How to install custom no. plates w/o pre-drilled holes
Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk! Yo!
Introduction
This DIY guide is about how to install custom number plates without pre-drilled holes. There are really two methods:
A) Drill holes in plates
B) Use some kind of adhesive tape
Plan B doesn't sound too promising. I'll leave you to think about the reasons. So this guide is about how to drill holes in no. plates. Sounds simple? Maybe not so for some people. Hence, the reason for this guide.
What you will need
- Custom no. plate w/o pre-drilled holes
- Non permanent marker (Preferably a colour that can easily be seem against the colour of your number plate.)
- Ruler/measuring tape
- A piece of wood or some kind of surface suitable to drill on
- Power drill
- Drill bit suitable for metal use. Hondas are M6, so minimum size is 6mm bit. Don't choose a size too large otherwise there won't be a reasonable amount of surface area for the head of the bolt to grip on, unless you will be using washers between the head and the plate. I'll explain the benefit of using a slightly larger size than 6mm below.
- Centre punch and hammer (optional)
- Sandpaper
- Clamp(s)
- Screwdriver
- Work bench
- Dress code: As a DIYer, minimum safety glasses, if not at least sunnies.
Steps
1) Order and acquire your custom no. plates.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0k...s=w560-h389-no
Mine. Hehe. Jdm. Yo. JDM YO !
2) Remove your existing no. plates. I recommend washing the area behind, since the plates are off already.
Doesn't matter if you perform steps 3 or 4 first.
3) Holding together an existing no. plate with a custom no. plate on top, in front of the no. plate location, notice where abouts you would like to mount your new plates. For example, for me, I went for about 1cm higher front and back, so you will need to drill the holes 1cm lower than the normal location. With the desired position for the new plates while still holding both plates together, go to your bench and take notes of the measurement. If your desired position of the custom plates are the same, then ignore.
4)
Measure the length of both existing and custom plates. Using a marker, mark the centre points on the top or bottom edges, as circled below.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/w1...=w1243-h699-no
5)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tS...=w1243-h699-no
With both plates centred together, with certainty of desired hole locations, with the marker or centre punch + hammer, mark the drilling holes.
I decided to drill from the front as there will be metal remnants around the circumference of the holes.
You may wish to clamp the plates together beforehand.
6)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Q-...=w1243-h699-no
With the custom plate clamped down onto a suitable surface, you may start drilling. I used a piece of cloth to protect the plate from the metal clamp.
Measure the two drilled holes. Are they to measurement?
This is where using a drill bit slightly larger than 6mm comes handy. Say you choose to use a size 8mm bit, if you are a mm or two off, then you have 4mm of adjustability to level the no. plate.
The other way to correct the unevenness of the two holes, on one or both holes, with the drill bit through the hole, drill on the spot relative in height, then push the side of the hole you wanna trim.
Gently sand off the metal remnants at the back, so you don't scratch your car!
Repeats steps 5 and 6, or if you wish to kill two birds with one stone, then do it once together, if the locations front and back are the same.
7) Put on them plates.
Enjoy!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gx...=w1034-h699-no
If you have any other suggestions or improvements, feel free to comment.
