VIN Tag Screw up....Help!

[Chaparralman1974]

So, in a nutshell, I screwed up. While I was using the stripper wheel I must've brushed it over the VIN tag in the door jamb. It is still legible, but I think it now looks like total crap. there are scratches in the shiny part of the tag. Does anyone have any ideas on how to buff this out?

[special-K]

I guess go through the metal polishing process coarse to fine.

[best view]

I wouldn’t worry about that it’s just a old truck

[Accelo]

One could just paint over it like I have seen so many times.
Good news it the rivets are still there.

[Sheepdip]

Leave it alone and paint over it like Accelo says.

[Chaparralman1974]

Were they normally painted over? I thought mine was just a repaint or something.

[jumpsoffrock]

Originally Posted by Chaparralman1974

Were they normally painted over? I thought mine was just a repaint or something.

No I believe they are polished/chrome and riveted on after the cabs were painted.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Chaparralman1974

Were they normally painted over? I thought mine was just a repaint or something.

those plates were not painted on any truck i ever had or the truck i have now.here's the plate on my 72 truck now,with original paint on the post,just like it was when it was built.hopefully you can repair it with polishing.

[Chaparralman1974]

I have a buddy who is a jeweler. I will ping him to see how best to clean it up. I can’t believe I did this….ugh!

[Sheepdip]

Not originally painted but many have been during repaints. I may have the exact year wrong, but I believe in 1980 the vin tags went to the dash on the drivers side to be visible from the outside of the vehicle. Prior to that they were on door jambs, firewalls etc. so some of them just got painted over

[special-K]

The good part is no one would suspect a VIN-plate swap. I know yours isn't swapped but might be a thing to consider for others

[georgieb51]

And I know folks might want to hear this but you could always remove the tag. Polish it properly, then re-install with the correct rosette rivets. I have done this a couple of times on restorations. They say these rivets are not available but I have found them on ebay at very high prices. And I have never swapped tags. Always put the original tag on the original truck. I just wanted new paint and I wanted it to look new.

[Myself]

If it's not a 100% correct restoration it won't matter either way.

[Getter-Done]

Polishing oil stones can take care of the edges.

Also jewelery polishing stuff as metioned above.

Small broken polishing stones can sometimes be bought on e-bay.

Link: https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/01555853

[mkmc69]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

And I know folks might want to hear this but you could always remove the tag. Polish it properly, then re-install with the correct rosette rivets. I have done this a couple of times on restorations. They say these rivets are not available but I have found them on ebay at very high prices. And I have never swapped tags. Always put the original tag on the original truck. I just wanted new paint and I wanted it to look new.

I would do this.

[Chaparralman1974]

I spoke with my buddy who is a jeweler and he gave me some pointers and told me what stuff to use. I am going to get some polishing wheels for my dremel and see how that goes. I am going to try to polish it with the tag still attached to the truck and see what happens. I will post my results.

Clay

[special-K]

I think that will work. Just add elbow grease

[Chaparralman1974]

Well, I am making progress! I picked up some buffing wheels for my dremel (admittedly, I didn't even think about using my dremel :-)) and some polishing compound on Amazon. I have been working my way back and forth and up and down and I think that I have it cleaned up fairly well. I don't think I need to go any further than this, but what the heck, I am having fun!

I have been doing a ton of work on the cab the past few months and have been keeping copious notes and pictures. As soon as I get it all covered in epoxy primer I will update my build thread.



Clay

[mr.mud1]

looks good,that'll work.

[jumpsoffrock]

Can you take a pic of the attachments you bought for the dremel? I'd like to see them if possible, or you can link to them online if it's easier.
Thank you.

[1970cstblazer]

Looks great. I wouldn't go any further with it

[68 C10 Driver]

That looks really good. Outstanding job!

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

And I know folks might want to hear this but you could always remove the tag. Polish it properly, then re-install with the correct rosette rivets. I have done this a couple of times on restorations. They say these rivets are not available but I have found them on ebay at very high prices. And I have never swapped tags. Always put the original tag on the original truck. I just wanted new paint and I wanted it to look new.

Removing the tag is ABSOLUTELY the wrong thing to do. That causes way too much suspicion with any inspector who might ever need to check the vin on the truck. As it sits it is obviously the original Vin tag on with original rivets and that is paramount to having it look pretty. That is full proof that that cab is the cab that the title goes to and that is the important thing.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Chaparralman1974

Well, I am making progress! I picked up some buffing wheels for my dremel (admittedly, I didn't even think about using my dremel :-)) and some polishing compound on Amazon. I have been working my way back and forth and up and down and I think that I have it cleaned up fairly well. I don't think I need to go any further than this, but what the heck, I am having fun!

I have been doing a ton of work on the cab the past few months and have been keeping copious notes and pictures. As soon as I get it all covered in epoxy primer I will update my build thread.



Clay

It looks way nicer than the one on my 71 ever will. I do think that old car and truck folk get way too carried away with the appearance of the tag though. My tag on my 48 (that is held on with screws) got painted over a number of times in it's live and when I moved back from Texas to Washington in 1977 and had to have it inspected by the state patrol all the inspector did was take his pocket knife and scrape the area where the number was stamped in the plate and check the stamped number and life has been good ever since. Nothing else but that Vin number means anything to law enforcement.

[leddzepp]

Looks real good. I’d leave it alone and move forward with whatever else is next.