Best way to install rear license plate?
 

What's the best way to install the rear license plate besides letting the plate touch the painted bumper fascia?

I attached rubber to the back of the plate to keep the metal from rubbing.
I didn't do anything near the screws.
I'll always have a plate, so I was only worried about the outside edges wearing into the paint.
The rubber is away from the edges so if it rubs I'll never see it.

I installed rubber washers on the mounting screws and between the plate and my pony. I also used plastic screw covers (white) to help blend the mounting hardware into the plate background (also white).

I use like rubber washer so as the plate has a ever slight shimmy to it so if like a pohot radar is poping pics they come out blurred. every now and then I remove to wash behind the ears though lol

What type of rubber did you use? How did you keep it sticking to the plate?

I just put some little felt pads on the back like you would use for hanging a picture on a wall.

Wouldn't the felt come off in colder weather or when the humidity is high?

Eh, I found some random box of them (there was like a hundred), so if they do, Ill just throw some more on.

The dealer included one of their shameless plug frames and I noticed you insert the plate and basically bolt the entire piece to the bumper cover, where the frame itself contacts the bumper (not the metal plate). I've never seen this type of frame sold in stores but I'll look more closely.

Did you use all 4 bolt-holes or just the 2 on the top?

Just the top. Heck, I hate drilling so much my front plate is held on with velcro.:jester:
Attachment 14450

+1. Just the top as well.

I bought a sheet of rubber gasket material at Lowe's (1/8" thick). I think it might work nicely in isolating the plate from the bumper.

Everyones pretty much hit the idea of some sort of rubber behind the plate.

I just took some vacuum hose i had and cut my own thiin washers from it and used electrical tape to hold them on.
Works great.

Ford dropped the ball with 3 things on the S-197 GT:

1). Lack of struts for the hood. Hood props went the way of the dodo birds somewhere in the mid-90s. They have no place on a modern car.

2). Lack of some type of bracket/panel designed to hold license plates. Almost every other Ford car/truck/van has something besides the actual painted bumper fascia touching the license plate.

3). Lack of an integrated in-glass AM/FM antenna. The lowly Crown Vics that even Ford has placed in the land of the lepers has an integrated in-glass antenna. The whip antenna conflicts with the lines of the GT.

...there's a couple more, but that's a good start... how about a trunk release? ... and maybe a light under the hood? Simple things... but would be nice :nice:. I installed the plate with just the two OEM screws and a plastic clear cover. I had to removed it to attach the registration sticker and the bumper is still mint without protection. I think that you may be placing too much concern on this plate thing :dunno:

I don't have any scratches where my license plate is touching either, and I don't have anything protecting it.

Just screw it on tight and it won't go anywhere.

my plate has been held on by double sided tape for a year now..

I would be more worried about the tape leaving permanant marks than just screwing the darn thing on there. If it makes any scratches, nobody will EVER know, because I'M NEVER SELLING THIS CAR!!! (I'll probably be buried with it) :)

I picked up some stainless screws @ Ace Hardware, and that is all that is on the plate, and when screwed in place it's not gonna go anywhere. If you've got any burrs on the edges of the plate from when it was manufactured/stamped, just file them down with a smooth file and you should never have anything to worry about...... (plate, screws, smooth edges = good to go)