The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Front Licence plate frame

I guess in the "old" days our trucks never went that fast to where a person would get concerned about the wind bending the front licence place backwards. Well, my plates are the highlights of my truck and recently I noticed that the front plate has been bent backwards by the wind to the point that one of the mounting holes is starting to tear. I have one of those typical front brackets that bolt onto the bumper apron and to the lower two holes of the plate. But as you can imagine there is zero support for the upper portion of the plate. Does anyone know of any other licence frame that supports the entire plate preventing the gusty winds of 55 mph from bending it backwards. Heres a shot of my current setup. I'm going to remove the front plate until I can either find or design a more stout bracket.

http://www.cmaynard.com/mytruck.jpg

Thanks

I had that same setup on my 49 rodded pickup. Never bent like that, even at speeds over 120 mph . . . at least I don't remember having to ever straighten it out.

Craig, nice truck! Now that you are unbolting things send me the wheels and tires, grill and bumper and I could put that spot light to good use also.
Does your truck have the under bed spare tire rack? Now I?m asking to much, but I will pay shipping and handling. Again nice truck.

Craig, I havent had this problen yet but what you might try doing is get a flat piece of metal (maybe 2"x6 or 7"). Mark and drill the holes from the apron and bolt that under the apron to give it some support. It should work. You can weld up the tear and hammer the apron flat. Depending on how big the tear is you might not yave to do anything to it. Good luck.

Lionel,
I will be unbolting lots of the truck soon.....For a paint job only. Sorry......Yes it has a wonderful underbed tire carrier too. My spot light is now turned facing the rear so it becomes my backup light during the night. Thanks for the interest though.

Mac53,
The apron is not tearing for it's very stout. It's the lower holes of the actual licence plate that is starting to tear due to it is bending. The bracket is as long as the plate and only holds the lower bolt holes. Anything above the lower bolt holes is not supported and so the wind is pushing the upper 3/4 of the plate backwards towards the grill. What I need is a rigid plate bracket which is big as the plate that bolts onto the apron but also bolts to all 4 plate holes and will not flex against the wind.

Craig

Try some 1/16" or 1/8" strip stock and weld 2 fingers to the bracket to pick up the upper holes. If you want to get fancy add a triangular brace down to the mounting holes.

Or just cut backing plate the size of the plate out of rigid sheet goods - steel, aluminum, lexan, whatever. Thickness depends on strength of the material.

Craig, oh okay I missundersud you. Like the other guy said try cutting some stock and put it behind the plate for support.

Craig,

What about a cheap metal license plate frame, or a $6.00 frame with "1950" on it (Chevy Duty and others), or the original-type accessory frame (stainless but expensive ~ $50.00 from Chevy Duty and others)?

A backing plate should work well, too.

Tim

Craig,
As the above post states the license frame is what I am going to try. I've bought one for $14.50 including shipping. If you need the address email me and I will get it to you. It is a die cast chromed with 1950 at the top and Chevrolet at bottom with blue background. I haven't put it on yet because I haven't installed a new splash apron yet.
Sounds like your truck is close to original. I wish my was-thus the reason for teasing you about the parts.
Recently I have found that there is a difference in the radios for these trucks. Even though they will interchange for the purist the radio from 47-50 and then 50 on up is a different number.

Lionel,
What's the dimensions from hole to hole (both height and cross) on the licence frame? My licence plates are a little longer than normal. This is a good idea if I can find a frame that fits. Thus when bolting the framed plate to the lower plate/apron bracket, I would expect the stress to be a little more distributed throught the entire plate instead of only at the lower section. I'll measure my plates in a couple hours (when I get home).

Craig

Not that I am pushing the (expensive) original-style, GM-accessory, stainless license frame, but, as I recall, it is rigid and expandable in both directions (width & height).

Tim

Hey cool spotlight! Where can I get one like that?

As for the license plate why not just try a regular chrome license frame with all 4 bolts in it. that should strengthen it enough. I had the same problem on my Harley and that worked for me.

Boy,
You guys are tough to please. Per the below link, you see that a typical frame such as my '53 frame will fit a typical plate (above frame). Such plate is 12x6". Note that the diamater of the corners for both upper plate and the frame seem to match.

If you look at my commercial YOM plate, it is bigger (14 x 6 1/2). The biggest issue is to find a frame this size but that has much larger radius corners to match the plate.

The bolt hole pattern for the black plate and frame is 7" wide x 4-3/4" high. The yellow plate is
7-3/4" wide x 5-1/8" high.

