Trim Tag Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Trim Tag Question
The previous owner of my 70 had it repainted and painted over the trim tag (pretty thick I might add) on the door jam. I am pretty sure the codes are stamped on it and not written with ink or something, right? I was thinking of tapeing it off and trying to apply paint thinner to the tag to see if I can get it down to the metal so that I can read it. It has no build sheet or documentation and I was curious if nothing else to see what it says . Do you think paint thinner would work, or would I most likely eat up what is underneath and therefore should just leave it painted? all help appreciated.
Thanks
--Donnie
Thanks
--Donnie
Last edited by Drizzle; Sep 12, 2008 at 11:48 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Mask off the outer area very well (duct tape maybe?) and use some paint stripper to loosen all of the overpainting. It would take forever to erode it with paint thinner. Just purchase a 'paste' stripper (or thick gooey type) so it doesn't run on 'good' paint. Wipe away the junk and rinse thoroughly.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,658
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From: Shamong, NJ
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 2
From: Nixa Missouri
You must of been reading my mind (not hard to do 
) My Trim tag is painted over as well. I'm glad I saw where 7T1vette said to use the paint stripper on the plate, cause I was going to but didnt want to mess up the plate with possible discoloration to the metal. I've seen a lot of tags on vettes for sale that have been sanded or some one has used steel wool on them and they look real bad. I did use the stripper on the blue certificate on the driver door and it worked fine.
I bought this stripper from oriellys in a spray can and sprayed the stripper on a rag then dabed it on the label and it removed the paint and didnt harm the label at all then cleaned it off and it still looks fine today. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask.
& Thanks.
) My Trim tag is painted over as well. I'm glad I saw where 7T1vette said to use the paint stripper on the plate, cause I was going to but didnt want to mess up the plate with possible discoloration to the metal. I've seen a lot of tags on vettes for sale that have been sanded or some one has used steel wool on them and they look real bad. I did use the stripper on the blue certificate on the driver door and it worked fine.I bought this stripper from oriellys in a spray can and sprayed the stripper on a rag then dabed it on the label and it removed the paint and didnt harm the label at all then cleaned it off and it still looks fine today. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask.
& Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,221
Likes: 4,312
From: Westminster Maryland
Donnie,
Although Wattac2 is right, it's easy to get the tag off; if you're interested in the originality of your car I wouldn't change the pop rivets.
After looking at the engine pad and VIN tag, people like to see a trim tag that looks in every way as though its never been off the car.
I'd take the paint off with the tag in place. There's been lots of good suggestions on how to do it.
Regards,
Alan
Although Wattac2 is right, it's easy to get the tag off; if you're interested in the originality of your car I wouldn't change the pop rivets.
After looking at the engine pad and VIN tag, people like to see a trim tag that looks in every way as though its never been off the car.
I'd take the paint off with the tag in place. There's been lots of good suggestions on how to do it.
Regards,
Alan
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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I think the break point was '77 but am not sure at all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
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From: Long Island New York
Donnie,
Although Wattac2 is right, it's easy to get the tag off; if you're interested in the originality of your car I wouldn't change the pop rivets.
After looking at the engine pad and VIN tag, people like to see a trim tag that looks in every way as though its never been off the car.
I'd take the paint off with the tag in place. There's been lots of good suggestions on how to do it.
Regards,
Alan
Although Wattac2 is right, it's easy to get the tag off; if you're interested in the originality of your car I wouldn't change the pop rivets.
After looking at the engine pad and VIN tag, people like to see a trim tag that looks in every way as though its never been off the car.
I'd take the paint off with the tag in place. There's been lots of good suggestions on how to do it.
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,658
Likes: 3,117
From: Shamong, NJ
At Bowling Green the tags were put on after the paint process, so trim tags on 81-82 Bowling Green cars never had paint on them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Me too! Old timers will tell you the trim tag station (early C3) was at the end of the paint lines and just before trim...so no paint on trim tags. As production increased in the mid-70's, engineers were pressed for more space and the trim tag station was moved between the two paint booths. So from about 75 on, we see trim tags with one coat of paint and no primer...which is why the paint peeled off. I learned the latter from an engineer who was a supervisor of the paint shop during the 70's.
Last edited by hunt4cleanair; Sep 13, 2008 at 05:30 AM. Reason: edit
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,221
Likes: 4,312
From: Westminster Maryland
I vote un-painted too.
I FIRMLY believe that the 68-72 trim tags were not painted. The tags are stainless steel, machine stamped, and embossed from the back.
There may be factory over spray on them from 'touch-up' but they weren't on the body when it was painted. Honest!
Regards,
Alan
I FIRMLY believe that the 68-72 trim tags were not painted. The tags are stainless steel, machine stamped, and embossed from the back.
There may be factory over spray on them from 'touch-up' but they weren't on the body when it was painted. Honest!
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Sep 13, 2008 at 07:26 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,658
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From: Shamong, NJ
I don't have any of the earlier NCRS Judging manuals at home, but the 78-79 manual has similar information in it to what I posted. I'm sure what I posted is correct for 78-82. I have a rear clip from an 80 at my shop that was a low miles fire job and the trim tag clearly was painted. My 81 was bought new by me, it was built at Bowling Green in Oct. 81 and has an unpainted tag, this car is an unrestored NCRS top flight winner.
I usually judge one of the NCRS year groups between 68 & 82. Though I haven't been able to judge at an NCRS meet in about 2 years, I thought that NCRS wanted to see paint on the trim tags of 68-77's, also. I could be wrong on the pre 77 tags, the beer keeps killing more and more of the old brain cells!
I usually judge one of the NCRS year groups between 68 & 82. Though I haven't been able to judge at an NCRS meet in about 2 years, I thought that NCRS wanted to see paint on the trim tags of 68-77's, also. I could be wrong on the pre 77 tags, the beer keeps killing more and more of the old brain cells!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 30
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Hey Drizzle- I've had my '79 since it was built and here is a pic of my trim tag... it had a little paint on it from the factory that has almost all come off except on the rivet, but it was not completely covered with paint when I took delivery. Yellow is the original color and this is the original factory paint job.
