I.D. Plate?

wingski

wingski

Senior Member
My ’29 cabriolet has a thin metal plate that is 2 inches high by 3 inches wide right above the fuel bowl on the front passenger’s side of the gas tank. It is held on by a little rivet in each corner. This plate on my car had been painted over, but the paint was checkered and cracked. So, I scrapped off the paint with my thumbnail. I thought the thing was going to be brass, but it’s not. There is no printing or numbers under the paint.

What should be on this plate? Why would Ford ever put something like this on the car without putting something on it? Could it have anything to do with this A being a Canadian car?

Mike
 
Mine too...... Dang, I hate it when the forum rotates the picture... Play like it's right side up.
 

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I would have included a photo, but it would have been blah as all get out because the plate or plaque has nothing on it. It’s just a little rectangle of metal without anything on it. Mine does look better than Bill's. Probably because it was painted over.

I went onto Blockhead’s website and have determined that the thing should be a Ford Data Plate. However, why doesn’t mine have any data on it. I’ve really examined this thing closely and even took .00400 steel wool to it. I really don’t think this plaque ever had anything on it. Still, I wonder why would anyone ever attach something like this to a car when it has no meaning?

Mike
 
I noticed that same plate on the A I posted photos of (no photos of plate). It is also covered in paint and I've been wondering what I will find under the paint. How best to remove paint so I don't disturb what's underneath? Are these plates stamped, engraved or painted letters/numbers?
 
Get a replacement patent plate, They are pretty. They are stenciled and not stamped. Knock the rivets out from under the tank. There is some consternation about the actual patents that are on the plate ie. date correct. Its still pretty and no one will know. All cars have them, Canadian might be different.
 
In English production the data plate was fitted after the car was painted . If the plate is original you can carefully remove it and the original from the factory colour will be revealed this might be true for USA . I do have a dark blue USA export to Argentina RHD 180A I removed the data plate to find a perfect shiney oblong of "Ford Maroon" .

John in cold evening Suffolk County England .
 
100IH said:
Get a replacement patent plate, They are pretty. They are stenciled and not stamped. Knock the rivets out from under the tank. There is some consternation about the actual patents that are on the plate ie. date correct. Its still pretty and no one will know. All cars have them, Canadian might be different.
Click to expand...
Who makes the best plate? I got mine from A&L because they have a good reputation. It looks good but I have nothing to compare it with.

Charlie Stephens
 
I think it may have something to do with dissimilar metals causing the paint to fall off.

Steel tank and rivets and alloy plate.
 
My plate is also blank, from 90 years of use, abuse, etc.

I'm 99% sure that I'm going to copy the Sopwith Pup and replace mine with a brass plate that says, "In the event of the propeller or engine being removed the gun must be retimed."
 
It's MOST interesting, to research patent numbers on the plates. One was for an OHV setup, with rocker arms. Something like the Ardun OHV set up, for Flathead V-8s.
Research the ARDUN set up, made to increase the Horsepower for big Ford Trucks. Designed by the INFAMOUS, Arkus Duntov, who later designed GO-FAST Stuff, for Chevrolet! The original ARDUN Set Ups were manufactured in Jolly Old England. They were worth a SMALL FORTUNE, to Dyed in the Wool, Drag Racers, especially when equipped with Hilborn Injection. My Friend, Keith Etheridge, ran one for YEARS, in an OLD Slingshot Rail Job!!!---He said, "I peed, before, during & after the run, man, that thing's SCARY"!!!---I once did the same, when a Friend let me "warm" up his Hemi Powered Slingshot--LOL
Bill Damp
 
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