Miata Mailing List: August 1993, Message #95
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   From: capek@blue.rtsg.mot.com (Tom Capek @708-632-6633)
Subject: License Plate Bracket
   Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1993 10:12:54 -0400


Here in Illinois a front license plate is required.  Since I think that the
stock Miata location looks stupid, I made the following brackets to relocate
my plate down to the lower lip of the bumper (centered both vertically in
relation to the lip and along the long axis of the car).


5 1/2  x   (dimension in inches)
_________
|
4  |
|
|___
2 y

The brackets were fabricated from flat aluminum stock, 1/2" wide X 1/8" thick.
At point 'x', drill a hole (about 1/2" from the end) to mount on the ORIGINAL
license plate bolts underneath the top lip of the bumper.

At point 'y', drill a hole to accept the ORIGINAL license plate frame, but
mount the frame upside down.  The plate will have to be inverted, but the
holes  will line up.  You have to use some 3/16" or 1/4" dia. by 1/2" bolts
to join the brackets to the original plate holder.  You'll also have to take
the original mounting hardware out of the bumper (extremely easy) and file
a slot in each for clearance for the bracket (also very easy), or else just
bend the bracket up a point 'x' just a little.  There is sort of a curved
plate on the end of the original bracket bolts that backs up against the
upper edge of the top lip of the bumper that interferes with the proper angle
of the new brackets.  File a little slot slightly wider than 1/2" and about
1/8" deep.  Don't worry if you don't understand it from my description, you'll
see it when you put it back together.  (allow the original bracket to almost
completely overlap the 2" portion to locate hole 'y').

If you've done everything properly, the license plate will now be centered about
1/2" in front of the lower lip of the bumper and it' bottom edge will be
even with the lowest part of the car.  It's sort of the clearance tester.

BTW, these brackets mount in towards the radiator and then curve back out, if
that wasn't obvious from the description.  How do you bend it?  Grab it firmly
in a vise and pound on it with an ordinary hammer as close to the jaws as
possible.  You may have to twist it somewhat after you do the bends to have it
lie flat if your angles aren't even side-to-side.  I had to with mine.

Make sure that the 4" dimension is measured from the outside of the backet,
not the inside.  The 'mouth' of the Miata bumper is only about 4 1/2" wide,
so it's a snug fit.  However, for less than $5 worth of hardware and a little
sweat, it's the best bracket I've seen to re-locate the damn plate to a less
obvious position.

Tom Capek
'93 Classic Red

Found the rev-limiter the other day pulling out of a toll booth - OOPS!