Custom VIN plate

Ped

Club Member
I have drawn up a couple of replica decals for my 280zx which I posted up earlier, here is an example.

screen_bottle_label.jpg


So I have now drawn up an engine vin decal after being asked to by one of the members on here. In this case he wanted his specific engine details on the decal and was going to mount it on a new plate, then over the top of the original one.

All the spec details are live text so I can edit them to suit, so instead of it saying 'L20', it could be eg: 'RB26' etc. There are a few versions of the VIN plates so will get round to drawing these up at some point too. I am looking into a cost to have them laser etched into 1mm stainless steel, so they are permanent.

sample_plate.png


I may do a replica of my own one and have it made up as a sample, if it is not crazy money.

The replica ones out there are just for standard cars, I have not seen any custom ones? If it works out and looks good I may offer it to you guys... we'll see. Its just a bit of fun for now.
 

richiep

Club Member
Nice! I’d love one as pictured, I.e. a JDM version, as my Fairlady Z lost its engine bay plate long before my ownership.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
All the spec details are live text so I can edit them to suit, so instead of it saying 'L20', it could be eg: 'RB26' etc. There are a few versions of the VIN plates so will get round to drawing these up at some point too. I am looking into a cost to have them laser etched into 1mm stainless steel, so they are permanent.

sample_plate.png

Do you have a handle on the year/model differences? I'm thinking particularly of the safety code numbers and what years/models they actually applied to.
 

Ped

Club Member
Do you have a handle on the year/model differences? I'm thinking particularly of the safety code numbers and what years/models they actually applied to.
No, I just based this one on the owners reference pics, and then updated the engine size, type and horsepower to his new spec. I did notice that some other plates don't have the safety reference numbers.

Happy to draw up any other variants, just need a good photo and exact size of plate. Would be good to have mounting hole sizes and positions too.
 

Ped

Club Member
I'd like an HLS30 L31 engined version please Pete - can give you all the necessary spec, power, revs etc.
Hi Sean, no problem, just email me the spec you want on there, plus a decent pic of an existing plate. Will also need the dimensions of plate and any holes required. As mentioned I have only done these as decals so far, but I can draw it all up anyway and we can take it from there.
 
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Ped

Club Member
Nice! I’d love one as pictured, I.e. a JDM version, as my Fairlady Z lost its engine bay plate long before my ownership.
Hi Richie, can do. Would like to trial it first, so would also look at laser engraving anodised aluminium. Either way will need to set up the artwork first.
 

Albrecht

Well-Known Forum User
No, I just based this one on the owners reference pics, and then updated the engine size, type and horsepower to his new spec. I did notice that some other plates don't have the safety reference numbers.

The topic of the Japanese market plates is quite complicated, as there were many rolling changes and the chassis number range needs to tie-in with the correct safety reference codes. Not that anyone is checking such things, but it might be worth getting it *more right* if the data is to hand.
 

Ped

Club Member
The topic of the Japanese market plates is quite complicated, as there were many rolling changes and the chassis number range needs to tie-in with the correct safety reference codes. Not that anyone is checking such things, but it might be worth getting it *more right* if the data is to hand.
All I was planning to do was offer a replacement of whatever was fitted to a particular car, and update the engine spec. I suppose it would be a good reference to have dates for each type of plate though.
 

Ped

Club Member
Here's another one based on reference pics. As I am working off photos I will need to adjust the artwork once I have exact dimensions...

vinplate2.png
 

Ped

Club Member
Here are a couple more to add to the list. Thanks to Sean for the reference samples these are based on from the 260z. Looking at the other repro ones on the market they are no where near as close to original as these. I get a bit carried away with trying to match things perfectly...

The originals are on a very thin ally, 0.35mm thick!

I have had some costs in from a few of suppliers, one for ally printed in black (pretty much as how it would have been done originally). The second option cost was based on brushed S/S laser etched. I still need to clarify on rounded corners and drilling, all possible, but may well cost a bit more on the S/S version. Prices are pretty reasonable (I think), but will need to see what the finished articles are like...

Obviously the easiest option for me is to print them out myself on the silvery self adhesive stock, so that will be another option - available now.

Next on the list is drawing up a 280zx plate (early type), will use mine as a guide. Think these are the same as the 260z ones, just with different text. I think the later 280zx cars have a plain ally one with the details embossed, so I won't be doing those.

engineplate260z1.png
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Nice one - looking good and I know that the finished articles will be of high quality, happy to assist when it's well done !
 
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Ped

Club Member
Had a quick look at the 280zx (early type) vin plate, and it is the same size as the 260z one, but all the info is different with a different layout. Will need to wait a while before I can get back onto it.
 
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