License plate angle

[CAMAROBOY69]

Is there a specific angle the license plate needs to be so it reflects correctly?? Does it need to be 90degress from a level ground or does it really not matter at all?
This license plate is becoming a PITA.

[Todds69]

You would probably have to contact the Michigan State Police, although I'm sure there is a universal standard.

[Jagarang]

I'm sure that the tail panel is close enough. As long as is legible and not sitting at an extreme angle. I wouldn't worry about it. Half the time they don't even pull people over for having them in the back window, which is very illegal and makes it really hard to read.

[Rick Dorion]

I would mock it up 90* from the horizontal and see how it looks.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Crap thats what I was afraid of. I might have to make some design changes. Spent about 2 hours trying to figure out what to do with this stupid plate last night. All those bends on the body that I made might have to be cut out so the plate lays flat.
I will keep going with what I have and see if I like it. If not then I have to do some more hacking.

[BonzoHansen]

I might assume that if it is plainly legible from the driver’s seat of the car behind you (i.e. police cruiser) you should be good.

[hotroddr]

you might be able to bend your license plate to match whatever curve you might have in the back of the car. I have seen that look good sometimes. Im not sure about the legality but if its in the back and easy to read it shouldnt matter if its curved

[hotroddr]

I just realized which car you had....didnt realize the side by side exhaust thing. I have always wanted to design a license plate mount like a hideaway stereo faceplate. It would only need a slit and when you start the car the license plate would come out flat and then rotate up to be visible. That might not make sense...just look at a hideaway head unit sometime and it will make sense. Then again there are probably some legality issues with having non license plate while parked.
Heres a quick pic to show what I mean. Red rectangle would be slot that plate came out of, yellow is the plate in its drive position.

[Jim Nilsen]

I know it's a bit more work and it isn't what you had in mind but while looking at the last pic I visualized the plate right back where it was originally and the pipes being one on each side of the plate. You wouldn't have to modify your bumper and you would still achieve the pipes in the middle of the car, just not next to each other. I still haven't seen anything like what I am describing and from what I can see it would fit within the sheetmetal you have already replaced.

If it only took you 3 hrs to do the area for the pipes now it should be a breeze compared to the problems you have to solve to complete what you are doing now.

Remember that this is just a thought of what I just saw when looking at the pic. I think it would still look great with a pipe on each side of the plate.


Goodluck and it is looking good so far!
Jim Nilsen

[CAMAROBOY69]

I appreciate your advice Jim but I have wanted to do my exhaust side by side out the back like this for 3 years and I will do it. I am just soo stubborn like that. If I visualize something then I WILL do it one way or another.
Its only metal so I will figure it out. One of my ideas is to sink in that top body line just above the bumper. That line sticks out the most at least 1/2". So if I trimmed that then I would gain a lot. I will try to get a pic posted up in my exhaust thread of what I did last night. If you look at my recent pics again you will see the line I am talking about trimming.
Thanks for the feedback and compliments.

[CAMAROBOY69]

I just realized which car you had....didnt realize the side by side exhaust thing. I have always wanted to design a license plate mount like a hideaway stereo faceplate. It would only need a slit and when you start the car the license plate would come out flat and then rotate up to be visible. That might not make sense...just look at a hideaway head unit sometime and it will make sense. Then again there are probably some legality issues with having non license plate while parked.
Heres a quick pic to show what I mean. Red rectangle would be slot that plate came out of, yellow is the plate in its drive position.

Dennis the plate is too tall to fit in that area. I also thought of that too.

[CAMAROBOY69]

WHoa wait a minute Dennis, I just noticed your pic sais CarDomain.com How did my car pic get on there???
The other idea I have is to make a square the shape of the plate and sink it into the back of the body. Thats my last option but if I dont like this set up then thats next.

[hotroddr]

I uploaded it to my cardomain in order to post it here. Is there a better way to post a pic? I will take it down if you prefer.

[CAMAROBOY69]

http://www.imageshack.us/ is a better place to host.
I would prefer if these mock up pics didnt get around too much. Once I am done then I wont mind but dang these mock up pics are soo ugly.
I know everyone views the cardomain site.

[hotroddr]

pic taken down...it served its purpose. I hate license plates...there is no way to make them look good unless they are hidden. Of course you could always put it off to one side and make it all angled like mini trucks do ...or not!

[Travis B]

pic taken down...it served its purpose. I hate license plates...there is no way to make them look good unless they are hidden. Of course you could always put it off to one side and make it all angled like mini trucks do ...or not!

we just don't use them! The trailer has one on it thats all the matters

[B Schein]

A friend of mine got one of those rubber dealer things that closes in trunk he forgot about putting a plate on the car until after it had already been painted.

[paul67]

Some street rods have them so they flip down and there are some kits out there ,try street rodder mag.

[nancejd]

Why not make a bracket to hang the plate from the rear bumper?

[Jim Nilsen]

I was thinking that when I look at some plates that have those dealer name trim pieces on the m that not all of the plate is showing anymore. The big question is:how much of the plate is allowed to be covered up/ cut away to still be legal in your state? It would seem to me that if people and dealers can put those trim pieces on and make the plate smaller ,why could you cut the plate down and make a nice stainless trim piece to wrap it in and just fit it in the space by a smidgin?

I also just had the tought as to why you would have to split the bumper ? Why not do like they did on 2nd gens only inverted and just notch it instead of splitting it all the way? It would give you a mounting point and not interfere with any sheet metal and save a lot of work and still keep the bumper looking closer to stock so you don't get questioned for that too?

Just passing out thoughts again, since I understand the I want to do it the way I envisioned it but am having trouble making it all come together problem. Remember I have been working on my car forever because of what you are going thru and being the first and being different is something I understand totaly.

Hope this idea gives you some more thoughts!

Jim Nilsen