Topic: 1968 San Jose GT 390 Fastback VIN Tag Rivits

[bullitt68]

Just checking to confirm if these rivets look original. One looks older and one look fresher. Not sure what the originals should look like, but thought I should ask before assuming. FYI I am thinking of doing some media blasting and will not remove the vin if it looks like the rivets are original. If they are original I will tape it up well.

Thanks

[Bob Gaines]

Just checking to confirm if these rivets look original. One looks older and one look fresher. Not sure what the originals should look like, but thought I should ask before assuming. FYI I am thinking of doing some media blasting and will not remove the vin if it looks like the rivets are original. If they are original I will tape it up well.

Thanks

The rivets holding the vin tag on were nothing special. Yes in your case one seems to have a different patina then the other. Take them off or leave them on. I personally would not want to run the risk of the vin tag getting damaged . Since you can't tell the different once reinstalled you are not losing anything by removing and re installing. In your case at least two different ones will most likely match each other better. Some people are funny about drilling out those common pop rivets as if it is desecrating the car in some way. To each their own. Regardless you have a choice. 

[bullitt68]

The rivets holding the vin tag on were nothing special. Yes in your case one seems to have a different patina then the other. Take them off or leave them on. I personally would not want to run the risk of the vin tag getting damaged . Since you can't tell the different once reinstalled you are not losing anything by removing and re installing. In your case at least two different ones will most likely match each other better. Some people are funny about drilling out those common pop rivets as if it is desecrating the car in some way. To each their own. Regardless you have a choice.

Great thanks Bob. I think I will remove it then and re rivet it back on as I would hate for it to get damaged in any way. They do look like generic rivets and one does appear to be newer than the other one. VIN matches all of the other vins on the car and the driveline as well

[J_Speegle]

Here is another example fairly close to your cars period



Somewhat related thread with a couple of additional pictures

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=9048.msg52986#msg52986

[bullitt68]

Here is another example fairly close to your cars period



Somewhat related thread with a couple of additional pictures

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=9048.msg52986#msg52986

Thanks Jeff looks the same as mine except one of mine is very shinny. Do you have any reason to believe that mine could have been replaced

[J_Speegle]

Thanks Jeff looks the same as mine except one of mine is very shinny. Do you have any reason to believe that mine could have been replaced

From the picture posted I can't see anything that suggests that one or both have been replaced. Sure if you took some cleaner to the duller one it would brighten up also. Notice in the picture above I posted both have a different tone. Lots of stuff can collect under the dash pad over the year and only affect one or both

All depends

[bullitt68]

From the picture posted I can't see anything that suggests that one or both have been replaced. Sure if you took some cleaner to the duller one it would brighten up also. Notice in the picture above I posted both have a different tone. Lots of stuff can collect under the dash pad over the year and only affect one or both

All depends

So with that said should I keep th rivets intact and cover the tag during media blasting. I will do the same thing with the door tag as the rivets look real original to me

[J_Speegle]

So with that said should I keep th rivets intact and cover the tag during media blasting. I will do the same thing with the door tag as the rivets look real original to me

I take the door tags off. No way to repaint and restore the car well IMHO with it in place. Not worth the effort or the results to try to leave it in place  and reproduction rivets are easy to get and use.

Even leaving the other brings with it risks i the car is being blasted in any way.   Way too many stories 

[bullitt68]

I take the door tags off. No way to repaint and restore the car well IMHO with it in place. Not worth the effort or the results to try to leave it in place  and reproduction rivets are easy to get and use.

Even leaving the other brings with it risks i the car is being blasted in any way.   Way too many stories 

Ok great thanks Jeff. I will remove the tags and replace the rivets. Just wanted to be sure that it is an acceptable practice. Ion some cars I have done, messing with Tags & rivets is a no no

[RoyceP]

It is interesting that Dearborn cars in '68 used screws while San Jose used pop rivets on the dash VIN tag. Another way to tell if the car is real or not.

[J_Speegle]

It is interesting that Dearborn cars in '68 used screws while San Jose used pop rivets on the dash VIN tag. Another way to tell if the car is real or not.

Believe you will find that just a few used screws (have plenty of pictures of them with rivets).

Not sure if anyone has charted the use of screws yet by VIN and real build date - might just be a failed tool like the stapler and the radiator seal  (staples verses clips) that has been documented at Dearborn in 69 production

Of course both are better discussed further in another or existing threads

[bullitt68]

I take the door tags off. No way to repaint and restore the car well IMHO with it in place. Not worth the effort or the results to try to leave it in place  and reproduction rivets are easy to get and use.

Even leaving the other brings with it risks i the car is being blasted in any way.   Way too many stories 

Hi Jeff where can I get the original looking rivets for the door and the dash. I would like to order some up soon. I have searched around a bit with no luck and obviously I would like to get rivets threat looks as factory original as possible, even thought the rivets on my dash looked fairly generic

Thanks

[jwc66k]

Try AMK Products https://www.amkproducts.com/ Ford p/n 354921-S.
Jim

[bullitt68]

Try AMK Products https://www.amkproducts.com/ Ford p/n 354921-S.
Jim

Thank Jim

[bullitt68]

Thank Jim

They have the Data plate rivets (Door Tag) Could not find the dash VIN rivets