Does Ford drill holes in the front bumper skin for the front license plate braket or does the dealer? In Arizona, we are not required to have a front plate, so if I can avoid having holes, of course thats what I would do.

 

No holes in mine. Ilive in Fl. no front plate either. There are just little dimples in the plastic where you could spear it! Make sure you tell them not to put the dealer advertisment, I mean sticker on

 

No holes...just little dimples where the holes would be drilled. Be SURE the dealer knows that you don't want the bracket mounted and if at all possible, have a relative or friend with you who can go back to make-ready with the truck to insure they don't screw up. (ie. when i bought my 97 cobra, a friend of mine stopped them from drilling holes in the front bumper...on top of that, they were going to drive it to the gas station to fill up the tank and I said, nuh uh...not without me. It's a good thing I was there...the guy picked up the 89 octane to fill her up...no...no) Another piece of advice, let them know you don't want any stickers on it that advertise the dealership either. If they would like you to drive it off the lot with them on, it's gonna cost them $50 or $100/wk. I'm sure they can account for it! Unless of course you're one of the lucky ones that got the A-Plan.

 

Great minds DO think alike!

 

Unfortunately here in Colorado, we're required to have front tags, but I bought my truck in Wyoming, so the dealer just gave me the bracket cause he didn't have the heart to drill the holes-(a dealer with class!!??). So I put the holes in myself. As far as the advertising, I pulled off the tailgate placard while they were installing the tonneau cover, I handed it back to the salesman and he looked like I just shot his dog!!

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99 White Lightning
#2277, built 6-11-99

 

They are required here in Texas as well. My dealer was very cool about it and didn't insist on installing it, even asked me ahead of time if I wanted it on there. They also didn't put the dealer logo on the tailgate, the first time I didn't have to ask to have it removed.

So far, I've been lucky and the gendarmes haven't given me any grief about it. My police friends tell me they won't usually mess with it unless they just want to stack on a few extra charges. I'm nice to police officers, so most of the time they are pretty cool.

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Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
wyldman@houston.rr.com
Black 99.5 Lightning Build # 1273, DOB 5-14-99, NLOC #315
Best run to date 13.16 @104.8
CD Changer; Tow Pkg.; Lojack; Sal's custom nitrous chip; G-Tech/Pro; SnugLid; BedRug; Invinca-Shield, full kit; NOS KIT 80 hp shot (currently); Clear and smoke Lexan fog light covers; 3M Ti Window Tint; Bel radar detector (shouldn't be an accessory); PowerStack cone filter (a.k.a. supercharger waker upper); American Auto Designs ram air hood; Cal-Tracs traction bars


[This message has been edited by Wyldman (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. Very good points made by all in addition to the license holes. I will call my dealer tomorrow and probably keep reminding him of things not to the L when it arrives.

 

when i bought mine in july, i told the dealership that i did not want the plate bracket put on and even got them to put it down in writing, also told them not to put their logo on back either....imagine my surprise when i picked it up from being detailed (or prepped, which ever you prefer)
and i see a plate bracket on the front of the
truck, did not have the logo on back, thank god...the excuse was that the guy putting the bracket was new and thought it was being sold to someone from n.j.
after all the other trouble i had with financing from this dealership, i just left with a bad feeling about them....funny thing is that this dealership is supposed to be one of the best when it comes to SVT stuff....
just be REAL careful when getting your truck done, and stay with your truck as much as possible.....

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99.5 black lightning
A.R.E. tonneau installed
bedrug liner
repaired and returned 12/06/99

 

Just had mine installed by a dealer, doesn't look too bad. Of course it would be better not to have it at all, but it is required here in Ohio. They didn't talk about drilling holes, said they used some kind of gun (cant remember what they called it).

 

In Maryland we have to have a front plate.

So I took mine off and replaced the screws with screw covers from home depot and painted them with the red touch-up paint to match. They look pretty good. You really can't tell unless you really look.

Plus removing the front tag helps you a little with the police laser gun. It gives them one less reflective object to lock-on. Now all they have are the headlights.

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99.5 Red Lightning #1652
Superchip, 13.614 1/4 @ 103.17 mph
Red Rhino Liner


[This message has been edited by H8 2 W8 (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

H8 2 W8,

Where in MD are you? I work in Baltimore, but live in Glen Burnie...

99.5 BlackLightning
no 935, born May 17, 99
clear corner lenses, snuglid, bedrug

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DEVILDOG

 

Hey SGT A,

I live up in Bel Air close to Churchville.
We go to Cecil County Dragway on Friday nights from 6 to 11pm. It's cheap to test all your mods. You should try to come up, Spiro goes and there are a couple more guys w/lightnings that go. We give the chevy's a run for their money.

ROB

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99.5 Red Lightning #1652
Superchip, 13.614 1/4 @ 103.17 mph
Red Rhino Liner

 

When i bought mine in August, it was late (after 9pm) so no tech's were working. The porter drilled holes and mounted bracket upside down, and put on their ad tag. The next day upon closer inspection I noticed this and went back to dealer and they agreed to install new bumper cover with no holes ! I overheard the body shop man. tell salesman it was over $500 !

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99 Lightning Black Dk. Gray Bedrock spray in liner,
CDChanger, Class III Hitch,
PSP Filter,
ARE Cap,

 

Like Wyldman, i'm in Texas but my dealer didnt put on the front plate. I currently run without it, as I think it detracts from the look of the truck substantially. I have been pulled over *several* times for speed-related incidents and the cops have never hassled me about it. I did get pulled over once by a cop going the other direction specifically because of the lack of a front plate. However, he just gave me a warning and asked a lot about the truck.
Methinks he just wanted a closer peek :-)