Bare with me as this is my first attempt at a DIY. I searched and couldn't find a DIY for the "JDM" front plate relocation. Some people purchased a JDM front plate relocator either through ebay, cusco, or the password jdm part but not me. After analyzing those parts *cough*inflated prices*cough* I decided to make my own with tips learned over at clubrsx.
Here's what you'll need:
2 x L-brackets (2.5" x 5/8"), purchased from Home Depot
2 x 1/4" hex bolts
6 x 1/4" flat washers
4 x 1/4" stove bolts (round head) to mount plate to plate cover
6 x 1/4" locknuts
You'll need a drill and something to mark the holes you will be drilling. A measuring tape would help for where you want to drill. I mounted my plate with a clear plate cover but that's obviously optional.
![Image]()
Step 1: Remove your front plate from the OEM/dealer mounted location. Remove the plate from the plate holder. Mount the L-brackets to the back of your plate/plate holder with the flat washers, bolts, and locknuts. I used some Loctite to ensure the nut/bolts would stay threaded as driving can cause it to vibrate loose.
![Image]()
Step 2: Take your L-bracket mounted plate and locate the area you would like to mount the plate to. Take a marker/pencil and mark the holes you would like to have the L-bracket mounted to.
Here's the tricky part, you will have to flex the horizontal black grill outwards so you can drill two holes for the L-brackets. I needed someone to flex it outwards while I drilled. I don't think one person can do it, at least I couldn't.
Drill the two holes. Remove the mounting clips from the original plate location and clip them onto your two new holes. These will help with the threading of your bolts and lend some extra reinforcement to the semi-flexible plastic grill.
![Image]()
Step 3: Now that the holes are drilled you are ready to position the plate with the L-brackets onto the plastic grill.
One problem - it is EXTREMELY difficult to position the bolts/washers/locknuts into the hole. In fact, I ended up dropping the bolt into the air-dam, which is obviously sealed underneath! DOH! I didn't want to remove the bumper to access the air-dam and grill from behind so I compromised by removing the push fasteners holding the air-dam under the car. It's easier to do this by jacking up the car, so that's exactly what I did.
![Image]()
After that, I went ahead and removed the push fasteners used to hold the air-dam underneath the car. You'll need a flat-head screwdriver to gently pry them out. If you have the U-shaped tool they use to remove fasteners then you're one step ahead. After the push fasteners are removed, place something in-between the air dam so it is wedged open. This will allow you to position the bolts/washer/locknuts with your hand behind the plastic grill.
![Image]()
Step 4: Position the plate with L-brackets and fasten the bolts into the plastic grill. Check for clearances.
![Image]()
Replace push-fasteners for the air-dam. Lower car from jackstand and admire your handiwork! Grand total for this mod was no more than $10!
![Image]()
The plastic grill isn't that rigid and I noticed my plate with plate cover was flexing a tad bit. Being meticulous with my car and what touches it, I decided to place some adhesive foam stripping to the bottom of the back plate. This relieved the load on the bottom and gave the lower painted lip of the car something soft to rest against instead of bare metal from my plate
![Image]()
Now you can join the ranks of other JDM Front Plate Relocators! I hope these other members (06blaksi) don't mind me displaying their pics! :thumb:
![Image]()
Here's what you'll need:
2 x L-brackets (2.5" x 5/8"), purchased from Home Depot
2 x 1/4" hex bolts
6 x 1/4" flat washers
4 x 1/4" stove bolts (round head) to mount plate to plate cover
6 x 1/4" locknuts
You'll need a drill and something to mark the holes you will be drilling. A measuring tape would help for where you want to drill. I mounted my plate with a clear plate cover but that's obviously optional.
Step 1: Remove your front plate from the OEM/dealer mounted location. Remove the plate from the plate holder. Mount the L-brackets to the back of your plate/plate holder with the flat washers, bolts, and locknuts. I used some Loctite to ensure the nut/bolts would stay threaded as driving can cause it to vibrate loose.
Step 2: Take your L-bracket mounted plate and locate the area you would like to mount the plate to. Take a marker/pencil and mark the holes you would like to have the L-bracket mounted to.
Here's the tricky part, you will have to flex the horizontal black grill outwards so you can drill two holes for the L-brackets. I needed someone to flex it outwards while I drilled. I don't think one person can do it, at least I couldn't.
Drill the two holes. Remove the mounting clips from the original plate location and clip them onto your two new holes. These will help with the threading of your bolts and lend some extra reinforcement to the semi-flexible plastic grill.
Step 3: Now that the holes are drilled you are ready to position the plate with the L-brackets onto the plastic grill.
One problem - it is EXTREMELY difficult to position the bolts/washers/locknuts into the hole. In fact, I ended up dropping the bolt into the air-dam, which is obviously sealed underneath! DOH! I didn't want to remove the bumper to access the air-dam and grill from behind so I compromised by removing the push fasteners holding the air-dam under the car. It's easier to do this by jacking up the car, so that's exactly what I did.
After that, I went ahead and removed the push fasteners used to hold the air-dam underneath the car. You'll need a flat-head screwdriver to gently pry them out. If you have the U-shaped tool they use to remove fasteners then you're one step ahead. After the push fasteners are removed, place something in-between the air dam so it is wedged open. This will allow you to position the bolts/washer/locknuts with your hand behind the plastic grill.
Step 4: Position the plate with L-brackets and fasten the bolts into the plastic grill. Check for clearances.
Replace push-fasteners for the air-dam. Lower car from jackstand and admire your handiwork! Grand total for this mod was no more than $10!
The plastic grill isn't that rigid and I noticed my plate with plate cover was flexing a tad bit. Being meticulous with my car and what touches it, I decided to place some adhesive foam stripping to the bottom of the back plate. This relieved the load on the bottom and gave the lower painted lip of the car something soft to rest against instead of bare metal from my plate
Now you can join the ranks of other JDM Front Plate Relocators! I hope these other members (06blaksi) don't mind me displaying their pics! :thumb:
