License plate clamps

[d.j. moordigian]

You better look at the shape of the 28-29 clamps,..the bolts are meant to be down.
If you mount it with the bolts up,..you bend the "plate" when you tighten the plate.

The 30-31, I believe is correct with the bolts up..different design..

Look at Tom's post #4,..in this thread..
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105478&highlight=License+plate+clamps

 

[HoarseWhisperer]

Again, the change in clamp style was made mid-1929. June to be exact.

 

[31 Model A]

If I ever decide to show my car for points.....then maybe, I will see which way my license plate bolts were supposed to be mounted. In the meantime I will continue down the gravel roads that are aboundant where I live. Picking up stone chips, and trying to kill insects that happen upon my windshield. . Jeff

I'll just blame it on the mechanic at the dealership who mounted them wrong.

 

[iverson]

Dj is right on our 28 if turned around it bends the plate

 

[2manycars]

Here is my early 29 tudor with the front plate mounted correctly. I also have a stainless steel plate behind the licence plate to make it stronger.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

Here is the section in the Ford Service Bulletins, showing the license clips installed.
Rusty Nelson

And here it is in the guidelines,

 

[d.j. moordigian]

This is a Ford photo, from MAFCA. Hope this comes out correct..

http://model-a-ford.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/storiesearly-28-phaeton-front-web.jpg

 

[d.j. moordigian]

Here is the section in the Ford Service Bulletins, showing the license clips installed.
Rusty Nelson

And here it is in the guidelines,

That is a drawing of the redesigned clip from June 1929! Read pages 18-2 and
18-3 in the Judging Standards for the earlier clips...

Dudley

 

[HoarseWhisperer]

Left: Up through May 1929
Right: June 1929 ->

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I have the first style clips and mount the plates just as Bill shows in reply #25.

Somewhere I once read my plate should be mounted in the middle of the two clip parts, but this isn't possible, as the plate hits the headlamp bar before the holes line up for the clamp bolt.

 

[Jim Mason]

JSC use a number of references included ford photographs. I not aware of the particular reference used for the license plate clamps, but I would assume photo evidence would be high on the list

 

[Jim Mason]

Nowhere does the Rg&Js state that you have to do anything as written. It's your car do as you want. If you are going to have your car compared to the judging standards be prepared to have points deducted for anything that does match the written standard. I know going in what points I will have deducted. It's my choice to deviate or not.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

That is a drawing of the redesigned clip from June 1929! Read pages 18-2 and
18-3 in the Judging Standards for the earlier clips...

Dudley

Ribbed clips that hung the license plate below the bar
were used from the beginning of production until May
1929. The radius of the curved portion of the clip which
attached to the headlamp bar was 15/32" and the height
of the bolt end of the clip was 1/4". In June 1928 the
height of the radius of the curved part of the clip was
increased to 112 ". The clips were attached to the headlamp bar with unfinished 1/4"-20 x 1" hex head (3 /8" x
1/4") bolts, unfinished lock washers and cadmium plated
1/4"-20 (3/ 16" x 112") hex nuts. Very early vehicles may
have been assembled with raven finished hex nuts. The
bolts were installed from the radiator side of the headlamp bar. The assembly sequence was the bolt, clip, headlamp bar, clip, lock washer, and nut.

If anyone reading this does not have one, get the Restoration Guidelines sold by most vendors and the national clubs. You will not be disappointed. Even if you do not want to have your car judged, this book will still allow you to find the "correct" part as opposed to just any part. As an example how hard would it be to paint a part the correct finish as it would be to just leave it alone?