Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

[Larry C.]

Pulled my steering column out for a rebuild and things went fairly well up until the time I accidentally knocked off the VIN plate while on my workbench. Many years ago, one the spot welds broke loose but the other held on until now.

My first thought was to find someone to spot weld it back on before putting the column back in the car; but got to thinking someone could do a bad job and burn the VIN plate. Second thought is to "glue" it back on with J-B Weld or similar product.

I can't be the first to have knocked off their VIN so thought I best solicit some feedback from others before doing anything.

All comments and help appreciated.

Larry Chilton

[Dick W.]

Re: Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

Spot weld or JB Weld either will work. Spot wood would be my choicechoice

[John M.]

Re: Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

Larry,

I wrote this a number of years ago to address a problem such as you have. Give it a try. pay attention to the warning .... practice first to make sure you will be satisfied with the result.

Procedure for Reattachment of Corvette Steering Column VIN Tags

I believe the under-hood steering column location of VIN tags on our Corvettes has proven itself to be an engineering mistake. Water and moisture could get under the tag and attack the areas around the spot welds where paint had been burned off during the process of spot welding. Add road vibrations, an unfriendly environment of hot and cold only inches away from the exhaust manifold, continual aging, bumps to the tag while working on the car, or a sleeve getting caught on one of the edges, and you know the rest. If it falls off on the road it is lost forever.



To reattach the tag by spot welding as original, you will have to find a welder that REALLY knows what he is doing and put a lot of trust in him. Ask to see several samples of his work on test samples that will equal the spot welding of the tag to the column (such as a piece of stainless sheet stock the size and thickness of the VIN tag spot welded to a length of exhaust tube). Even then if successful, kiss your original spot welds goodbye. I have seen many attempts at reattaching these tags by welding, and I have seen many tags ruined in the attempt. Of those that have been successful, the spot welds rarely match the look of the original spot welds, which are only original once.



Carefully clean with sandpaper down to bare metal the exact spot on the steering column that the tag goes (as adhesion will be only as good as the base it is applied to). Do the same with the back of the tag Use FORD weather-strip cement (Ford Gasket and Trim Adhesive) as follows: Coat both areas and allow to dry. Repeat this a 2^nd & 3^rd time. EXACTLY position the VIN tag on the column where you want it (face it the right way)

What I would add to the above method would be the following;





3. On a steering column that is already painted you will have to be careful. If a column is unpainted or will be repainted; I would paint the steering column after attaching and carefully masking the VIN tag, including the unglued underside edge. Any adhesive that paint can reach would then be painted, and look natural.

4. Spot welds should be placed on a new reproduction/replacement VIN tag. If reattaching an original VIN tag, the original spot welds will already be on the tag. These spot welds will now only be cosmetic in appearance, and the tag will look like it is welded on.

5. Make sure you place the VIN tag on the column facing the correct way. As you look over the side of the left front fender you should be able to read it, not upside-down. Once contact is made it will be hard to reposition the tag, and it might also be expensive.

one chance to attach the tag. Make sure you are comfortable with the process, and happy with the end result.




edit 3-21-14: I don't know if the number for Tom Maxwell is still valid or not, but Tom is known in this hobby.

Good Luck, & Save the Wave ....... JGM

[Christopher R.]

Re: Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

You do not want to lose that tag. If you do, you can knock a few thousand off the value of your car. If it were mine, I'd make photocopies of the tag for future reference, and put the tag in a safe place. You, the future owner, the cops, and an NCRS judge are the only people who care about that tag. You could mount it with chewing gum for judging (so long as the gum doesn't show and the spot welds are flush with the column). If you do mount it on the car, however you do that, consider running a worm type hose clamp around it and the column. For your peace of mind, any adhesive that you use to re-attach the tag will have to be so strong that you will not be able to remove the tag in the future without damaging it.

[Larry C.]

Re: Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

It is fairly obvious that the factory spot welds are NOT that strong. It takes only some mild bumps while working under the hood to break the welds loose. I don't know anyone I would trust with trying to spot weld the VIN plate back. A mistake by the welder could ruin the tag.

I am experimenting with various adhesives, J-B Weld, contact cement, etc with some scrap thin metal and pipe. Suspect I will go with J-B and while installing will tie it down with couple of black plastic tie wraps for extra insurance, and may even leave them on until an appropriate time to remove. Cheap insurance to replace the plastic ties.

Thanks to all for the good advice and recommendations.

Larry

[Edward J.]

Re: Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

I am with Chris on the tag attachment, if lost ,its your car true DNA. and cannot be replaced and appear as the original. for judging you can find a way to temp. attach the plate. I am not sure what the material is on the plate But if it is stainless. nothing really sticks to stainless and don't forget the heat around the area, like exhaust manifolds.

[Larry C.]

Re: Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

Hey, guys,

I understand the concern about losing the VIN plate but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of C-1s out there running around with the original spot welds from the factory still holding. Any one of those cars could lose its VIN anytime, anywhere.

Have tried two experiments so far. Took piece of galvanized fence pipe about size of mast pipe and two pieces of thin aluminum to use as trial VIN plates. The aluminum strips were concaved slightly to duplicate the slight curve of my VIN plate. The first was put on with contact cement. The second with J-B Weld. After allowing to cure, I tugged on the J-B Weld fix and it seemed to hold but when I put the tip of screw driver under the edge and gave a little pry, the strip popped right off. J-B stayed stuck to the pipe, however.

Contact cement seems to be holding pretty well but tomorrow, I will attempt to remove with screw driver to see how much force it takes to remove it.

Larry

[Don H.]

Re: Re-attaching VIN plate to 1962 steering column

I keep at least one ty-wrap around mine all the time. It can be easily cut off for a show and then re-attached. Don H.