"Enhancing" Frame VIN

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Jun 3, 2015 | 02:07 AM

nwav8tor

Thread Starter

Old Fart Pilot

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 1,921

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From: Spokane, WA

"Enhancing" Frame VIN

The VINs on my '71 frame are barley readable. Is there anything I can do to enhance their appearance to make them stand out better?

Thanks,
Paul

Jun 3, 2015 | 07:41 AM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwav8tor

...Is there anything I can do to enhance their appearance to make them stand out better?...

Why? When the body goes back on, no one can see them. You could possibly remove some of the scale, use a grease pencil to highlight the characters, and take some photos of record.

Jun 3, 2015 | 10:01 AM

71scgc

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 2,413

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From: Emerald Isle NC

Be glad they're THAT legible...

Carter

Jun 3, 2015 | 01:59 PM

nwav8tor

Thread Starter

Old Fart Pilot

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 1,921

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From: Spokane, WA

Just wanted better numbers for photo documentation before I work on the frame and possibly do more damage to what's already there...

paul

Jun 3, 2015 | 03:21 PM

69Vett

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2007

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From: Austin Texas

Corvette of the Year Winner 2017

2016 C3 of Year Finalist

not much left, I have used a pointed awl, to carefully trace over the letters with some pressure, down on the numbers to scratch out the years of grud buildup.
use a wide putty knife to scrape the area flat and clean.
clean up the best you can, angle your light to achieve best photo's for documentation.

Jun 3, 2015 | 05:13 PM

nwav8tor

Thread Starter

Old Fart Pilot

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 1,921

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From: Spokane, WA

How does blasting effect what's there? I think I shouldn't go too hard or too long on the VIN (as well as the rest of the frame for that matter) but should I avoid the VIN areas altogether when I'm blasting?

Paul

Jun 3, 2015 | 06:17 PM

69Vett

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From: Austin Texas

Corvette of the Year Winner 2017

2016 C3 of Year Finalist

blasting will deteriorate small details,of what you have left., I would not do that for the VIN area,
this is mine after cleanup and how I documented it.

Before :

Jun 4, 2015 | 10:02 AM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: Southbound

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Be extremely careful with the stamps. You can never get them back if you overdo things. My advice is to avoid using anything abrasive on them.

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Jun 4, 2015 | 03:45 PM

nwav8tor

Thread Starter

Old Fart Pilot

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 1,921

Likes: 991

From: Spokane, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69Vett

blasting will deteriorate small details,of what you have left., I would not do that for the VIN area,
this is mine after cleanup and how I documented it.

Before :

The upper after pic does look like 9S720054, but the lower before pic looks to be 9S7200534. Why the difference?

P