Number plate woe

[sawood12]

I've been after a front numberplate for my turbo that is slim enough to fit on the mounting without encroaching into the intercooler and radiator cooling slots. It's a minor detail but strangely one that bothers me more than any - even my leaking engine seals and rattling exhaust manifold heat shield!!

Anyone know of a website where I can get a numberplate made up to dimensions I specify??

 

[Big Dave]

Try

www.gtgrafix.com

They might be able to help....

 

[Guest]

May be unimportant to others, but I share your view. I think it spoils the look of the front/intakes. Lucky in the States where in some areas it seems not to be required.
I have looked at this but the size of the letters and numbers would have to be smaller to fit. One of my previous cars failed an MOT because of wrong spacing. It was the sticker type (which you could consider either cutting to fit or moving it up below the badge. But this could be wrong now as the laws seem to be of become more strict) and I didn't space the four prefix digits from the last three.[]

 

[John Sims]

You can also order special plates from www.fancyplates.com. Obviously you would only fit it for shows []

 

[mooren]

GT Grafix in Ashton-under-Lyme nr Manchester - I've just done exactly the same as you are suggesting - cost me about £35 for the pair. They've got a website that should be fairly easy to gind on Google......

 

[sawood12]

Just got a new set of numberplates from fancyplates.com. I chose the front one to be 3/4 size. Have fitted it today (need to fill in the old screw holes). Not decided if it looks better yet but at least i've got nice uninterupted airflow into my radiator. What do you think?

 

[Diver944]

Hmmmm, not sure [&:] I think the border makes it look even smaller than it is.

Think of all that lovely extra air going through tho []

 

[Guest]

Looks much better. I was thinking that the plate size, if it were possible to run the full length. To be quite honest I don't think the original plate stops any air getting in there though. You never know, it could of acted like a diffuser and rammed air in there[] I think we are really talking about looks ( I am)
I looked at the gtgraphix site which is very good. It allows you to see the multi combinations they offer, but you do have to ring them for custom size etc. There is a Clio parked where I work with the carbon look numbers which looks good.
It will be interesting to see if the plod take any interest in it. Also, I would suggest double siding your old plate on when you take it for an MOT.
One without below.

 

[sawood12]

With the benefit of hindsight I think I should have gone for the standard font and no border to try to make it look as standard as possible. You can order custom sizes on the site but I thought a standard lenght plate would have looked too elongated so went for the 3/4 size.
I'll have to see how I get on with Mr plod. There are pletny of Westfields/Caterhams kicking about with small plates and every VX220 around seems to have a non-standard plate so there are plenty of people out there who seem to be getting away with it. There are so few coppers on the streets anyway so unless a camera gets me it should go un-noticed.

I'm not kidding myself about airflow - it's just for cosmetic appearance. I'm a bit of a stickler for detail so when the standard plate was wider than it's mounting I picked up on it.

 

[carlmthompson]

Sorry to be an old fart, but I hate non standard plates of any kind. Apart from atracting the unwanted attention of plod, they make you look like a boy racer (a la bloke from Egg advert!)

Only my opinion of course, so go for your life[]

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: flamingeye

......... To be quite honest I don't think the original plate stops any air getting in there though. You never know, it could of acted like a diffuser and rammed air in there........

I'm inclined to agree. Air hits number plate, where is it going to go? It can only go around the number plate.

However, it could cause a low pressure area behind the top or bottom edge of the plate (which ever overhangs the vent hole) which may disrupt the air flow. Equally, I assume it would cause a high pressure area in front of the plate. The constriction of the vent hole will increase the velocity of the air going through the hole - (if one considers the practical fluid dynamics of building dams on the beach) but high velocity air isn't necessarily the best for radiators, apparently. The theory is that the air needs to spend sufficient time within the radiator in order to extract the heat from it - all to do with temperature gradients and efficiency I believe but I only skimmed the article.

On balance, I guess having a smaller plate could be better - just to justify my forthcoming change to a shallower plate as being anything but a Chav thing. []

 

[sawood12]

Already decided I don't like it. I'm going to try one more time with a plate that is closer to standard size. It's totally about cosmetics, I think it just looks wrong that the plate covers the slot.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: John Sims



On balance, I guess having a smaller plate could be better - just to justify my forthcoming change to a shallower plate as being anything but a Chav thing. []

All you said was a good point well put.(I think?)
But I only understood the last bit.[8|]

 

[hartge bob]

Do you think this needs smaller plates? []

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/44234.htm (2nd and 3rd pic)

 

[Hilux]

Flamingeye,

Where did you get the front ventilated panel, looks cool

 

[Guest]

Sorry to mislead you Hilux. The pic is not of my car and was used purely for demonstrative purposes only.
The pic was from this site http://www.automotiveparts4u.com/Vented_nose_panel_25.html but no longer seem to have the pics on there. This is another site http://www.lindseyracing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LR&Category_Code=944S5HEADER and here http://www.v-zweeden.com/fiberglass.asp?auto=&thisPage=9
I have heard that they need some tweeking to fit well.
Hijack over.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: flamingeye

I think it spoils the look of the front/intakes. Lucky in the States where in some areas it seems not to be required.

That varies, but generally speaking only a few of the 50 States do not require a front plate. And that will probably drop as more jurisdictions install these damn cameras to record if you are in the interchange when the traffic light turns red. The cameras often take a picture of the front of the vehicle and send out the ticket based on the front plate.

And our plates are much taller than yours so makes this issue worse. But I have been running for almost 15 years without a front plate in 2 States that require them and only got bothered once about it and got the fine waived.

 

[John Sims]

Above is the Van Zweeden one (at 350 Euros). It looks pretty unpleasant off the car, I wonder if it looks any better in place. I guess it could look quite aggressive, and might grow on you but I think, for that money (plus painting) I would have to see one on the car first.

While on the subject, GRP is not the best thing to have at the front of the car. I had my GRP splitter sprayed professionally but after less than a year it has a surface like the face a 13 year old after a chocolate fest. Obviously Beaky is black so the white chips stick out like a sore thumb but it is far from pretty.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

Already decided I don't like it. I'm going to try one more time with a plate that is closer to standard size. It's totally about cosmetics, I think it just looks wrong that the plate covers the slot.

Totally agree, I went for one that is 75% the size of a standard plate, it looks very good on the car and actually dosnt look that small, never been pulled by the police and had it on for over a year. Actually i was pulled over for not a front sidelihgt being out, lols they stood in front of the car and didnt say a thing about the plate!!! PMSL