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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 4:47 pm Post subject: 52 Zwitter |
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Hello I acquired this car and the plate in the front is not rusted really but the area with the chassis number stamped in is very hard to read the VIN tag. Has anyone got any tricks for bringing out the stamped-in numbers?
Update:
Gentlemen!! I give you 1-0422383!! Originally L90 Sand, now disco gold and primer!
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69734 Location: Phoenix Metro
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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A bit of a late reply here. Thank you Everett for those two posts. I read them and tried a few methods mentioned there (lemon juice soak, very mild bead blast, CLR). The numbers are just so faint I can barely make them out. I have not removed the plate as of yet as according to some posts it's against some law and once removed the black helicopters will fly over and I'll be sent to the pokey. The plate is pretty damn clean now but those damn numbers I just can't make out. If I removed it would I be able to see them from the back of the plate? I know someone sells identical rivets so putting it back would be easy. Any other ideas? |
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johnshenry Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2001 Posts: 9359 Location: Northwood, NH USA
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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Turn off the lights and use a flashlight, shine the light from the side, rays parallel with the plate, and sometimes you can make it out that way. _________________ John Henry
'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab |
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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I tried that also. Can faintly see something but not enough to be legible. I know the car is Dec of 52 by the body number. I can just about make out 042 the rest I can't see. |
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bally Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:07 am Post subject: |
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Can you take a close up photo of the plate then enlarge it on your computer? Alternatively use a magnifying glass.
Have you tried doing a rubbing of the number - place a bit of paper over it then rub gently with a soft pencil and the numbers may show up more clearly on the paper.
just some thoughts.
Dave |
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:36 am Post subject: |
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I tried the magnifying glass and the rubbing ideas. My camera is an older one and is not too great on closeups. Thank you for the ideas though. |
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bally Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:47 am Post subject: |
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AlanInMass54 wrote: |
I tried the magnifying glass and the rubbing ideas. My camera is an older one and is not too great on closeups. Thank you for the ideas though. |
Always happy to help. My vin plate is ina folder in a cupboard inside the house and the car is in storage about 8 miles away - if you have a source for the original rivets then why not remove the plate if that's going to help - can you check somewhere if your state will be ok with removing the plate as part of the restoration process? You'll need to remove it to paint the panel and you can also get it plated to stop further corrosion whilst it is off.
Good luck.
Dave |
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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That's the best I can come up with for a picture. I'll be damned if I can make much out of it, maybe someone else can? I don't have any fancy photo editing software. |
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bally Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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I see your problem Alan - There isn't much to go on...
Maybe it would be clearer from the back of the plate - no guarantee though. |
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bwaz Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2004 Posts: 1776
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:00 am Post subject: |
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with this quality of photo it's tough, there seems to be nothing to enhance. If you can get some better ones with different lighting conditions on different frames, maybe something?
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eurodub Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2007 Posts: 1321
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:27 am Post subject: |
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use the macro function on the camera (a sign like a tulip/flower)
get the camera a bit back from the tag, and try to have a steady hand supporting it on the front apron. _________________ 1960 1200 model 117 deluxe ragtop
1974 T2 Westfalia Campmobile
1976 MK1 Golf |
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:37 am Post subject: |
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I got a hold of maybe the only cooperative person in the Massachusetts DMV system! She said no problem on removing and reinstalling the VIN tag for the purpose of restoration. I emailed the fellow in Argentina who had the rivets, which I don't see the ad for anymore, to see if I can get some. I want to make sure I can get this thing legal before I continue the un-bastardizing process. Thanks for the photo tips guys! Heading back out there with the camera, it does have some kind of tulip looking setting. Will try that, I'm no Ansel Adams.
*edit*
Ok here's what I've got:
1
2
3
4
5
6
Those were the best ones. Sorry for all the pictures. Why couldn't they stamp the chassis number as well as they stamped the damned body number?? |
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79SuperVert Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2002 Posts: 9758 Location: Elizabeth, NJ & La Isla Del Encanto
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:25 am Post subject: |
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I guess this one is beyond help, right? I just don't understand how the plate got so bad without the rest of the car rusting away.
_________________ Central Jersey VW Society
Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt. |
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eurodub Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2007 Posts: 1321
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:30 am Post subject: |
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impossible to read. maybe try the same by picturing the back and hopefully with some photo techniques you can get a mirror image.
good luck! _________________ 1960 1200 model 117 deluxe ragtop
1974 T2 Westfalia Campmobile
1976 MK1 Golf |
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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79SuperVert wrote: |
I guess this one is beyond help, right? I just don't understand how the plate got so bad without the rest of the car rusting away.
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Wow what the hell happened there? Was the trunk full of rock salt? On mine I have no idea what happened, the rest of the metal in the trunk is excellent but the plate sucks! Ok I'm getting the dremel tool and cutting some rivets. |
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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Gentlemen!! I give you 1-0422383!! Originally L90 Sand, now disco gold and primer!
Thanks very much to all who helped! The numbers were clean and crisp on the back of the plate and I can even reuse the old rivets! |
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bally Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent news |
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1065 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Yessir it is! I sent off to VW for the birth certificate yesterday. If it were any other original color than beige I'd be happy though, I hate that color. |
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*Darren Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2013 Posts: 917 Location: MD
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Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:24 am Post subject: |
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AlanInMass54 wrote: |
Yessir it is! I sent off to VW for the birth certificate yesterday. If it were any other original color than beige I'd be happy though, I hate that color. |
Dude,
You need an attitude adjustment/reorientation.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=504264&highlight=beige
check out the second photo in the thread of the ragtop. I think the late splits/early ovals with the reversed two toned (dark inner) rims look sweet.
Go ahead tell me this isn't one beautiful beige split. But to each his/her own - maybe you'll get lucky and the BC will come back with some other colot.
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