2008 front plate alternative? Aftermarket? ideas?

[C6RAPTOR]

Originally Posted by RAB

JB, CONGRATS!!! on your new CTS coming in! That didn't take long at all. Only 1 month from the time your order was placed to delivery of car?!! That's fantastic.
About the mounting of the front plate... You and I are absolutely in agreement on this one. The standard/GM intended way that the LP bracket is getting installed by dealers ends up blocking at least 2 inches of the "upper grill". The LP bracket looks terrible up so high -- it totally ruins the look of the upper grill, which is really the focal point of the front end.
As soon as my car arrived I went into the trunk and took out the 2-piece plastic bracket (it comes in a bag along with 4 rivets and some screws for LP mounting) and brought it home to 'consider my options' in the days & weeks ahead. Ontario is a 2-plate province, but it's questionable as to what extent the police actually enforce the requirement. So far so good... of course it's only been about 1 week. I was advised that if I'm stopped for lack of a front plate, I will be issued a warning and given 48 hours to install it. So until that time comes, the front LP bracket stays off.

Having said that... if & when the time comes, I've come up with an idea on how to install the LP bracket 2 1/2 inches lower. Instead of the 'standard' mount where the two molded-in guide clips (on the bracket) insert into the very top portion center-most 'squares' of the lower grill, I would choose to insert the bracket's guide clips into the very bottom portion center-most squares of the lower grill (which represents a lowering of 2 1/2"). The issue now is how to secure the bracket in place, as there is nothing to drill into to use the included rivets. But then, do I want to use the included rivets? NO!!!! I would use use a couple of small bolt-diameter toggle bolts. The 'toggle' bit of the toggle bolt would be located behind the lower grill. I would use a large diameter flat washer (or a small plate with a hole for the bolt) under each toggle to spread the clamp force out to a greater area of the grill. (For anyone wondering what a toggle bolt is, I've included here an image of one).
I placed the bracket temporarily by hand on my CTS using the orientation I've mentioned here, and it looks MUCH MUCH BETTER than the 'standard' mount.
Any drawback to this idea? There's this, I suppose.... If the LP bracket gets caught in something you've bumped up against while parking, the force of the LP bracket being ripped off the car as you reverse the vehicle would damage the lower grill. Personally, I can live with that very unlikely potential.

Hope this info helps. Can't wait to see pics of your new CTS! Later...

Rab

I do not have my CTS yet so that I can not do much planing for a bracket.
You have already put a lot of thought into it so may I ask you to look at www.topflightrepro.com and look at the C6 Corvette front plate mounting bracket and let me know if you think there is room to stick the C6 bracket onto the CTS's lower grill.http://www.topflightrepro.com/bracketinstall.pdf
Gary
gary@grbowler.com

[C6RAPTOR]

Originally Posted by RAB

JB, thanks. Glad to hear that things worked out well for you. Only 15 minutes?! I think you completed the application on your car faster than I did on mine. The inverted application of the bracket assembly to the area just below the painted fascia isn't too bad, is it? I'm happy with how it turned out on my car, and I've decided to leave it on, at least for now. I actually applied the Ontario plate on the front of my CTS today. Bloody hell, I hate being a conformist.

Your picking up 14 inch zip ties was a good idea, along with the felt protectors I recommended. I just used what I had on hand in the house (7 inch white zip ties), as such I had to string several together to achieve the required length.
The 1/8th inch of play you're seeing is okay.. but my own set-up is rock solid tight. For info you can achieve more tightness (stretch) on zip ties by using a specific tool for that purpose, or by using basic side-cutter pliers to grab the zip just beside the head and incremently force it along (tighter) with a twisting action.

Just a couple of 'heads up' on the application:
1. Always BEWARE of raised perpendicular curbs when parking your CTS in parking lots, diagonal street parking, etc. Those curbs will probably take out your lowered LP bracket, and possibly a part of the bottom grill where the zip ties attach. You might also want to avoid going over large pack-accumulations of snow. I can guarantee the lowered LP bracket will suck as a plow.
2. Most zip ties become brittle over time, expecially after being exposed to winter temps. I suggest you replace the zip ties every Spring, or if necessary, every Spring and Fall.

I'm looking forward to that first round! Later....
RAB.

Could anyone send me a photo of this mount?
gary@grbowler.com

[C6RAPTOR]

Originally Posted by JBsZ06

I recently sold my C5 Z06 and picked up a C6. I used a plate holder that is lower than the topflight version and I used the Lew and Rab solution for the CTS. Its very sharp.

