Dash VIN Plate Migration

[ExpatMJGuy]

Hey everyone.  Moving from a grey interior to a black interior.  Looking for ideas on how to swap the vin plates from one dash to the other dash without looking like I swapped the VIN plate off the dash.  It's important it doesn't look sketch because this vehicle will most likely be exported when we move in the next couple years.  Even though I have clean titles for both my vehicles the VIN numbers need to match what is found elsewhere on the vehicle when it goes through customs inspections.

[krustyballer16]

I just drilled the rivets out snd kinda shaped thr new ones into a star like factory and re riveted them

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[89 MJ]

Heat the plastic that the rivers go through and pry on it very carefully and it’ll pop out. That’s how I swapped my VINs when I changed dashes. 

[neohic]

^ Yup. Hit it with a heat gun to soften the plastic and pull the rivets out. Reinstall in reverse order or put a little epoxy behind the plaque to keep it in place. 

[watchamakalit]

Lol. I drilled the old rivets and just put mine in the new dash with pop rivets.  It'll pass a hoosier inspection.....

[Minuit]

Heat gun. The rivets holding the vin plate are distinct from normal rivets. The old vin plate should just snap right into the new dash and look completely indistinguishable from factory. It did both times I swapped dashes.

 

Drilling the old rivets out and reinstalling with standard pop rivets would be a very bad idea if this vehicle needs to pass any kind of serious inspection, regardless of the fact that you're doing it with good intentions.

[acfortier]

I completely forgot to do this when I swapped my dash... ugh. I guess it doesn't matter for MA inspection, they didn't say anything.

[boxyjeep]

Swapped it over with generic rivets.  The plastic covers it.

[ExpatMJGuy]

11 hours ago, acfortier said:

I completely forgot to do this when I swapped my dash... ugh. I guess it doesn't matter for MA inspection, they didn't say anything.

Depends on the type of inspection.  In most states they likely won't notice or care if it's just emissions or safety.  The guy doing the inspection is most likely doing one on the dash or door and looking at one or the other, not both.  In GA IF you live in a metro Atlanta county or Metro Savannah county you need emissions only IF it's between 3 and 25 years old and diesel vehicles are exempt.   So for 2022 registration 1998-2019 vehicles require inspections.  Normally they scan the barcode on the door to get the VIN and the person doesn't even look.  

 

 I'm talking about export and import and going through customs at international border crossings at the port.  There will be an asbestos inspection and cleanliness inspection before it is even put on the boat, There will be a basic roadworthiness inspection that covers a few items by the Australian Federal Govt at the dock, then there will be a certificate of roadworthiness inspection from the New South Wales state govt as well once it enters the country of Australia before I can register it.  I'm trying to be real particular as I know they go so far to ensure the engine matches what is on the title and emissions label on the firewall.  It MUST be the same engine type it left the factory with.  These are all reasons I'm trying to keep everything stock and original as possible till I get onshore and know what is allowed from fellow Jeepers.

 

I've been in the middle of a RA Flare the last few days so I am a few days behind pulling the dash apart, but was looking for ideas before I got there.

[scguy]

I know it's the morning, but I wasn't prepared to hear that 98 model cars are about to be 25 years old. Guess time waits for no man.