tips/advice from coppers/VOSA people and painters/fabricators

[Naith]

hello dearests, reete as above really.

Meg is going in for a total front end respray next week, thought id see if I could get the front recess smoothed beforehand as I think, well know, it looks so much better smoothed off..

Alas here lies my problems to which I need the answers from people in the law profession and indeed bodywork/paint experts.


* The first is regarding front number plates, is the square setup legal in the eyes of the law? I mean standard sizing and all that jazz? I dont care how you think it looks I just need to know the legality and whether it is ok fitted off centre as I plan to fit the front plate to the driverside grill area on the meg, and remove it for shows/track.

* My second question is for bodywork/painters, I plan to get my front plate recess smoothed and the plate relocated. now I have briefly spoken to rexe off here and he mentioned something about a flexible filler, i.e it wont crack as easily. Apparently when filling and smoothing filled areas are prone to cracking due to the stresses and impacts that it encounters on the road. Im useless with this area so any help would be great

so yeh.... any help is appreciated

 

[Naith]

well that went well.

 

[Gally]

Hi mate never saw it first time round!

Not sure on the plate sizing thing but the filler.

At the front it's going to be very dodgy mate unless you do it right.

You ideally want it plastic welded and use minimal filler, I haven't heard of flexable filler but I know plastic filler should be used (usually grey in colour)

I did deans rear moulding on his mk3 smoothed and painted all plastic weldeed with minimal filler.

To be honest it doesn't look like the easiest recess to fill as the bottom there is no ledge.

Easily done tho just a risk with filler cracking as always.

 

[Naith]

damn, cheers mate. yeh theres no ledge, maybe knock it on the head then...

would look so good though

 

[Matt_90]

Why don't you get a secondhand bumper and give it ago if it doesn't work stick the current bumper back on.

 

[Naith]

because I'm getting it sprayed asap as part of repair work so thought I'd kill two birds with one stone, plus I'm not into throwing money away incase I fcuk up, lol

 

[Matt_90]

Fair play, what sort of prices have you been quoted for a front end respray mind me asking as mine is shocking and needs doing. Just unsure of what prices to expect

 

[Naith]

getting it done on insurance mate as a company damaged the car so couldnt say

looking at around 200/250 though dude... mines alot more! lol insurance premiums and all that

 

[Matt_90]

Cheers mate ... might ring around for some prices.

 

[Gally]

Yeah don't do it Naith, not worth the hassle imo.

 

[ElusiveHB]

On the legality, I don't know the law but I'm a bit of a saddo and watch Police interceptors and their Evo has an off centre square number plate

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JzUx44lr8WA/SUcO8Hwd7zI/AAAAAAAAIG4/WVxd5kxlmg8/s400/Police+Evo+(3).jpg

 

[Naith]

good point, cheers mate.

thats the legal side cleared up, now wheres that plastic filler

 

[mat-nos]

if you get it plastic welded you can create a small lip where there isnt one for the fillter to grab.
i had my mk1 done that way and it didnt crack.....

as long as the text of the plate is of standard size/font you shouldnt have a problem where you put it on the front bumper.

 

[Naith]

fancy helpin out then?

lol been told its a bugger to do but i want it so much i might stamp my feet tbh

 

[mat-nos]

me and body filler dont get on, i leave that to the pros lol
i know it can be done, if the spray shop dont do it everyday and dont seem confident prob wont come out very well and wont be interested in you if you go back after a month if its cracked,but quite happy to pop into body shop with you ...

 

[ipodsandguns]

your going to need a plastic sheet plastic welded in as gally says.

people i know with punto recesses removed fit there plates in the normal place but on 'L' brackets.

so you screw it up into the upper face of the grill and then can remove with no bolt holes, get me?

 

[Naith]

sort of, the front plate... i wanted it to sit in front of my grill on the side theres no induction pickup from but i'm thinking no bugger will do it now, smelly car