A&Q about Lotus
Q:
What the hell ... someone gave me some long explanation about how a license on the front too high up would cause air intake problems! Who fed me that crap????
Don't mind me, I know very little about cars except that I look reallyyyyyyyyyy good in this one
A:
Originally Posted by gameson
Intake is on the back of your seat, it draws air from side scoop
That's the engine intake. The suspected issue with mounting a large front plate is that it will restrict airflow to the radiator.
A:
Yet another option:
Plate comes from www.licenseplates.tv. I'm not the only Elise in the area with this sort of plate (I got the idea from someone else) but I don't think either of us have been pulled over yet so it remains to be seen if it'll get a ticket. It may become even more common -- I saw a tuner car at a show recently with a similar plate and several sportscar owners have asked me where they can get one.
A:
Originally Posted by dododge
That's the engine intake. The suspected issue with mounting a large front plate is that it will restrict airflow to the radiator.
Maybe, but using the standard mount puts the plate in the way too. In this mount configuration it is about 1" higher than in the Lotus mount. Also it is the upper portion of the system that receives passive airflow most, because the fans are mounted below. When the fans kick in there is plenty of open space to draw the air. The plate is mounted 2 1/2 inches in front of the grill, so there is also plenty of space still to pull in air. I believe the air restriction is very minor.
Advantages of this mount are:
Doesn't drill holes in the clam.
Doesn't extend out and down in front of the car ...that will scrape and risk clam damage.
It is very light.
It is virtually invisible.
That long plate mount if used with a US style plate will scrape in front. Anything hanging down and in front of the clam will scrape. I lived with the drilled in plate mount for several months and it will scrape. I've got a ripped up plate to prove it. If you don't have the plate hang down, then it'll be in the same position as it is with this mount.
Also, to be clear, I am not doing this to make a business, I thought it was a cool mount, a bit too much work to make one at a time, so I thought I'd see if others were interested. If I could get enough interested and get a shop with small production capacity to make them, I could sell them and make them widely available. It's a very simple idea and well implemented, but time consuming. Anyway...
A:
Originally Posted by RegGuy
That long plate mount if used with a US style plate will scrape in front. Anything hanging down and in front of the clam will scrape.
I agree it'll scrape. I've knocked my plate off several times (twice in one particularly evil parking lot even). However I still consider it a good thing to have it hanging a bit out and below the clam to serve as an early-warning and sacrificial clearance alarm. I've raised it up a bit since the previous photo was taken, but still not flush with the clam. Obviously in cases where I'm moving fast enough actually rip it off the car it's probably too late to save the clam, and indeed both winglets have small scars despite the "plate alarm". But when slowly approaching a parking curb it's saved me more than once.
I lived with the drilled in plate mount for several months and it will scrape. I've got a ripped up plate to prove it.
I've avoided a drilled mount as I assume it'll transfer more force to the clam on contact. The velcro tears off if it hits something really hard. Surprisingly it holds better than I'd expected and the plate is a bit banged up anyway. Then again I don't want it so loose that the plate will vibrate or fly off while driving at speed.
If you don't have the plate hang down, then it'll be in the same position as it is with this mount.
Yes with a standard plate you're sort of stuck with the extra-tall form factor, unless you bend or fold it as some have done.
A:
OK, so I've heard from a number of you via PM and there are concerns about the airflow issue to the radiator. Those concerns (all that have asked directly have voiced that concern) are enough for me to decide not to make this commercially available. I am not going to get into a situation where warranties are voided or whatever because of airflow issues.
If anyone is interested in the design, I will be willing to share a mechanical of it so you can have it made at a machine shop or do it yourself.
Best to all...
A:
How much to make just one for me? I'll overpay!
A:
Originally Posted by Crow331
How much to make just one for me? I'll overpay!
I'll find out for you.
A:
Great, let me know!
A:
Originally Posted by Imolas54
car just attracts too much attention, driving at 50mph on the expressway, a cop two cars in front of me pulls over and gives me a no front plate ticket...
i can careless less about the $125 ticket but i had to pull over to the shoulder going pass that grid thing to wake sleeping drivers, which loosen up something in my car and it rattles like crazy now! )(*)&#)*@(#)(_)_(@*!)(*#!@&#(*!79#$*&(!!!!!!
and I just got one today driving up to Bear Mt. The cop gave me summons and was nice enough to drop it to 90 in a 55 instead of 95 in a 40. I've got to find a good lawyer in the area.
btw... I'm in Fort Salonga where might you be on LI?