CarNucopia Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 (edited) I've been looking at late 30's Buicks and have come across two cars that had an aftermarket heater installed. Both apparently had the data plate removed from the firewall in the process. Is this a common problem. Anyone have any thoughts on buying a car without the plate?Thanks, Edited April 18, 2014 by Buick64C (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Yes, I have a 38 Buick Special that someone butchered to install a heater. Back in the day, they just didn't care... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 Buick 64c. If you plan to add a heater to a car, that is a good reason why you should stick with a legitimate factory option for the car. The firewall will have knockouts for the water lines and center punch marks for the attachment bolts.At least that is the case with my '38's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarNucopia Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 I'm not looking to add a heater. I'm just surprised that two of the four cars I've looked at had hoses running through the firewall where the plate should be. One was a '37, the other a '39. Based on the ways cars have been for the last 50 years, it's hard to believe they didn't always have heat. Buick 64c. If you plan to add a heater to a car, that is a good reason why you should stick with a legitimate factory option for the car. The firewall will have knockouts for the water lines and center punch marks for the attachment bolts.At least that is the case with my '38's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937-44 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 My 1937 was originally from Maine and never had a factory heater. Like the ones you have seen the data plate on my car was in the way when an aftermarket was installed and the data plate was bent to allow installation. Like Mark said they didn't worry about data plates that much back then. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscheib Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 My theory is that they did not care because they knew the ID number was on the tag on the frame and if you see the original car you knew the information that was on the plate, color trim, engine, etc. So if it was easier, just drill through the plate, or pull it off.I guess, I am one of the lucky ones, as the heater installation did not damage the plate. Holes are elsewhere. I would say perhaps more then 50% were damaged.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 My first car, a '40 Chevy Special Deluxe did not have a coolant heater. Instead a Southwind gas heater was used. Factory?? I doubt it. I do not remember the data plate. I have seem many over the years that had the water hose through the data plate. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Mine too had the holes right through the data plate: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarNucopia Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 So am I correct in saying the consensus here is you wouldn't let the lack of a data plate keep you from buying a car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 (edited) A body data plate is only 1 small part of a car. Replacement data plates from wrecks are available at timesDave Tachney is a possible source of these (if you can contact him: that's hard to do)For some cars heater were fitted without damaging the data plate Edited April 23, 2014 by 1939_buick (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 So am I correct in saying the consensus here is you wouldn't let the lack of a data plate keep you from buying a car?correct, becuase there is nothing in a data plate that really identifies a specific 1939 Buick, no VIN or anything like that on there, thousands of cars all had the same data plateI would use ut as a bargaining tool, thanks for surereplacements can be made and/or found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 correct, because there is nothing in a data plate that really identifies a specific 1939 Buick, no VIN or anything like that on there, thousands of cars all had the same data plateModel & style number are the same for all cars that style (eg style 38-4411). The body number is unique to the car. Trim & paint code vary. But if you get a replacement data plate with the correct model & style will be OK. Many cars now have different trim (upholstery) and paint compared to that when they were built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gene P Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I've had two data plates that were damaged reproduced by a gentleman in Colorado, A. G. Backeast, who advertises in numerous publications. They were absolutely PERFECT in every way. I don't "cringe" any more when I look at my firewalls! Try him; you won't be disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I've had two data plates that were damaged reproduced by a gentleman in Colorado, A. G. Backeast, who advertises in numerous publications....Web site here http://www.datatags.com/The Ponti data plate looks to have the number's etc punched "in". On Buick the numbers are punched out (from the back side) Would have thought all GM would use the same basic design & manufacturing method Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 (edited) Guys my 2nd data plate has a big "K" stamped in the upper right corner, and there is a faint sideways "2" stamped on the lower right. Any ideas what these mean?In this thread it is mentioned a letter stamped might mean the car had a side mounted spare??? Thoughts?http://forums.aaca.org/topic/124021-firewall-id-build-plates-mclaughlin-vs-buick/ Edited August 20, 2015 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenz38 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 (edited) Man ...what for a luck i had is here to me the first time visible .My car had has a heater too an the plate isnt damage.. Edited August 23, 2015 by jenz38 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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