VIN Plate Reattachment

[Mike B.]

Looking for opinions on reattaching the VIN plate to the steering column on my '61 as it was removed during restoration by a previous owner.

Can it be spot welded back on? My concern is that the lower electrode cannot get to the underside of the column steel directly below the plate because of the circular shape and the steering shaft being inside. This prevents the underside of the weld from getting hot. Does that matter? Did GM weld them on by just clamping the spot welder over the top and bottom of the column tube?

Others have recommended stainless steel pop rivets and/or JB Weld but I'd like to get it back close to the original manufacturing look.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: VIN Plate Reattachment

I would definitely not do the pop rivets. That would be spotted as wrong, and some states still require physical inspection of the VIN when a car comes in from another state. So if you move or sell, it could be a real hassle.

Since the VIN was probably welded on an assembled column, I imagine they clamped the tube anywhere close and then hit the plate with the electrode. I DO NOT KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. But it seems logical that the column arrived in the plant as an assembly, so the steering shaft would have been inside. I think it is also logical to assume the steering column assembly line was not assigning serial numbers for the car, and that makes it doubtful they would install the VIN plate.

[mike mccagh]

Re: VIN Plate Reattachment

mike: i'd weld it back on but i'd go junkyarding and get a bunch of late 50-early 60's chevy pass car and truck vin plates then practice, practice , practice mig welding(with stainless wire) .you'll only get one chance at welding the original back on your col and still have it look correct. even if you pull the column and take it and the vin plate to a professional welder, i'd have him weld the pass car or truck vin plates to a piece of metal the same thickness as the sterring mast jacket. once he's got it down pat, then say a prayer as he strikes the arc to your originals.i have a wire tie holding my 61 vin plate to its col even tho the original weld is holding tight. the wire tie is insurance.and it can be removed before and re-tied after the judges or cops inspect your vette. mike

[Stephen W.]

Re: VIN Plate Reattachment

You may try practicing with a hand held resistance panel spotter. These are used in body shops and have two hand held electrodes. I would clean the area of contact and as mentioned before practice on a scrap VIN plate. Once you have the settings correct it should work. You may need to place the electrode in a fresh spot because the original one was already hardened by the first weld.

[Wayne W.]

Re: VIN Plate Reattachment

Sounds like a job for epoxy.

[Robert C.]

Re: Steve, Do you or your family make hose clamps? *NM*

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: VIN Plate Reattachment

-------Steve is correct in all respects. Resistence panel spotter is the way to go. You do have to practice with the settings or risk blowing a hole in the tag. Even a great welder would have to practice as resistance is different on everything........Bill S

[Stephen W.]

Re: Steve, Do you or your family make hose clamps?

No, I have a good collection of "wittek" clamps but my surname was actually , Vitek. and my grandparents were too afraid to say anything when they arrived in the great USA so they accepted the change in spelling.

[Larry M.]

Re: VIN Plate Reattachment

I went thru the same thing on a 64 where the tag was welded under the glove box to the support. Couldn't figure an easy and sure way. If the tag was removed without tearing it (so it looks right in your hand) why don't you glue it on? Then use the wire ties if you're concerned about losing it between judging.