Afternoon

Is there anyone on here that does VIN stamping? I'm looking at getting a piece of box section stamped up for my chassis.

Thanks

IIRC a set alpha-numeric of punches can be bought for not a lot of money and I suspect you've got a hammer. One thing to be careful of stamping on box section is not to hit the punch too hard and dent/deform the box section. I've seen some on here stamp a strip of sheet then weld it onto the chassis.

I have some letter stamps i don't need.
They're basically unused as i was concerned about deforming the chassis as well.

I ended up buying an "engraver" and a letter stencil which did a very good job!

Dremel with a diamond tip cutter, then stencil out what letters and numbers needed. Much easier and less chance of deforming the box section.

[Edited on 23/2/17 by Toprivetguns]

I was thinking of using a Dremel, but a bit unsure of what finish i would get.

Have a chat with trextr7monkey

He offered manufacturer plates may also do VIN plates.



http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=207603

Just bear in mind any plate that you have stamped/etched will need to be fully seam welded to the chassis if this is indeed the chassis plate we are reffering to.

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Originally posted by pekwah1
Just bear in mind any plate that you have stamped/etched will need to be fully seam welded to the chassis if this is indeed the chassis plate we are reffering to.

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This is an area where the rules have been written by a "person" at a desk with no comprehension of crime of criminals.

I had to have the stamping witnessed by either a main dealership or a garage with MOT status.
My local garage charged me £10 for this but they did let me try the brakes out on their rollers and said if it had have been
an MOT test it would have passed.


The stamping of a plate and butt or fillet welding (there's no such thing as seam welding) into or onto the chassis is the
easiest thing in the world to change. If its welded on, then it can be ground off, and another welded on and no one can tell
the difference.


When you arrive at IVA the first thing they check is the number on the paperwork, and then check it against the number
on the chassis. What is the point of a garage witness if it's checked at a government IVA station?


Paul G

Did mine with a Dremel. If you havent got a steady hand get someone who has to do it. Would be a shame to fail just on that alone if you weld it on.

Thanks for the advice gents, gonna get myself a dremel and etch it on

I used one of these if it helps, did a good job!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/5nr/Dremel-Hobby-Engraver-290-3-Compact-Accessories-Stencils/B002LARRRQ

I did mine with a Lidl cheap dremel at an early stage of the build. Then I changed the engine from a pinto to an MX5 . The new mounts covered the number. Did it again on the top rail - equinox bodywork covered that one. Third time lucky. May be worth leaving until quite late in the build when you are sure its not going to be masked with anything - and don't forget its got to be front right ish side of the car :-)

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Originally posted by ianhurley20
I did mine with a Lidl cheap dremel at an early stage of the build. Then I changed the engine from a pinto to an MX5 . The new mounts covered the number. Did it again on the top rail - equinox bodywork covered that one. Third time lucky. May be worth leaving until quite late in the build when you are sure its not going to be masked with anything - and don't forget its got to be front right ish side of the car :-)

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Thats a very good and valid point. Another job to be added to the end of the build

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Originally posted by ianhurley20
I did mine with a Lidl cheap dremel at an early stage of the build. Then I changed the engine from a pinto to an MX5 . The new mounts covered the number. Did it again on the top rail - equinox bodywork covered that one. Third time lucky. May be worth leaving until quite late in the build when you are sure its not going to be masked with anything - and don't forget its got to be front right ish side of the car :-)

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Description

Would it be acceptable to pop rivet a plate on?

Try Bespoke Vehicle Developments. They offer that service. Slinky.

I used a very cheap Lidl battery powered engraver, about £3 I think. printed the number using word and engraved through the paper
and the chassis paint.

Description

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Originally posted by Slinky
Try Bespoke Vehicle Developments. They offer that service. Slinky.

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Originally posted by Dean m
Would it be acceptable to pop rivet a plate on?

