Removing VIN plate for restoration..

[Huyzel]

I could be wrong but I have read somewhere that only a certified/licensed shop that specializes in restoring cars can remove vin plates and re-attach them. Is this information accurate? I have seen many restored cars with vin tags that have been taped off or painted over and it looks like crap.. I am restoring my 73 camaro and I want to remove the tags but want to make sure that it is "ok".

[214Chevy]

I don't know about how lawful it is or isn't, but anybody can remove it. And to replace it all you will need is a rivet tool and some rivets. I've even seen guys replace them with screws if they didn't have a rivet tool. Screws look less appealing to the eye, but hey they work. I think the taping off and painting of vin plates is more a matter of being lazy or not willing to pop the rivets off and replacing them. :lateral:

[coolwelder62]

The vin plates are not fastened w/std. rivet's.The oem's use a special rivet (Called rose head rivet's) .They are hard to come by.If the wrong people see you are using the wrong rivet they may start ask question's about the real ownership of your car and you will have to prove your car is not among some of the stolen cars that have had this done .Sometimes you can find these correct rivet's thur hemming's motor news ad's.They have a special head on them.Take a look at oem rivet's on your car then look at a std. rivet head.I have made them w/ a small file.Some GM cars the rivet is put in from the under side.So make sure the rivet goes from the some direction as stock. Take photo's before removing so you can check back when it's time to go back togather,also you have proof the car was legal before you took it apart if anyone question's you later.Good luck.

[Huyzel]

Yeah I have notice the special rivets.. Though the one the on the cowl looks like any other rivet.. I think the one on the dash is "special".. I guess for some cars it isnt worth risking the value to remove and restore...

[Huyzel]

I don't know about how lawful it is or isn't, but anybody can remove it. And to replace it all you will need is a rivet tool and some rivets. I've even seen guys replace them with screws if they didn't have a rivet tool. Screws look less appealing to the eye, but hey they work. I think the taping off and painting of vin plates is more a matter of being lazy or not willing to pop the rivets off and replacing them. :lateral:

Especially when its on the door jam.. Its like wtf?!?

[tellyv]

Go to trimtags.com and you can buy the rivets.

[clill]

LOL...actually it's called a Rosette rivet.

[cluxford]

The shop building mine removed the entire dash as I am building a custom dash, for months we thoughts we'd lost the VIN, it was getting pretty ugly as they are reverse stamped and those stamps just don't exist....

Luckily we found it.

It will be riverted back in place in the new dash...

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

These among others on ebay!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-55-75-Camaro-And-All-GM-Cowl-Trim-Tag-Rivets-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ250685537181QQptZMotorsQ5f CarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[KSBRKTRACER]

I personally wouldnt remove the VIN. I lost a 76 k-5 blazer for almost 2 years that I had traded for because it had the wrong rivets holding the VIN plate in the door jamb. This vehicle had the matching # frame, engine and hidden VINS. I had to hire a lawyer and sue to get it back, In the end it was discoverd that it had been rear clipped years before and they took the plate off of the damaged portion and reattached it to the replacement body parts. I also had to have an assigned VIN put on by the Highway Patrol and lost the original ID #. It was an absolute nightmare. This happened in the state of Kansas. If you have to remove it I would make sure from the state you are in that it is legal to remove and reattach it before you touch it...........Thats my .02 cents worth

[clill]

These among others on ebay!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-55-75-Camaro-And-All-GM-Cowl-Trim-Tag-Rivets-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ250685537181QQptZMotorsQ5f CarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Those are trim tag rivets, not vin tag rivets.

[GregWeld]

If ya know the right people.... you can have one (VIN Tag) made.

I wouldn't know anything about that.

[Huyzel]

Thanks for the input guys.. I guess ill leave it alone.. ill just clean it up the best that i can and then paint.. unless i can find rivets that are the same as factory then ill break out the drill.. :D

[Rick D]

I do not know the laws in your state but in ILL it is 100% ILLEGAL!! I think it is a fedral law?? And if you remember the guys with the Fosse Camaros and Mustangs (can't remember their name now) they got into alot of sh!t over not having vins on their cars and they where in your state

[GregWeld]

Nothing wrong with removing it and replacing it -- on the SAME CAR....

