So I had to take my bumper off today to take off the driver's side plastic vent cover so I can fiberglass in a cold air duct to my intake. I haven't had a front plate since I've owned the car (2 months) and I'm constantly worried about getting pulled over for it. So, seeing as I'm going to an Evo meet next month I decided to see if I could mount my plate without using zip ties or drilling my bumper for the stock mount. I went to my local Advance and picked up a semi rigid plastic $5 license plate mount. I threw some bolts through the mesh, applied some Loctite, and now I'm legal without having to rock zip ties or drilling my bumper. I've seen some threads lately about this so I figured I would share. When I get my ducting finished I'll take the mesh to work and tack weld the nuts to small plate then to the vent so I can quickly install/remove it without removing the bumper. I can't stand the look of the plate on the car but at least it's not hacked looking.

The plastic isn't centered due to the mesh holes, but there's enough room in the license plate slots for the end product to be centered.

 

looks ok imo. The only thing I dont understand is you are building an air duct intake for more air but block off air flow to the intercooler that will cool down all that air you are pushing through there. But to each their own. I lucked out when I bought my evo that the holes were already drilled for me

 

I'm building the intake duct to force ambient air towards my air filter instead of it pulling from the engine bay. I've seen people zip tie their plates onto the mesh directly in front of the intercooler and figured this will be better than that, plus the two passages to the IC up top aren't completely blocked off. There's room on the sides, above the plate, and it's spaced off by about an inch. If I see a noticeable drop in power, which I doubt due to the lower intake temps, I'll move it to the side.

I don't think there's any good looking way to have a front plate so I wen't for the symmetrical approach.

 

Although the police my still pull you over there is currently not a Texas front license plate law. There was a loop hole and legislature did not fix it. So the law is not currently valid i believe. I had to deal with it a while ago.

 

That looks terrible. Get one that mounts it on the side.

 

Looks like a buck tooth

 

lol at bucktooth

Drill on the underside of the bumper so you don't see any holes if removed for track day or what not.

I drilled below stock location and bought $16 ebay universal license plate bracket. Done ...

 

To me it looks a little odd probably because I am used to the front plate being offset. I don't see why I wouldn't warm up to it after a while though, plus for $5 and no bumper damage you can't beat that.

 

I'm actually giving myself a while to warm up to it while I wait to find a license plate bracket for sale on here. As you stated it's odd due to not being normal on an Evo but plenty of cars have it located here. I can't get the buck tooth thing out of my head, though. It was probably the worst angle to take the picture at as far as buck toothing is concerned. Only time will tell if I can handle it.

Also, my county has a $125 fine for no front plate.

 

Don't lose too much sleep over the bucktooth comment lmao

 

horid

 

couldn't have said it any better myself .

 

Honestly that looks like poo.
I used double sided 3m tape on my evo and BMW both tested at 140+ holdin tight. Plus u can put it wherever u want.

 

I've had my front plate on the dash of my DD colorado for almost a year now and just this week I was stopped by a pig and warned to have it mounted up front. I searched everywhere I could think to look but I haven't found anything saying that it has to be mounted on the bumper, but just the front of the vehicle and that "the front is not defined" which tells me that it could be put anywhere within view of a standing position in front of the vehicle.
I've only had my lancer for a few weeks and I cringe at the thought of drilling holes in it already. I do a lot of traveling out of state so I might just zip tie it when I'm in Texas and move it back to the dash when I get out. I wonder if there's a practical way to mount some sort of quick connect without breaking any rules. hmm...

 

I do believe the front plate (if required) must be in a location where it can be seen by police at all forward angles. For example, if you leave it standing on the left side of your dashboard facing the glass a cop sitting on the right side of the road may not be able to see it because of the angle; The police that want to break ***** will ticket you for this.

Additionally, I don't understand why you'd mount a quick connect/release where you'd probably drill holes or deface the bumper in some manner, but won't just permanently mount the plate. It seems counter intuitive to me. Unless you do what the OP did and add a quick release feature. You're better off with the zip ties IMO.