1976 Front bumper replacement

[Edward I.]

My body shop replaced my urethane front bumper cover with American Custom Industry { ACI } EBF 010 TF - Fiberglass Flex Fit '75 - '79 cover . The shop did a decent job until they tried to replace the front license plate bracket.
My Vette was a NY State two license plate car in '76 but now is registered in Florida, a one plate state. I would like to keep the Vette the way I picked it up on Feb. 12, 1976 plus it would be nice to display the NCRS plate on the front .

PROBLEM: The stock original license bracket doesn't fit between the bumperettes on the new bumper cover. The space is too narrow for the bracket to fit flush in the license plate area.
I called the factory in Ohio and the nice guy told me that I was the FIRST person to call them with this problem in his 12 years working for ACI. He went so far as to try a stock bracket on one of his bumper covers and guess what ??
His didn't fit either. His solution: "GRIND the metal off,on both sides until it fits in-between the bumperettes".

Has anyone had this problem where you want to keep a front license bracket on a replacement bumper in a 2 plate state ?? If not - What company made yours ??

Thanks for any ideas
Ed
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[Joel A.]

Re: 1976 Front bumper replacement

Mount the plate directly to the bumper cover. Drill the holes, and square them off, and insert the nylon inserts for the screws.
Too late to change the cover, and grinding the bracket down doesn't sound like the best idea....

[Edward I.]

Re: 1976 Front bumper replacement

Thanks Joel for the fix but what will that mean if I ever get the car judged with no original front bracket ??
This project is suppose to be "fun" , isn't it ??

Ed

[Paul O.]

Re: 1976 Front bumper replacement

My suggestion would be add spacers behind the the bracket. When installed it would not be a very obvious alteration.

[Edward I.]

Re: 1976 Front bumper replacement

Thanks Paul . That's a good solution without damaging the bracket. A few longer bolts and something made out of plastic .