I tried the expandable frame but the one I found had the small radius corner and would not seat properly with my bigger corners. Maybe what I need to do is to send this shot to various suppliers to show them my delima. Maybe someone has a frame that would work for me.

http://www.cmaynard.com/Truck/IMG_0595.JPG

ps-You can see the rip in the plate right below the "F" and the lower left bolt hole.

er take that black plate and weld it to the back of that yellow plate. LOL just kidding.

you could trace the plate on a piece of 16 gauge sheetmetal and cut it out and paint it black!

that would probably look cleanest and no funky gold chain license frame required.

now how bout that spot light?

But what would I use when I backup at night ? That thing is sooooo brite, even the deer say "We're outta here". If I can't find a frame that fits my plate then I will make my own plate support that's ever so rigid.

Craig,
After looking at your picture I realize what you want to do. My frame is the same as your 53. Sounds like the steel or I thought maybe use plexiglass, (less chance of rust) may be the way you have to go. Now I need to check my plates because I have a set of IL 50 and not sure they will even fit mine.
:confused:

Lionel

I have never had anything on my truck other than what Chevy put there in 1948. That little bracket that bolts to the appron, a regular license plate with a chrome frame bolted to it. It has never bent one little bit. I personally think you couldn't make one of these trucks go fast enough to make the wind bend it. I think someone has been bending the plate for you

Not that pretty but for now how about putting some oversize washers on the front? would that help distribute the load on the plate?

hahaha

Yeah???

cmayna,

I'm with Ken and MARTINSR. I think your plate is getting a little "assist" somewhere besides plain old air pressure.



.02

I was just wondering where I can find one of those spot lights! I don't want yours! LOL

Craig, for a license frame to fit your old plate there is a business called Big Jims in Texas, www.bigjims. net He sells fender skirts, outside visors and other accesories, I understand that Big Jim passed away recently but that his wife was still running the business. There is a frame that they show on there online catalog that has the rounded corners fo 40-55 calif plates. For my plates I used two pieces of flat bar stock 1/8 inch thick by 3/4 inch wide. one across the top of the plate behind the holes and one across the bottom welded together with 1 1/4 inch wide bar down the middle. Like the the letter H laying down. Then just marked the holes and drilled.

I contacted the individual who I originally bought the 50 metal tags from and he said that he had a pair of frames that will fit my plates. We're going to meet at the Turlock, CA swap meet next weekend. Before I commit to him, I'll browse the other merchants to see who has what.

Craig

Hey 41chevytrucker: Those spotlights are not that hard to find. Normally very readily available at swap meets.

Unity also still makes the exact same spotlights. I got a really nice old NOS from Ebay. For trucks you want the shortest possible handle you can find to stay away from the steering wheel.

Turlock huh? How far is that?

Tony M,
If you opt for a longer lightshaft, won't it help keep your nails short and the hairs on the back of your knuckles at a reasonable length ?

Turlock I've been told is 2nd to Pleasanton as far as popularity in NorCal. On Highway 99 south of Modesto. No I think I'll leave my chevy at home and take my F*** Explorer. Early Sat am roadtrip.

54-me, I saw the frame you are talking about at Big Jims and it sure looks like the right one. I'll keep it in mind if I don't find anything at Turlock. Thanks for the tip.

I've had the same problem with my rear plate on my 37 pickup. It bent backward so much the edge of the tag rubbed the paint off my stake pocket. No need to worry though. It cracked at the bolt holes and blew off going down Interstate 85 at well past 120..what a ride! Now I just keep the pocket card handy and drive it(or fly it) without one

If you have access to a welder getya some 1/4 in. angle iron then cut to fit using mitered cuts on the corners weld it all up and there ya go

Boy the bravado is flowing now. Personally I wouldn't be caught dead going 120 in a truck even if it was updated. And I am not afraid of speed. I have raced spec racer fjords at those speeds but on a closed track with full roll cage, fire suppression system and wearing about $1,000 worth of firesuit, gloves, underwear, socks and helmet.

Maybe my life is worth more than yours?

[img]http://cyberspeed.cc/dnm/images/dnm.jpg[/img]

You can get a length of angle material at Home Depot or any hardware store. Two pieces bolted on behind the license plate running up the back of the plate to just short of the top will stop any bending.

If you want to show off the truck without the "bracing", just unbolt the braces for a day.

I have resolved my problem as you can see in the following link. Went to the Turlock, CA swap meet and got a pair of new licence frames that fit 47 california plates for $40/pr. Much more rigid that having the plate only.

Craig

http://www.cmaynard.com/Truck/IMG_0611.JPG

Interesting note, some crazy person was selling a pair of old original plate frames that fit my plates which had some unknown name at the top which also needed refinishing for a mere $500/pr. I had to call my wife to get her opinion if I should go that route vs a mere $40

What, no clutch heads?

Craig, Those frames makes those vintage plates look even better. Glad you found them.