1986 VIN tags - is it possible for them

[Loren L.]

to rust - or are they either stainless or aluminum??

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: 1986 VIN tags - is it possible for them

------Stainless,Loren.............Bill S

[David D.]

Re: 1986 VIN tags - is it possible for them

Bill, They are stamped sheet metal. Rusty ones are common on C4's. FWIW. Dave

[Loren L.]

Okay, those two responses leave me right where

I was. Would it be possible to hear from an 84-6 Team Judging leader or team member - or is the NCRS hierarchy PROHIBITED from joining this chat room under penalty of loss of sainthood???

[Terry M.]

e-mail him directly - he is in The Restorer *NM*

[Marty Monier #]

Re: 1986 VIN tags - is it possible for them

I would say they are neither.......

Judging manual says that RUST is common and hence,unfortunately...........

SO IS THE ONE IN MY CAR! Which is an '87 Coupe. So I'd say they are plain carbon steel.

Might be able to restore & preserve it with the dash pad out, I'd sure hate to have the windshield removed to do so. It is the original windshield.
But.....gottta do something, RUST never sleeps afterall.

I've been told by the hard working guys documenting these machines that they plan to have the '87-'89 Manuals and judging criteria completed next year.

Perhaps my forlorn '87 shall be amongst the first to be judged.
We shall see .

Regards.....Marty

[Loren L.]

Thanks Marty. *NM*

[Joe C.]

Re: 1986 VIN tags - is it possible for them

Loren:

The VIN tag on my '85 looks like it is embossed plastic, medium grey, held on with 2 stainless rivets.

Joe

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: 1986 VIN tags - is it possible for them

Dave,

------I stand corrected.I guess I was so sure Loren wouldnt be messing with an 86 that I thought the 86 part was a missprint.Just looked at my 1986 El Camino and you are,indeed,correct!............Bill S

[Bill B.]

Re: 1986 VIN tags - is it possible for them

Loren, I am holding an 86 tag in my hand right now. This is what I know:
1-it is not plastic or stainless
2-back side painted dull black and front seems to be a dull grey paint or coating. looks like very thin sheet metal or tin to me.
3-it is embossed and the raised alpha numerics have some surface rust or rust residue on them (even the characters which have the grey coating still there)
4-the tag thickness is about the same as a piece of index paper
5-the front side has two lines of multiple fine "GM" stampings running across the the top and bottom of the vin characters

And, I currently have my 84 dash removed back to the firewall. You have two choices if you want access to it. You can remove the windshield and then you can remove and re-rivet or do what ever you want. Or, you can barely gain some access to it through the topside lower windshield frame reinforcement and glass (enough access to run a long cotton swab or something across the top of the tag). GM tried to put these tags in to keep most folks from messing with it--they did a fairly good job of doing it?

[Loren L.]

Thanks Bill - I'll quit worrying about it *NM*

[Chuck S.]

Sounds Like Phosphated Carbon Steel To Me, Loren. *NM*