda

nice photochop too! i didnt pay much attention and thought they were ur real plates

cmf

Cool thing about living on a border town. So many drivers from Mexico with no plates at all, and NM with no front plates, means even with TX plates they never pay attention......I roll with my front plate in the car so when I get stopped I just throw it in the windshield.

tigerfan85

gsclifton, jw if you could take a picture of the original mounting position..how did you put the L brackets on? and how big are the L brackets? much thanks
nick

dom

= Joke

Nice work gs. We need front plates as well in Ontario. I'm going to look into this.

BTW - A couple of pics of the "L" brackets may be helpful as well. Thanks.

ClutchPerformer

Winner!

gfxdave99

NEAT! good job.. i might do that myself

FuriousGeorge83

Like the new lower mount, but It covers the vents to the engine. Just wondering, wont that mess with the cooldown with the engine (less air getting to it = hotter engine) leading to faster engine wear or am I just retarded?

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

It looks like it will restrict air flow to the radiator slightly more than the stock setup. IMO, it will not be a problem. I live in Texas, so I will let you know in August

Seriously, I will post some more pictures later this afternoon.

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

kiteboy

Very clever. Are the bottom bolts fixed to anything? If not, do you think it might rub against the lower part of the bumper at speed?

Also, does anyone know if the Highway Traffic Act (Ontario or elsewhere) indicate that plates need to be vertical?

iamhomin

I'll go against the flow and say it looks out of place and messy, but just my opinion.

SoCaliTrojan

Sorry to revive this thread, but I was wondering if anyone has backup pictures of the OP's DIY. I'm going to try relocating my front plate, and have numerous searches, this is the closest one I can find.

I believe I may have seen it back when I got my TSX a month ago (which is why I'm looking for it now since the plates finally came in), but the pictures and website are gone =( The OP hasn't done a post since the first of May too =(

I'm not bold enough to drive without a front license plate, but I'm bold enough to try and relocate it (at least it'll be recessed & a little out of the way I suppose)

Or...can someone show me their set-up? I've tried to do various searches, and I'll be darned if there are any more threads out there lol

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Yea ive done something I used the mesh grill in the air dam and used hollow wall screws to place it in the front of the air dam.

curls

I'd love to do this.

GSCLIFTON: Can you email me the pics and/or sizes of the brackets? curls.00@rogers.com

Thanks man!!
Eric
PS: Any adverse affects from a cooling standpoint? Being in Texas, you have a good test as compared to me in Ontario.

SoCaliTrojan

Thanks, looks good. Do you have any pictures up close/behind the plate?

I was thinking of fabricating my own mesh grill (done it twice on my accord), although I don't think I can get it looking good enough for my TSX lol

curls, I don't think there will be any adverse effects. There should still be alot of air coming through the upper grille anyway, and the air will just go around the plate.

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

Sorry guys, I recently changed ISP's and those pictures are no longer hosted. I just picked up all of the hardware at Lowes.

I sent pictures as requested.

EDIT
I have had the plate like that for 2 years and no problems with cooling.

jlukja

Can you host the pics on imageshack? I can edit the links in your post so the pics show up again.

bradykp

can you send the pics to me as well, i missed the original posting, and cant see them now.

curls

jlukja: I sent you (PM) links to the imageshack pics that gsclifton sent me.

gsclifton: I hope this is OK w/ you. I know a lot of people are interested in this mod. And, your licence plate and other identifying marks are not in the pics, so all is good from that perspective.

jlukja

Thanks curls.

gsclifton, I won't post the pics unless I hear from you that its OK (either here or by PM). If it is OK then I'll replace the old links in your original post with the new links that curls PMd me.

STL

I made a similar mod, but my method reuses the original plate holder. For some reason I cannot access my webspace else I would've posted a pic already.

TSX2345

I'd like to see the pictures too.

STL: How did you do yours?

curls

I'd like to know, too. Debating on which of the possible methods I will use.

CKcentral

This would be something that I would be interested in if i used my front license plate. Right now its just chillin in my glove box. Ive been pulled over too and the cop didnt say anything. Nor did he say nething about my illegal tint so ill just keep riding naked up front untill something is said.

STL

Here is the pic (you might need to turn your brightness up to better see the details in the dark areas):


I fliped the original plate holder upside down. This required drilling a coulpe holes inside the grill area. The holes had to be drilled at an angle, and then I worked the holes with just the bit (in my hand) to make them more vertical. I also reused the original bolts and nut-clips -- but I modified the latter by flattening them out. Look closely at the picture and you'll see I also put a small notch in the plate holder where it rests against a horizontal part of the black plastic grill. I also used a couple vinyl coated wires (that aren't visible because they are behind the plate) to keep the top of the holder snug. Also note the bottom of the holder is not touching the lower painted portion of the bumper although it's close -- and at higher speeds there should be more pressure towards the top of the plate (because of the angle) so it should be okay.

STL

Not sure why the picture went away...maybe this link will work:
linky

And another try:

97AcuraCL

holy back from the dead batman

gsclifton

iTrader: (2)

Sorry for the delay. It has been hectic lately.

jlukja

Please feel free to update the original links. I just emailed Curls the pics, but maybe he uploaded them somewhere. I rehosted the pics on the new ISP though and the should show up below.

jlukja

Looks like another mod beat me to it. There is a note in your original post to look for pics on page 2.

TSX2345

When the straight brackets are installed are installed verticaly or horizontaly?

You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of all your supplies you used prior to installation would you?

JayRoam

dang, I'd do the same thing, but I have that damn hole drilled into my bumper. Maybe when I have time do fill the hole (or get someone to do it), i'll do the license plate too. Anybody else have to bondo the hole drilled into the bumper?