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Originally posted by CosKev3


Ref it's easier to alter a welded on plate,I don't agree.
It's just as easy to flatten down stamped in/etched in numbers as it is to cut off a welded plate!

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Originally posted by 907

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Originally posted by CosKev3


Ref it's easier to alter a welded on plate,I don't agree.
It's just as easy to flatten down stamped in/etched in numbers as it is to cut off a welded plate!

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If you grind off a welded on plate all you have to do is make the new plate a little bigger so it covers up the grind marks.
Hey presto, a new number with no evidence of the old one.


I defy anyone to grind off, flatten, and re-stamp, without it showing that it's been altered.


Paul G

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Regarding the deformation of rhe tube, could you not insert a piece of hardwood as backing, then remove wood and weld tube in place.
or if you are not bothered, you could leave wood in place (small weight penalty)

Some time ago I offered to do VIN numbers milled/engraved into a chassis tube such as this:

Machined Dummy Vin no. in 25 x 2mm wall box
I stopped because the CNC mill lost it's computer! and a few were not to happy paying for it, perhaps someone on here has the capabilities of a small CNC mill to start the idea again.

Adrian

Use a centre punch to follow the letters. I passed IVA with this a few years ago.


Description

Hey guys.
Spoke to Bespoke Vehicle Developments this morning regarding something else to do with my kit.
I asked for more info regarding chassis number stamping.
They inform me they will be carrying stock of various box section and tubing and can cut and stamp (Dot Peen)
the sections to size for the builder to weld straight in. No need for a plate unless said chassis is already built.
There is NO metal distortion as only the printed area is dotted.

With all the talk of various ways to do it, A professionally dotted number would be the way forward.
After all.. Considering how much effort goes into building our cars, For a few quid, it does look the part.

I agree, ANY number can be removed as mentioned above. Mark at BEV recommends having the chassis number
in two or three locations with one being obvious. My chassis has four. It came from the factory like that.

I suppose it stands to reason, any chassis number could be faffed with. But Having more than one stamp..... Sounds good to me!
Slinky.

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Originally posted by Slinky
Try Bespoke Vehicle Developments. They offer that service. Slinky.

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I've just ordered mine off mark today.

With regards to ringing, obviously it is easy for most of us who have built our own cars, but there's not much can be done about it.

You could have the tube stamped with one vin, then weld a plate over the top or cut the tube out and weld another in.

It's all about making it more difficult to do, but nothing is too hard of someone wants to

Hi

The old way where you could put the number anywhere on the chassis was more secure as you could hide it away and then prove to others that it was yours.
Never had it checked by the DVLA the fella in the suit wasnt going to crawl under the car to check it !

Nick M

Ha Ha - I have put the number on mine (Lidl engraver) in several places before changing engine - Pinto to MX5 and covering the number with new engine mounts - then covering the engraved number with Equinox bodywork before the final welded on strip on the brake pedal support section. Anyone want to try and find all those numbers and change / remove them - no chance. Probably better to plan where you actually want them though

Just had a gander at Bespoke Vehicle Developments site again after receiving and Email from them regarding VIN related stuff.
Looks like they are now offering a full kit car ID service!
VIN tags, Box section in different sizes and the weld on plates which some of us already have from them.
Take a look at their updated site. www.595s.co.uk under VIN SERVICES. The guy to talk to is Mark.
Funky looking machine they have there! I want one! lol.
I think their prices are more than fair! Cant see how they make money from it!
They probably don't and do it because they stamp their own chassis.
Slinky.

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Originally posted by Dean m
Would it be acceptable to pop rivet a plate on?

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The old way where you could put the number anywhere on the chassis was more secure as you could hide it away and then prove to others that it was yours

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Originally posted by ste
I've just ordered mine off mark today.

With regards to ringing, obviously it is easy for most of us who have built our own cars, but there's not much can be done about it.

You could have the tube stamped with one vin, then weld a plate over the top or cut the tube out and weld another in.

It's all about making it more difficult to do, but nothing is too hard of someone wants to

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