VIN Strip Finish/Refinish?

[FishNinJay]

So I just got my '71FJ40!

I need to take it to my local AAA to finish my registration, and they need to verify the VIN. The rig has been repainted, and the VIN plate on the driver-side door jamb is actually painted over. I can just barely make out the VIN embossed under the paint, but I doubt the people that need to verify the VIN will find that acceptable.

Is there a safe, probably chemical, way to strip the finish off just this VIN plate? I don't want to take a wire wheel to it, and ruin the actual plate or VIN info underneath the paint.

THANK YOU!!!

 

[MoCoNative]

I would start with a jug of laquer thinner. Use a rag, q-tips etc, to very carefully start stripping the paint off the plate. Unfortunately, this would be easy if the paint was only a few days old, sounds like it may be more than a few days old, so the paint has cured quite a bit at this point. But the the laquer thinner may eventually soften it up and take it off.

This is probably the cleanest and safest way to strip the paint off. Just don't touch any other surface, just the plate. The main drawback, however, is most of the writing on this plate was black paint, and the thinner may remove this also. The acutal vin is stamped into it, but the standard writing on all the vin plates was just painted or printed on the plate, with the individual vehicle info stamped on each plate.

A second VIN is located on the passenger side frame behind the front bumper, if the body and frame are an original pair. Look right on the frames flat surface behind the bumper bracket.

40's are old enough, I bet they will accept either VIN number and location. Not having the standard number in the windshield really throws them for a loop anyways.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

i would drill it out and clean it up off the body, just so you dont ruin a new paint job accidently

 

[FishNinJay]

i would drill it out and clean it up off the body, just so you dont ruin a new paint job accidently

yeah, but I'd be paranoid about being accused of altering/falsifying it. Especially, since I really need it to pass muster in California as a pre-1975 truck so I don't have to smog it! ;p I'll probably just mask it off with tape and gently rub it with some kind of thinner or stripper. Maybe I can just rub off enough paint to reveal the VIN stuff underneath?

 

[fj40forlife]

Congrats. Now where are the pictures lol

 

[dmaddox]

tape the surrounding areas and use "oops" or a remover of some sorts, just soak a paper towell and swirl it off with your finger rubbing. It will take a minute for the chemical to break down the dry paint, but it will.

I did the same thing on mine and even restored my tag.

 

[Living in the Past]

You do know the main VIN plate is not the one on the door jam. The main one is on the inside of the passenger's fender below the battery bracket.

 

[FishNinJay]

You do know the main VIN plate is not the one on the door jam. The main one is on the inside of the passenger's fender below the battery bracket.

I did not know that (add that to a very long list of things I do not know!).. thanks I'll look for it! Hopefully, I can point it out to the lil' ol' blue-haired lady at the DMV when I get my VIN verified!

dmaddox, "oops" is some kind of paint remover I'm guessing? I'll google it, or look around Home Depot or Autozone.

Thanks guys!!

 

[redsands]

mask it off, apply gel paint remover so it wont run and let it sit awhile. never used it on metal, but worked well on wood.

 

[Coolerman]

Take care with a caustic paint remover... The tag is aluminum...

 

[FishNinJay]

I'm official!
Thanks for all the advice here!

I got some Rustoleum Airplane Remover. This stuff is strong! I did a lame job
of masking off my VIN plate. Didn't have masking tape, just this plastic medical
tape.

The remover was so strong it basically melted the edges of the tape, but, did a
nice job of bubbling the paint within 3-5 minutes. I started scraping with a
plastic knife and rubbing with paper towel. The print is actually lightly embossed
into the aluminum. I tried to paint/fill with black touch-up and then wipe off. It
was ok, but smudged over. I tried doing a little Dremel, which made these dark
gray scuffs (bad idea). I ended up just doing a little wipe with paper towel
moistened with remover. Not bad.. legible.. May 1971 FJ40

So I did this pretty quick, and then drove to the DMV, where I ran into a
problem. They need to confirm VIN in 2 locations. I tried to find another plate
on passenger side firewall or fender, but couldn't find another one
anywhere! The engine bay was also painted, so maybe it was covered?
Here's where it pays to always be nice.. pleasant chit-chat with the manager
when she came out to inspect. Most of the time was her admiring the rig.
Eventually, based on it's vintage, she just let it pass with one VIN verification!
whew!

I on out of there happy!

Thanks again for all the tips here!

 

[67azcruizr]

I'm official!
Thanks for all the advice here!

I got some Rustoleum Airplane Remover. This stuff is strong! I did a lame job
of masking off my VIN plate. Didn't have masking tape, just this plastic medical
tape.

The remover was so strong it basically melted the edges of the tape, but, did a
nice job of bubbling the paint within 3-5 minutes. I started scraping with a
plastic knife and rubbing with paper towel. The print is actually lightly embossed
into the aluminum. I tried to paint/fill with black touch-up and then wipe off. It
was ok, but smudged over. I tried doing a little Dremel, which made these dark
gray scuffs (bad idea). I ended up just doing a little wipe with paper towel
moistened with remover. Not bad.. legible.. May 1971 FJ40

So I did this pretty quick, and then drove to the DMV, where I ran into a
problem. They need to confirm VIN in 2 locations. I tried to find another plate
on passenger side firewall or fender, but couldn't find another one
anywhere! The engine bay was also painted, so maybe it was covered?
Here's where it pays to always be nice.. pleasant chit-chat with the manager
when she came out to inspect. Most of the time was her admiring the rig.
Eventually, based on it's vintage, she just let it pass with one VIN verification!
whew!

I on out of there happy!

Thanks again for all the tips here!

I'm surprised that they were not interested in seeing a frame vin?

 

[Rat70Fj]

As mentioned earlier, right front frame horn.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

As mentioned earlier, right front frame horn.

Does anyone have a picture of the vin plate in this location. I don't have one there and there five other 40s in my club and none of them have one there either. Mine is on the firewall, passenger side.
Thanks,
John

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

its the very front of your right outside frame almost at your bumper. about 8" long or so.

googled it and found this photo

ARC1, you wouldn't have a paint code for your cruiser would you?

 

[FishNinJay]

excellent! I'll look for this.. (not that I need it anymore, but good to know..)

I'm not sure if this is an exact code, but it's called Chrysler Chili Pepper Red.

Chrysler Chili Pepper Red Pearlcoat - Chrysler-Dodge-Eagle-Jeep-Plymouth - ExpressPaint