Factory Front Plate Bracket

[jimgt2k24]

It looks like the factory bracket has to be mounted with the two square 'tabs' at the top. At least it is fastened into the black part of the bumper.

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[Skye]

Interesting. I went downstairs to pick up mine. I see your point. At first glance, it's upside-down, but if you look at the side and how it meets the curve of the bumper, it does appear to be installed correctly.

I wonder if Ford forgot to adjust the mold, so the tabs are placed at the bottom.

 

[unfairslide]

4 holes drilled

 

[Skye]

Edit: yea, I think I understand now.

On the 2022/2023, two divots are in the center of the bumper cover; these allow you to drill pilot holes and center the bracket. Once on, two edge holes, if the screws are long enough, will also screw into the bumper cover. But they don't have to.

With the 2024, due to the shape of the new bumper cover, to keep the same idea as above, they had to spin the existing cover 180 degrees. As with the 2022/2023, if the edge screws are long enough, those will also screw into the bumper.

Only way to know is to remove and check the two edge screws. Using four short screws, two will attach the bracket to the bumper cover while the other two will support the plate, without hitting the bumper cover.

Some pics of a 2022/2023 bracket.

 

[unfairslide]

Correction: yes, it could be four screws holding it on. The middle screws attach to the bumper cover for sure. I thought the other two screws were stopped, but I was wrong. If long enough, the other two screws will also go into the bumper cover. The 2022/2023 bracket is same. Two divots for pilot holes in the bumper cover. Once the bracket is on with those two, if the edge two screws are long enough, they could also tap the bumper cover.

Gimme a bit. I'll upload some photos.

Edit: some pics of a 2022/2023 bracket.

Yeah I agree, middle are for sure screwed in. The bottoms could possibly be screwed but only way to tell is to take the front bracket off. Thankfully my dealer has a strict no drill policy after a bronco customer got pissed and made them find a new bumper in the height of the bronco shortages lol.

 

[2024S650]

4 holes drilled

It’s possible that the two lower bolts are the ones holding the license plate to the frame and just has posts for support behind. I’m just guessing….I would not think the actual plate bolts go into the bumper as well.

 

[steveo1960]

Told my dealer if they put the mount on, or a dealership decal on the back I will refuse delivery of the car. They seemed cool with it as they are a huge Mustang dealer and I'm in no way the first to ask for this.. Time will tell as I haven't even got my VIN yet...

 

[ThreePedalPlow]

It's so stupid we even have to run front plates. Just follow me if you are so worried about who I am. If we are going opposite directions, by the time you have run my plates I'm long gone anyways. I don't see what purpose a front plate serves. They are required where I live too. Seems like a giant waste of materials, time and money to mess up the appearance of something I was already taxed to death on. We should have had scannable tags that aren't unsightly a long time ago.

 

[Gr8ful]

I ordered a new Cobra back in the 90s. It showed up and the lot boy drill the front bumper and installed the plate bracket. When I arrived and saw it I refused the car. To me it destroyed the front bumper. I'm happy to live in a state that does not have front plates now.

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