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Question for Miata owners

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:14
by speedjunkie
If any of you have a front license plate bracket, do you know if it has the same mounting dimensions as an FD front bracket? Mainly I'm just looking to see if the holes are the same distance apart as on the FD and if it will come out far enough to clear the bumper. Apparently the ones for FDs are expensive if you can even find them, and I've noticed the Miata ones look similar. Plus, Moss Miata sells some that will flip up with the switch of a button...pretty baller lol. Thanks!

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:14
by Huzer
Wish I could help. On mine, there was no factory mount, just the lovely holes that one of the previous owners put in the bumper cover with some sheet metal screws.

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:14
by Shadowden
Junkie, there is a miata in the parking lot. I'd be willing to get some measurements. Not sure if he has a stock miata mount point or not though.

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:14
by speedjunkie
Damn, that sucks, Tim.

Thanks! All I know is I saw the mounts on Moss Miata and thought they were stock replacements or something. Maybe I'll just email Moss and see if they can send me some measurements. I'm not sure why I didn't think of that lol.

This is the bracket...

http://www.mossmiata.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=74157

I know the DIN plate for the Miata fits the FD fairly well, so I figured this might also and be a much cheaper option.

EDIT: Wow, $90, not that cheap actually lol.

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:14
by erod550
I don't have a front plate on mine so I'm in the same boat as Huzer. But you could always just use a bracket like the one I have on my Mustang that doesn't use holes at all, just pinching brackets that grip onto your bumper with wingnuts. Easy to remove quickly when you're wanting to show off the car, and they stay on there really well, even doing 120 around the track. Problem is I can't remember where I got it from.

Edit - found it. It's a custom bracket for Mustangs though. :\ But maybe someone makes something similar for FDs?

There are metal arms on top of the bracket that tighten down around the upper lip of the hole in the bumper to hold it in place.

Image

http://ccmustangbrackets.com/product/2012-mustang-satin-black-bracket/

He does say you can contact him for other applications too. Probably not much different for yours, just a different length so it's not sticking out too far or not enough.

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:14
by $crillaTor
For $90 you might as well spend a little more and get something like this: http://www.hidetheplate.com/

I'm not sure if it is cheesy or awesome yet... I do need to figure out something for my front plate as well though.

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:14
by RX-7 Chris
That mossmiata one looks just like the FB bracket.

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:14
by erod550
I thought about a hide-a-plate but they're still visible under the bumper and I think it would look weird. Not to mention I don't think Eric has any clearance left under the bumper to hide the plate, lol.

If you're only hiding it for photo shoots or car shows or whatnot, it's really easy to undo two wingnuts and pull it off and not have the bracket and plate still visible under your bumper. Again, assuming you're able to find something like what this guy makes for Mustangs.

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:14
by speedjunkie
I wasn't really concerned with hiding the plate, especially since my rear plate won't pop up or anything (although now that I'm thinking about it...lol), I'm just looking for a basic bracket to use when I take the car home to Illinois.

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:14
by speedjunkie
RX-7 Chris wrote:That mossmiata one looks just like the FB bracket.


Hmmmm, do you have a front plate I could use for measurements? lol

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 9:14
by RX-7 Chris
I have one on the car. I might still have an extra one around somewhere.

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:14
by speedjunkie
Sweet! I'd like to try it if you don't mind.

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:14
by millertime
God damn front plates... how bad are the tickets here for running without? It was just a fix-it in NE.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:14
by speedjunkie
I don't get hassled in C Springs because it has Illinois plates, but I got hassled last time I was in Illinois, so that's all this is for. I'll just put it on when I take the car home.

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:14
by erod550
I got pulled over once in the Springs when I had my SRT-4. I ran with a front plate after that. He actually gave me a ticket for modified exhaust rather than the plate, heh. (That sucker was LOUD. Straight pipe from the turbo back.) I've had my Miata for 4 years now and never had a front plate on it and haven't been hassled about it. It doesn't get driven that much either though or parked in busy areas like downtown or anything. I started running a front plate on the Mustang just because I didn't want another reason for getting pulled over besides it being loud and fast.

I'm not running with no front plate on the Miata for looks either. That thing is pretty beat up, lol. It just didn't have a bracket when I bought it and I've been lazy.