I want to strip and repaint a '56 Meteor hard top. However, before I remove the vin tag and body tags I want to be able to rivet them back in place with the correct eye go through the tapes and seem to be mushroomed internally if you get what I mean. So anyone know where to get them?
Highway Patrol and DMV. I wouldn't ask about them, though...Might get fitted with a pair of bracelets. 'May fold under intense questioning...'
You might ask the DMV if they could reinstall them after you paint. Be sure to ask before you remove the old ones and get their concurrence. Charlie Stephens
The last I heard, possession of the special rivets that held on the vin tags was against Federal law. Something concerning tampering with titles & registrations, and vehicle identification numbers., but maybe a Restoration shop can help you. Gene
E-bay vendors have some VIN rivets. The Canadian fella that sells repro VIN tag blanks also sells the rivets (advertises on Craig's List). I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
I just mask the tags, carefully. Or strip and paint them if that's how they were originally finished, such as the cowl tags on old GMs. It's kind of against the law to mess with serial number tags, eh? Why tempt fate?
A clever lad might just rotate a sharp drill bit by hand against the backsides of the rivets to carefully destroy the mushroom and leave only a stump...and then perhaps use nasty modern adhesives to repair his unthinking mistake. Leave a note of apology to the DMV for your grandchildren to post in 2116.
AG Backeast has rivets for trim tags: http://www.datatags.com I don't think he does the special rivets for VIN tags.
it is not against the law to remove them . it is putting them back on that will get you room and board
Since all you guys said they were against the law to own I just went and flushed all mine down the stool. Hope they don't plug anything up.
x 2. Why screw around with it? Just mask the two square inch tag and be done with it. You didn't say what State you're in. Like all registration questions w/o the State, you'll get 50 different points of advise. Be damn sure you have your ducks in order with Federal law and your State's DMV before you mess with the tag. I know CA. is hell on this. They've been known to inspect cars prior to auctions looking for VIN plates that don't pass the smell test.
I used to have a buddy that was a real pro at replicating the VIN rivets. Looking forward to getting together for a beer with him...in 5 to 10 years. Seriously, don't remove it. I mask them off or paint right over them, which ever the factory did. If I was a fed, I would sell the rivets on e-pay and keep a dossier all of the buyers...but I'm not conniving enough to thinks of crap like that.
not that i have done it but,............. stainless rivets "bumped" against the grinder, to put five flat edges will look real convincing ........or so i have been told.
I think they are called rosette rivets or punch rivets. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/391465...7290-0%26rvr_id%3D1053415622157&ul_noapp=true
Why worry IF the vin is stamped on the frame? My Crosley has hex head screws holding the vin to the fire wall from the factory..DMV inspection did not utter a word..
California Law concerning this ; 10750. (a) No person shall intentionally deface, destroy, or alter the motor number, other distinguishing number, or identification mark of a vehicle required or employed for registration purposes without written authorization from the department, nor shall any person place or stamp any serial, motor, or other number or mark upon a vehicle, except one assigned thereto by the department. (b) This section does not prohibit the restoration by an owner of the original vehicle identification number when the restoration is authorized by the department, nor prevent any manufacturer from placing in the ordinary course of business numbers or marks upon new motor vehicles or new parts thereof.
The thing that would bother me, would be new looking rivets that are supposed to be 60 years old. 60 years of "patina" is kind of obvious, and expected, on the rivets on the serial number tag on a 60 year old car.
different manufacturers use different style rivets - some reproduction suppliers offer replacements For Sale - for some Fords can even order a replacement data tags and rivets from www.martiauto.com
I took mine off to have the car blasted, the dash was rusted thru and needed to be cut out. The vin is stamped in 4 other places on my car(OT), so I'm not too worried about that. The car is stripped and pics of the before, hidden vin were all taken. You can find the rivets but expect to pay a lot for them. I ran a thread and got similar responses. If a person was so inclined, these rivets are not a big deal across the Pacific ocean, you can buy them in bulk for pennies each, shipping available. Some dimensions are needed, head diameter, shank diameter, approximate shank length. Hindsight, it would have been less headaches to leave them in place.
Did a 56 Met even use modern VIN rivets?? I doubt it. Austin Healeys used sheet metal screws to hold the number tags on. All of these stories and tales of going to prison are bullshit. You are not going to get arrested or prosecuted for restoring your car. The laws are clearly aimed at theft and other nefarious deeds.
I'm pretty sure you can buy the replacement rivets with no problem. You can't ready strip a highend restoration with the vin plate in place unless you want to kiss your plate good bye.
I don't remember rosette pop rivets until they started putting the vin number in the dash. I've had several 56 Ford pickups that came from the factory with Phillips headed sheetmetal screws holding the vin plate to the door jamb. I don't think that really matters since they've always checked the frame numbers when they needed an ID. That's not to say I wouldn't try to use stock looking hardware if I ever had to re-rivet a plate onto a vehicle.
It would be easy enough to machine up some dummy rivets and JB Weld the plate back in place. I just masked mine off when I shot the door jambs.
After you F#%¥ with it make sure you keep a hacksaw blade with you at all times.... Also be polite to 'Bubba'
Very touchy subject. Remember the "Chasing Classic Cars" episode where the Connecticut Troopers shut down the entire auction because someone pop riveted a data plate on their firewall. Every car that was "flagged" by the State of Conn. was given a document by the auction company stating that if there was a problem with any state DMV the buyer could get their money back.
I removed mine on a 49 GMC for sandblasting and epoxy prime. I reinstalled it with pop rivets. No problem registering it in KY. But when I sold it to a guy in NC, well, that's another story....
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