Do you guys take the tags off your mattresses after you buy them? Or the plastic off the lamp shades?? No police have ever visited my home looking for a VIN tag removal issue. :rofl: :rofl: :D

I've restored so many mid year vettes --- took the tags off all of 'em -- and replaced 'em... never gone to jail yet. Never tried to cheat anyone either.

[John510]

My dash was replaced too. Just rivet the vin back on the new one. As long as you take pics along the way it shouldnt matter.

[SLO_Z28]

Nothing wrong with removing it and replacing it -- on the SAME CAR....

Do you guys take the tags off your mattresses after you buy them? Or the plastic off the lamp shades?? No police have ever visited my home looking for a VIN tag removal issue. :rofl: :rofl: :D

I've restored so many mid year vettes --- took the tags off all of 'em -- and replaced 'em... never gone to jail yet. Never tried to cheat anyone either.

It is definitely against the law, and you can lose your car because of it. You get stopped for a normal speeding citation, and the officer goes to verify the last of your VIN against reg(it does happen), and oh wait, its been tampered with! At that point the cars getting towed until it can be verified. Your car has no fed tag anymore, and the engine/trans aren't original? Oh well looks like you're in a world of hurt.

Bottom line, dont touch your VIN, its against the law and its a bad idea.

[CRCRFT78]

Could you go to an authorized resto shop and have them remove it and reattach it once your car is finished without getting in trouble? Supply you with a notorized statement of such removal and replacement. Just a thought, it varies from person to person what type of risk your willing to take I guess.

[coolwelder62]

Leave it on unless it is damaged.Here in kansas it's a nightmare if the state trooper think's you even touched the vin tag. They treat everybody as if you are a crook. That's why you remove -replace w/ rosette rivet's(Thanks Charely)and don't let anybody know what you have done.Even if the frame and body vin's match they still question everything about build.

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

Those are trim tag rivets, not vin tag rivets.

yeah I had those copyed--mean't to copy and paste the rosettes on ebay
but noticed they were black---thought this thread was interesting-

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-tech-performance/1493292-vin-tag-rosette-rivets.html

I'm like Greg-never had a problem removing and replacing on my own vehicle with correct rivet--but better safe than sorry!!! jim

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

Here's the place in illinois---jim

http://www.trimtags.com/rivets.html

[CreepinDeth]

I've read most places that VIN tampering whether yours or not is Illegal by Federal Law.
Removing and replacing even with the same one. Do people do it ?? Yes.

I'd call your states DMV and inquire about your options before I took anyone's advice.
It could cause you more grief then it's worth. Get the facts from the source.

I do not know the laws in your state but in ILL it is 100% ILLEGAL!! I think it is a fedral law?? And if you remember the guys with the Fosse Camaros and Mustangs (can't remember their name now) they got into alot of sh!t over not having vins on their cars and they where in your state

Unique Performance, and they also used 17 Jail house inmates to build them for high paying customers.

http://67mustangblog.com/2008/02/prisoners-used-to-build-unique-performance-cars/

[CamaroAJ]

whats everyone with a custom dash doing about the vin tag? like my 69 camaro with 4th gen dash swap?

[HRBS]

I found the link below while researching the same topic.
I had our shop Nova Media Blasted and the bums must have blasted the door jamb so much they heated and distorted the aluminum Vin tag in the door jamb. (see pics below).
After carefully removing it and attempting to straighten it, I realized the numbers were now very faint. I found a place that restores tag (they DO NOT reproduce them or make copies). I will be sending out mine to be refinished and "restored".

http://www.classictiger.com/vinopin.html

[djorgensen3]

whats everyone with a custom dash doing about the vin tag? like my 69 camaro with 4th gen dash swap?

Along those same lines, what do you do with the VIN plate when you have to replace the cowl panel because of rust?

[SWAPMEETCRAZY]

I found the link below while researching the same topic.
I had our shop Nova Media Blasted and the bums must have blasted the door jamb so much they heated and distorted the aluminum Vin tag in the door jamb. (see pics below).
After carefully removing it and attempting to straighten it, I realized the numbers were now very faint. I found a place that restores tag (they DO NOT reproduce them or make copies). I will be sending out mine to be refinished and "restored".

http://www.classictiger.com/vinopin.html

INTERESTING WEBPAGE STEVE!! :yes: :yes: