Cuda rear license plate bracket

[1973cuda340]

Is there a separate bracket to mount the license plate bracket to the tail light panel on the two standoffs? I have the hinged bracket that the plate itself screws too, but I'm wondering if I'm missing a piece. The holes don't line up with the two standoffs.

[tman]

Look like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-Plymouth-Baracuda-rear-license-plate-mount-vintage-restoration-hot-rat-rod-/361410067699?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

[1973cuda340]

Yeah that's the same one that I have, but the holes on the hinged part don't line up with the two standoffs on the tail panel. Is there another piece or bracket that goes with it?

[tman]

A pic would be nice.  On my 70, the bolt holes are about 4.5 inches apart and it screws to the tail panel at the upper 3/4 above filler neck.  Screws are about the 10 and 2 o'clock.  If you are talking about the standoffs on the bottom end, rubber bumpers go there.  The license is pulled up from the bottom.

[1973cuda340]

here's some pictures

http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/73cuda340/DSCN1225_zpscqijerey.jpg

http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/73cuda340/DSCN1224_zpsauseddcy.jpg

[tman]

You must  have installed a new tail panel?  I don't see the holes that you need.  If you removed the spring hinged section, you use the 2 holes as a template.  The standoffs are correct for little rubber bumpers.  The bumper looks something like link below, although Im not sure if this is the correct one.  Someone could chime in on that.  That circular part with the holes is mounted above the outer diameter of the filler neck so that the bracket is level.  Looks like you need to do some drilling.  Also have a link of a tail panel with the 2 holes for the bracket that have welded on nuts.  Has front and backside pics of panel.  You are not missing any other pieces.

http://www.dalescudashop.com/19chpldolipl.html

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1972-1973-1974-CUDA-REAR-TAIL-LIGHT-BODY-PANEL-NOS-3684258-/292193906010?hash=item44081d2d5a:g:YTUAAOSwNnRYflif&vxp=mtr

[1973cuda340]

Thanks for the response. It's the original tail panel, but for whatever unknown reason, the body shop filled in the two mounting holes for the plate. Now I have to drill them out.

[tman]

Now that's a bummer.  That means they removed the welded nuts?  Extra work they did not need to do and more work for you. 

[1973cuda340]

Exactly. I looked through the opening inside the trunk and luckily the welded nuts are still there, so hopefully I can locate the holes on the outside of the tail panel and get a tap through there and reuse them.

[hofilbert]

Not to change the subject of this post, but I HATE putting gas in my cuda.  There has to be something better than sticking my finger under the plate, holding that plate up and unscrewing the cap, setting the cap somewhere to get lost or forget about, and then finally jamming the nozzle in to pump gas while still holding up the spring loaded license plate brkt.  It is a PAIN in the rear!
Has anyone designed something better than this as an aftermarket item?  It sucks.

[tman]

I totally agree.  Maybe invert it if someone wants to modify. 

[70chall440]

My solution. Uses an A body Barracuda or Charger cap.

[hofilbert]

Cool!  Easy to install?  Have to drill holes looks like?  What year cap is yours?  Later Charger ones have a large collar.

[tman]

Ingenious.  Do tell with complete details  Now does the lid cap off the fuel inlet or you using a separate gas cap, like a Challenger?

[70chall440]

hofilbert - yes it does require some holes, I believe I used #8 or #10 sheet metal screws. The lid does not come off, it is sealed against the filler inlet like on a Charger (there is a spring and rubber seal on the cap). So, you lift the license plate, pop the fuel cap which opens, then when open it holds the license plate up as well.

Details - well I cannot say for certain what the cap came off of, but I believe perhaps a 69 Barracuda although I believe a Charger one is very similar (the flip lock sits on top of a big chrome ring), however I will not swear to this. The flip lock I used has a slight taper in the back, so when it is laying say on a table, it will lean to one side or perhaps better said, one side of the cap it closer to the table that the other side.

I made a small spacer that sits behind the cap and goes over the 4 screws that hold the filler tube into the car. I also made small extensions to the license plate bumpers to lift them off the license plate off the gas cap (1/8" if I remember). I also had to clearance the inside of the cap to go over the factory filler tube lip.

this isn't super hard, but does take a little imagination to make work. Once you have it, you will not need to use a normal gas cap (in fact you can't unless you use a flip lock that does not have the sealing part)