[grassyknoll]

I know it's been done on here before but I hadn't seen a write up so thought I would post one.
One thing I really dislike about the Miata design is the liscense plate recess in the finish panel. So I decided to have some fun with foam and fiberglass in order to fixe this flaw.


I used the canned spray foam you can get at Home Depot, not the best choice and if I were doing it again I would probably look for something that sets with more density and less air-holes. I ended up having to fill, cut to shape and then re-fill the holes created by air bubbles trapped in the foam as it set. Kind of a pain and it ended up adding an extra hour or two.

Pic 1 - After shaping the foam. First with a knife to rough shape it and then with a sanding block.

Pic 2 - Close up of the sanding detail so you can see the scalloping a little better.

Pic 3 - After the second layer of fiberglass. Total of about 10 coats of resin in all.

Pic 3 - Finished product. All told took about two weeks and a total of about 8 hours combined. Now I just need to figure out where I will put my license plate...

 

[Andy]

ooh ive got an idea. You can cut a chunk out of the finish panel and put the license plate there. lol

it looks nice.

 

[austin healey 3000]

you could use a front license plate bracket to mount it on the bottom

 

[slevin]

looks pretty damn good amigo. i forgot what japanese boutique company makes that same piece.

 

[grassyknoll]

you could use a front license plate bracket to mount it on the bottom

I thought about that and may still do it. But If I do, I'll have to put it on some sort of a sprung hinge so it can bend forward and back as it will invariably drug when traversing any sort of incline. Other thought was to put it between the hoops on the roll bar.

 

[FaZe]

I don't think there is much you can do.

A few thoughts came to mind was the ghetto way by using like a string and putting half hanging in your trunk and the other half outside having it dangle, but it will scratch the paint from all that flopping around. ( I don't suggest it ) lols.

Or you can make a bracket just like for the front license plate and have it so its mounted to the top of your finish panel like in between where the trunk and panel meet.

 

[Conundrum]

Use license plate as a wind blocker between roll bar hoop things.

 

[(Adam)]

looks pretty damn good amigo. i forgot what japanese boutique company makes that same piece.

I believe it was Trap?

 

[Tekel]

Do like the low riders and put it over to one side at a 45* angle.

 

[grassyknoll]

Do like the low riders and put it over to one side at a 45* angle.

Hmmmmm,interesting thought.

 

[bigx5murf]

license plate bracket to tow hook

 

[norcal killin]

Looks good. I would mount it in the middle of the bumper, but recessed in.
But driverside tow hook, as a mount. the finally location of the plate on the drivers side, centered in the bumper would look really cool as well.

 

[Bryan805]

Man, I wish I had another finish panel so I can do this, it just makes the rear look really clean. Good job!

 

[user name]

Ill admit, was kind of expecting this to be a fitness thread on your journey with squats

 

[jstammer]

Maybe some suckion cups and put it anywhere on the back end? :mrgreen:
Then you could remove it anytime it's parked.

 

[dob]

I believe it was Trap?

East Bear also make one

 

[maykelcj]

if you do a bracket, I believe you might need a motorcycle license plate light. I don't know how bad cops are in your area, but all license plates need to be illuminated at night. It's the law. Good job nonetheless.

 

[phillyb™]

i like the idea of a bracket on the tow hook...or something...
actually, lose the tow hook and use the mounting points for your custom bracket.
anyway, ass looks good

 

[mx5 2nr]

Looks nice! I thought about doing this too. My plan was to cut into the bumper and make a "box" to place the plate in. To illuminate it, I was planning on using the stock license plate lights, just extending the wires. Looks good, I wish I didn't wuss out....

 

[dob]

You could use a motrax bike light. I used to have one of those and a bike plate bracket on my flushed NA rear. They're very small and bright enough to do the job


http://www.megamotorcyclestore.co.uk/motrax-led-lpl2-motorcycle-number-plate-light-black/