Rear license plate

tfarhood · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 07:50 PM

I just went to attach the plate to the back of the car only to find out that the plate covers the trunk latch handle. Is this the same on all Backdrafts? It makes it dificult to open the trunk and near impossible to lock the handle with the key.

Comments please!

Boudy · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 07:54 PM

You can overcome this by putting new holes in the holder, thus, the plate rides higher. The spacing is an origional measurement. Remember, the plates over seas were wide and short.

Boudy

tfarhood · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2004, 02:40 PM

New holes were a given. I'll wait until I pick out a plate frame before I worry about modifying anything though.

Thanks.

AC Cobra · #4 (**permalink**) 02-02-2004, 04:16 PM

I have a 427 Venom which has the same measurements as the Backdraft from the license plate holder to the bonnet handle. I had to notch the license plate to fit around the light fixture at the top and the handle frame at the botton. I used tin snips to make the cuts and then folded the tabs back against plate.

FUNFER2 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-02-2004, 05:02 PM

Yes, very easy fix. I just used a die grinder to cut a 1/2 hole in the plate. Had to do the same with the plate bracket.

salesco · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 01:54 PM

does anyone have a picture of this fix?
thanks

madmaxx · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 05:47 PM

It is easy, blah blah blah, I spent 6 hours notching the frame and drilling the holes higher etc. Bunch of bullsheetttt. BDR has known this is an issue since chassis 130? and now they are on 4?? If they cannot modify their trunk lid, well I do not want to go there. You also get the chance to scratch your trunk paint. I am 100% supporter of BDR, this is the only issue I find totally unacceptable.

salesco · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 05:53 PM

does anyone know if backdraft has a fix?

ROUSHAC · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 06:09 PM

Remove the license plate.

Put a piece of plywood between the plate bracket and the trunk. Drill two holes close to the top of the of the plate bracket.

Cut a couple of slots with a hacksaw in the license plate top at slightly wider than the width of the light bracket about 1/2" to 3/4" deep (depends on whether or not you have a plate frame, and how wide it is at the top). Bend the area between the slots in the license plate neatly over (backwards) with a pair of pliers.

If you have a license plate frame, do the same as for the license plate except grind out the area between the slots or bend it over like the license plate if it is flimsy enough.

Put the plate (and frame) back on the car.

Done!

1/2 hour max including the time to get the tools and put them back.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!
Dave

SkipB · #10 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 06:38 PM

salesco,

Yep the Backdraft fix is done by the owner! Not a big deal, but it would be very simple to fix at the factory. Just drill the holes up a little, or offer two sets of drilled holes if other countries plates are different. I guess its all part of the fun in owning a replica!

SkipB

IGOTBIT · #11 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 07:26 PM

These are the dimensions of the original. It is not up to BDR to "fix." I like the hole in the license plate idea letting the trunk handle poke through. I might try that.

madmaxx · #12 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 08:07 PM

Igotbit
Do they drug test where you work? Dimensions of the original, like the 92" wheelbase. Get real, 1/2 hour you could not find the plywood and if you do i strongly suggest taping the area first with blue painter tape so as not to scratch the surface. I redrilled the holes in the brakect higher, cut a notch in the license plate and a notch in the license plate holder, then bent the bracket straitht, check my photo's, o'h had to cut some bolts and nuts so the screw head would be toward the trunk and chrome buttons would cover the nuts on the license plate side

mtpockets · #13 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 08:24 PM

Using your dremel tool, notch the plate and frame so it fits cleanly around the handle. It took a couple hours but looks nice and trunk and latch work perfectly. Working on items like this gives you some sweat equity in your car.
BDR 126

DC COBRA · #14 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 08:40 PM

Guys I just cut the top of the liscense plate to fit around the light and drill two holes about inch or so down from the originals in the plate, The plate sits about an 1/16 up off the trunk handle so far no problems what so ever. You can barely see it in my gallery photos, if I must say it actually looks pretty good. Easy to cut plate with tin snips.

DON

Snakester · #15 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 09:44 PM

I used a piano hinge cut to the length of the license plate bracket , it's bolted to both the bracket and the license plate. You can flip the plate up almost 90 degrees and access the trunk handle easily. I will post a pic after I get it reinstalled. Snakester

Cashburn · #16 (**permalink**) 08-14-2006, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakester

I used a piano hinge cut to the length of the license plate bracket , it's bolted to both the bracket and the license plate. You can flip the plate up almost 90 degrees and access the trunk handle easily. I will post a pic after I get it reinstalled. Snakester

Fantastic solution.

ROUSHAC · #17 (**permalink**) 08-15-2006, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmaxx

Igotbit
Do they drug test where you work? Dimensions of the original, like the 92" wheelbase. Get real, 1/2 hour you could not find the plywood and if you do i strongly suggest taping the area first with blue painter tape so as not to scratch the surface. I redrilled the holes in the brakect higher, cut a notch in the license plate and a notch in the license plate holder, then bent the bracket straitht, check my photo's, o'h had to cut some bolts and nuts so the screw head would be toward the trunk and chrome buttons would cover the nuts on the license plate side

madmaaxx,

I was the one who did, and can, like most folks, do it in 1/2 hour, not Igotbit.

I do have tools in an organized toolbox, powertools, and some pieces of scrap wood in the garage for jobs like this. It might have been less than 1/2 hour. Please don't call me a liar.

By the way, the painters tape and the reversed bolts are not bad ideas.

Cheers!
Dave

cbreez · #18 (**permalink**) 08-15-2006, 07:55 AM

Some of you guys are funny...When one spends $35K to $50K( a lot of $$!) for a new complete car, replica or not, EVERYTHING should be right! If you bought any other new car, it would be at the dealership being fixed in a heartbeat, you would not doing it yourself. If I wanted to "do it myself for the joy of it", as one said,I would have built a Factory Five or equivalent...The excuses that Backdraft is too busy selling and building cars to fix things or re-engineer them are unacceptable. I am not as compassionate as some of you guys. When you buy a complete "turn-key" car, yes little things can happen, but you have paid for all of the re-engineering to be done, and you should reasonably expect that. I did not buy this thing to work on it, but to have some fun driving it. The rear end leaks, poor fitting doors, and service after the sale have been a joke in my opinion...
(PS: I fixed my license plate as well!)

ROUSHAC · #19 (**permalink**) 08-15-2006, 08:44 AM

cbreez and madmaxx,

These are not like a mass produced factory car.

Maybe you guys should have gotten a Shelby. They don't seem to have any problems keeping up with their delivery promises. No, wait, I forgot, they don't have a mechanic in the trunk either.

Cheers!
Dave

madmaxx · #20 (**permalink**) 08-15-2006, 09:15 AM

Igotbit and Rouschac, I did not mean to insult anyone and if I did I apologize, Igotbit the drug testing comment was out of line, no excuse but I just lost a bidding war on a gorgeous BDR on ebay. Back to the licence plate, Cashburn of all people, you assemb;e some of the nicest BDR's out there, do you thing when a person looks at the trunk from the side and the licence plate is cocked it looks good? Do you think it looks good for a plate to flap as you are going down the road? I understand the early models having this issue but there is no reason why any past chassis 150 should. I sent an email to Tony personnaly and his response was he needed the dimension of a US plate. It should be an easy fix, the risk of scratching your paint is high with these modifications, then you have a cocked license plate and a scratched trunk. I know the licence plate frame I ground out I had to use a die grinder, the dremel tool would not cut it. It cost $4.95 at Oreilly?