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05-26-2012, 12:26 PM
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#1 |
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2012 ZL1 VIN 150
Drives: 1973 RS LT Camaro 4 Speed Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 237
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ZL1 Front License Plate "No drilling" Installation
Driving a ZL1 (ticket magnet) in CA where front license plates are required, I decided to find a way to mount my front plate without any drilling or loss of front clearance. Brackets from underneath reduce clearance, so I started looking behind the grille at mount points. To my surprise, I found two bracket mounts symetrically located ~ 4.5" from the car centerline on the bottom of the radiator tank. A small amount of trimming on the plastic air diverter (found below and in front of the radiator) is required. All of the materials used came from Home Depot.
To access the bottom of the radiator, you need to remove the underbelly pan (you will need to do this for your oil change anyway). I took some pictures and annotated them to show how easy it was. If you have questions PM me. |
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05-26-2012, 12:48 PM
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#2 |
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Happy_Dan
Drives: 2012 IOM Camaro ZL1 #569 Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Boston, NH
Posts: 2,239
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Nice job. I like it!
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05-26-2012, 01:06 PM
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#3 |
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(ʘ‿ʘ)
Drives: The one with a roof rack Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,221
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that is quite clever.
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05-26-2012, 01:53 PM
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#4 |
 
Drives: 2013 ZL1 AGM Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: OC California
Posts: 153
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Excellent job, better location than the factory mount. I will do something similar whenI get my car. Thanks so much for sharing your details with your fabrication and installation.
Enjoy your ZL1! |
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05-26-2012, 02:08 PM
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#5 | |
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Est.1775
Drives: '15 Challenger Hellcat (sold) Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,502
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Quote:
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05-26-2012, 09:39 PM
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#6 |
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Where am I?
Drives: Zoe the ZL1, 2012 Frontier Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mars, PA
Posts: 6,071
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Now that's some fine engineering there, Lou.
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FOR SALE: 2013 ZL1 Message me if interested |
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05-26-2012, 09:55 PM
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#7 |
  
Drives: 2012 ZL1 #1448 Join Date: May 2009
Location: WNY
Posts: 892
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Great Job, works for me !
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2012 ZL1 SIM, MN6, B92, RTQ
ZL1 - the true definition of joy ride |
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05-27-2012, 09:09 AM
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#8 |
        
Drives: 2002 Camaro SS SOM; 2015 Malibu LTZ Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 4,021
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Excellent work. Subscribed.
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'02 CAMARO SS SOM; 5.7L LS1/FLS6B
'08 TBSS AWD Black Granite Metallic '15 Malibu LTZ 2LZ Turbo '14 CAMARO ZL1 Blue Ray Metallic |
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05-27-2012, 02:46 PM
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#9 |
Drives: 2014 Z51 Corvette Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,349
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Excellent job Lou!
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05-27-2012, 03:48 PM
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#10 | |
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Where am I?
Drives: Zoe the ZL1, 2012 Frontier Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mars, PA
Posts: 6,071
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Quote:
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FOR SALE: 2013 ZL1 Message me if interested |
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05-27-2012, 04:57 PM
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#11 |
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2012 ZL1 VIN 150
Drives: 1973 RS LT Camaro 4 Speed Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 237
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For those who are considering building a front license plate bracket of your own, I have listed the links to the parts you will need at Home Depot. It will take about 3 hours of your time (leisurely pace) to complete this job.
Here is the aluminum - 1 48" piece reqd ($5.72) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...&storeId=10051 Here are the corner brackets. One package (contains two pieces) reqd. ($4.97). Note - throw out the wood screws in this package http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...17&R=202034217 You will also need four 1/4" x 1/2" stove bolts and four 1/4"-20 nylon lock hex nuts. These are used to mount the brackets to the aluminum stock and and brackets to the pre-existing radiator mounts. (~$2.00) You could paint the bracket with any type of paint, however I used a rubberized coating to reduce any vibration between the grille and the aluminum bracket. ($5.98). Wipe the aluminum and corner brackets down with a solvent before painting. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...10&R=100131010 For the license plate back plate, I ordered this on e-bay motors. You can get them lots of places. ($12.95) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Mo...c1507f&vxp=mtr Total cost = $31.62 + tax |
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05-27-2012, 06:16 PM
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#12 |
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Where am I?
Drives: Zoe the ZL1, 2012 Frontier Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mars, PA
Posts: 6,071
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Fred, what did you use to notch the aluminum in the backet?
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FOR SALE: 2013 ZL1 Message me if interested |
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05-27-2012, 07:27 PM
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#13 |
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2012 ZL1 VIN 150
Drives: 1973 RS LT Camaro 4 Speed Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 237
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I used my Dremel and a metal grinding stone. You don't need much of a notch, just enough to clear the bottom section of the grille. The notches face down when the piece is installed on the car.
Another note: The radiator mount already has the nuts in it, you do not need to provide them. All you need is 1/4" x 1/2" long bolts to go in the nuts in the mount. |
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05-27-2012, 08:48 PM
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#14 |
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I used to be Dragoneye...
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Wow. That's a much cleaner installation than mine!
 Looks good!
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"Keep the faith." - Fbodfather
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| Tags |
| front license plate, mounts |
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