Thanks

I also have a C6 Z51. Are you a Corvette Forum member?
Could you e-mail me a photo of your front license plate solution?
C6RAPTOR

[RAB]

Originally Posted by C6RAPTOR

Could anyone send me a photo of this mount?
gary@grbowler.com

C6RAPTOR (Gary),
I have no problem emailing you a few photos of the modified (lowered) LP mount... but have you checked out the photos I had posted on page 3 of this thread? I think the photos & text in that posting (together with several posts just after that one) tell a pretty good story on how it was done.
As well, note that the lowered LP bracket can be applied with a couple of toggle bolts rather than cable/zip ties. Forum member LFG posted photos and a "how to" re applying the LP bracket in the same lowered position using toggle bolts and some washers (see page 6 of this thread).
If you still need/want a few photos sent via email, let me know via a PM or a further post.

RAB.

[C6RAPTOR]

RAB,
Got it. Looks good. Thanks you.

http://tnbelectricalworld.tnb.com/co...GM-1630_LR.pdf

T&B has Ty-Raps for harsh enviroment and also SS Ty-Raps.
UV is the problem with general duty type.

[z06bigbird]

You could take 3 tags and attach them together in the shape of a triangle. Put a light in the middle. Attach all to top of roof. Prenend you delivery pizza, a la Dominos in the late 80s.

No need to worry about front bumper.

[C6RAPTOR]

Originally Posted by CTSoto

Well although I took my plate holder off, my dealer was smart when they installed it. They mounted it upside down and did some trimming to the holder. Heres a pic when it was on.

Could you please ask your dealer for more detail on how he mounted your front plate. I really like what they did. I will ask my dealer to do the same or I will do the same when my wife's CTS comes in.
gary@grbowler.com

[JBsZ06]

Thats a nice setup. Originally I was going to put mine on that way.

I can't tell you for sure thats what they did but I had (although I stopped in the middle to mount it the RAB/LEW meathod which I like better.

I took a dremil and took off the bottom 90 degree lip that locates the plate holder to the grill.

I then was going to mount the plate holder upside down with the wholes in the bumper at the lowest point.

I saw Rab's meathod and since it was reversible if I didn't like it ...I glued the 90 degree locating piece back on and mounted as Rab showed in his posts using the zip ties.

I just got back from driving in a snow storm today and its still on.

I think and its just my opinion the RAB/LEW location (chose the zip ties or the toggle bolts) is show car like ...

Cool and low.

Good luck deciding but the low meathod is NOT alerting police here even though in NJ the goverment requires 12 inch plate height...

I like it and appreciate RABS and LEWS efforts and photos.

Really made the car look great. I used a lowered position on my vette too.

I used the corvette central plate holder or eklers as they are from the same manufacturer I believe.

The topflight was good too.. I just wanted something a little lower to not alter the nose of the car. (I had emailed topflight to ask if they had something for the caddy and they said they didn't know for sure but I was welcome to try, mentioning the porsche guys use it.

I hate to say it but I didn't feel like being the guinea pig in my garage.

[Macdad]

There is an animation near the bottom of the page on the following URL. I'm not sure how something like that would work on the CTS; almost but not quiet James Bond.

http://www.scienceofspeed.com/produc...cense%5FPlate/

[C6RAPTOR]

Originally Posted by CTSoto

Well although I took my plate holder off, my dealer was smart when they installed it. They mounted it upside down and did some trimming to the holder. Heres a pic when it was on.

Thanks for the info. I got my dealer to do the same and it looks great.
I ordered our loaded AWD CTS 12/03/07 and it was built 12/20/07 and delivered 12/26/07.

[WhtDmnd04CTS]

it looks soooo much better when it's lower

[C6RAPTOR]

Originally Posted by WhtDmnd04CTS

it looks soooo much better when it's lower

TOO low for me and the NYSP.

[WhtDmnd04CTS]

lol it is low.. looks kinda funky at first honestly
no cops here on Long Island have said anything
**knock on wood**

[lordbaby]

does California requires a front plate? if i dont put it on.. what will the anal cops do? i guess a cop who will stop a car for this reason must be bored and has nth productive to do.

[PJL]

CA requires a front plate. Not sure what the police do, but they likely won't stop you just for that. They're too busy with the real issues of the day.