You may remember the first version of the license plate frame was a Bob Drake stamped stainless piece that I sliced and welded to the spreader bar. If you don’t remember, re-read that first sentence, omitting the first three words. Here’s a pic:

Somewhere between Syracuse and home, and then again somewhere between home and Louisville, the turbulence at the back of the car was working the frame and breaking the weld. It was a challenge to weld the thin frame to the heavier wall spreader bar, and every time it broke off, I had to clean and re-weld it where it had already been heated. Suffice to say, I was ready for a revision.

The pieces started out like this. The lower part of the license plate is not cut off; it slips into a slot cut into the spreader bar.

The back lower edge of the surround plate was chamfered so that the front edge could sit flush with the spreader bar tube to make welding cleaner.

I put a slight radius on the vertical plates where they meet the tube.

I used some washers stacked and clamped tight to form the side plate around.

Tacked together.

This is just a fusion weld – no filler.

Just sitting on the spreader bar, getting an idea of the angle I want it to sit at.

I’m ok with the weld showing – it matches the rest of the car. I clearanced the frame for the O as well.

I put a bit of a radius on the corner to give it more of a stamped look.

Here’s the original frame welded to the spreader bar.