The Ford Barn

wingski · 01-09-2018, 12:54 AM

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

3.6rs · 01-09-2018, 01:08 AM

One picture says more then all these words.

Y-Blockhead · 01-09-2018, 01:10 AM

Could it be something like this? http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/data-plate

Bill G · 01-09-2018, 01:48 AM

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

wingski · 01-09-2018, 02:04 AM

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

Y-Blockhead · 01-09-2018, 02:12 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Well who knows what kind of abuse it has gone thru in the last 89 years??

Mike V. Florida · 01-09-2018, 05:58 AM

It's just paint on the metal.

Will Ziegler in LI NY · 01-09-2018, 06:55 AM

and the paint wore off or was sanded off or something like that.

History · 01-09-2018, 08:15 AM

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?

Tom Wesenberg · 01-09-2018, 08:58 AM

The patent plate just has s bunch of patent numbers painted on.

BillCNC · 01-09-2018, 11:33 AM

Simple,

Remove the 4 old rivets and replace it with one from Snyder's.

Regards
Bill

100IH · 01-09-2018, 11:38 AM

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.

john charlton · 01-09-2018, 01:26 PM

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 .

Charlie Stephens · 01-09-2018, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 100IH

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.

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

Tom Wesenberg · 01-09-2018, 07:38 PM

I also bought mine from A&L, and don't know of any better ones. A&L does nice work.

burner31 · 01-10-2018, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magicbox51

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

Fixed

pooch · 01-10-2018, 02:52 AM

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

Steel tank and rivets and alloy plate.

1930-Pickup · 01-10-2018, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burner31

Fixed

I like them original like this rather than a repop. I just wish they still had the original writing too

Nathan_1929 · 01-10-2018, 05:52 PM

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."

BILL WILLIAMSON · 01-10-2018, 06:08 PM

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

01-09-2018, 12:54 AM	#1
wingski Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Cave Junction, Oregon Posts: 432	I.D. Plate? 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

01-09-2018, 01:08 AM	#2
3.6rs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgistan (formerly known as Belgium) Posts: 573	Re: I.D. Plate? One picture says more then all these words.

01-09-2018, 01:10 AM	#3
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: I.D. Plate? Could it be something like this? http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/data-plate

01-09-2018, 02:04 AM	#5
wingski Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Cave Junction, Oregon Posts: 432	Re: I.D. Plate? 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

01-09-2018, 02:12 AM	#6
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: I.D. Plate? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Well who knows what kind of abuse it has gone thru in the last 89 years??

01-09-2018, 05:58 AM	#7
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: I.D. Plate? It's just paint on the metal. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

01-09-2018, 06:55 AM	#8
Will Ziegler in LI NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Northport, NY Posts: 178	Re: I.D. Plate? and the paint wore off or was sanded off or something like that.

01-09-2018, 08:15 AM	#9
History Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: NC Mountains Posts: 689	Re: I.D. Plate? 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?

01-09-2018, 08:58 AM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: I.D. Plate? The patent plate just has s bunch of patent numbers painted on.

01-09-2018, 11:33 AM	#11
BillCNC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: SoCal Desert Posts: 826	Re: I.D. Plate? Simple, Remove the 4 old rivets and replace it with one from Snyder's. Regards Bill

01-09-2018, 11:38 AM	#12
100IH Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 970	Re: I.D. Plate? 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.

01-09-2018, 01:26 PM	#13
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,304	Re: I.D. Plate? 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 .

01-09-2018, 07:38 PM	#15
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: I.D. Plate? I also bought mine from A&L, and don't know of any better ones. A&L does nice work.

01-10-2018, 02:52 AM	#17
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: I.D. Plate? I think it may have something to do with dissimilar metals causing the paint to fall off. Steel tank and rivets and alloy plate.

01-10-2018, 05:52 PM	#19
Nathan_1929 Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Saint Louis, Los Angeles Posts: 82	Re: I.D. 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." __________________ Nathan - 1929 Closed Cab Pickup, 1929 Tudor, 1930 Coupe, 1941 Pickup - Vintage BMW Motorcycle Collector/Mechanic

01-10-2018, 06:08 PM	#20
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: I.D. Plate? 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 __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"