Front plate placment

[Nancy1340]

The front plate on my '80 124 is bolted to the rubber pad on the bumper on the drivers side. Is that something that was done to increase the air flow to the motor/radiator? It would look a lot better if it were centered IMHOP.

[spidernut]

My 81 had it the same way when it was new. If mounted in the center, it will restrict airflow to the radiator and the stock radiator needs all the air it can get especially when driving at low speeds. I agree, it would look better centered. If your state allows you to drive with only a rear plate, just remove it entirely. It'll even look better!

[Nancy1340]

Spidernut, I was thinking about removing the front one. Here in Texas I think we can get by with just one. I'll have to look into that. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I really don't like it the way it looks now.

[Foster48x]

Nancy, you've gotta have 2 in Texas . Otherwise I would have already taken mine off.

Rick

[Nancy1340]

Drats!! Thanks Rick.

[DUCeditor]

I mounted mine low and centered on the front bumper. If there is a flow problem it has never manifested itself in any way. My car runs cool and has NEVER overheated even on 90+ degree f. Summer days.

-don

[Nancy1340]

Don, that looks so much better.

But then you live in NH and I live in TX. It's cool here today......only about 95 today. It's been 100+ here for several days. (((GRIN)))
I guess I could try it and not replace the rubber bumper part until I find out if it will work.

[Foster48x]

I have mine mounted right in the middle of the front bumper and have never had a problem. Not even on those 105 deg Texas days that we can't seem to get away from this summer. I wouldnt worry about it.

Rick

[Nancy1340]

Well that's good enough for me. It's getting moved when we get the time. I've always hated the location of it. It looks like it's about to fall off all the time.

Thanks guys.

[DUCeditor]

BTW, the way mine is affixed is with an inexpensive aluminum bracket held onto the tube with two radiator clamps. All of that, of course, is invisible unless you look closely from above. From any other viewpoint all you see is a license plate screwed into "something."

-don

[cutchaguy]

For a while, I just used plastic zip-ties to keep it on.

For some reason, moving it off to the driver's side appealed to me so that there was no obstructed view of the grill.

[markpink]

Like DcEditor (Hi Don!)

I used c-clamps to mount my front plate right in the of the bumper. But unlike Don, I mounted mine centered in the bumper. Don's plate was low and did not restrict the airflow. But mine, was restricting the air flow. Since I have been having over-heating problems this summer, I just changed my plate yesterday and moved it out of the way. I will watch the temperature gauge over the next few days and see if I have a difference.

I have replaced, the thermostat, fan switch, fan, water pump so far this summer, and have overheating issues in downtown, bumper to bumper type traffic.

Mark

[markpink]

Results.

I went on a 180 Mile round trip today. On both highways and side roads and I even got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic at the Kittery Maine Outlets.

The change of the license plate to the side has greatly improved my cooling system. Placing in directly in the middle covering the whole in the bumper for air flow was a mistake for me. The biggest change was at slower speeds. 30-40 mph and less the system ran much cooler.

Mark

[Nancy1340]

Mark, thanks for the feedback on changing the placement of the plate on your car.

I'll consider trying it in the middle but placed lower. I'm going on a trip to SW MO in a few weeks. That would be a good trial run. I'll take tools to change it back if need be.

[narfire]

If you loose the front bumpers,here's an option. Legal or not? havn't had an issue yet (touch wood) (see hand to head)