Fender tag fasteners

[green69rt]

I've noticed over the years that there are at least two methods of attaching the fender tag to the car, Philips screws and rivets.  Is there a correct way or should I just leave it off??

[Ghoste]

Philip head screws are the factory correct way.  Some people rivet them on to prevent them being stolen.

[ODZKing]

Philip head screws are the factory correct way.  Some people rivet them on to prevent them being stolen.

I have only ever seen phillips head, however there are a couple different styles depending on the factory I believe.
Some are rounded and some rounded with a sort of flat top.
Unless you are referring to the vin tag ... those are rivits.

[maxwellwedge]

I had two cars - both built at Hamtramck - (supposedly) on the same day that both had the chrome-ish phillip head wheel lip moulding screws on the tags....I have seen them on other cars as well. They must have filled the bin wrong or ran out of the usual ones at that moment.

[twodko]

Those are the screws my vin is/was attached with. After finishing the resto I riveted mine in place. For me the OEM vin tag is priceless. 

[ODZKing]

I had two cars - both built at Hamtramck - (supposedly) on the same day that both had the chrome-ish phillip head wheel lip moulding screws on the tags....I have seen them on other cars as well. They must have filled the bin wrong or ran out of the usual ones at that moment.

Yeah, those are flat-headed ones I'm referring to.

[bull]

If you want a correct look and security you could always go with comperable phillips pan head machine screws and lock nuts rather than sheet metal screws.

[histoy]

X2

[tan top]

 my original screws were both odd , one was slightly bigger , that was the one that was painted on left side of tag 

[Ghoste]

But conceivable when you consider that the one put in prior to paint was coming from a bin of stock well up the line from where the unpainted one went in after the booth.  It could have been different vendors or just line workers using what fit or anything.

[69CoronetRT]

Philip head screws are the factory correct way. 

As this is a, mainly, B body forum, I know what you mean but some C body plants did use rivets.
There was a change in the style of the screw in 71. At one time I knew approximately when that was but I've forgotten and would have to go back and figure it out again. IIRC, it was in the fall.

[Ghoste]

I have to say that I've never seen a riveted fender tag but I haven't examined many C-bodies either.  Thats interesting, do you which plants and time frames?

[69CoronetRT]

I have to say that I've never seen a riveted fender tag but I haven't examined many C-bodies either.  Thats interesting, do you which plants and time frames?

Sorry... I guess not 'Some" plants. Belvedere used rivets from at least 67-72

[Ghoste]

Cool.  It was just with C-bodies?

[69CoronetRT]

Cool.  It was just with C-bodies?

From what I can tell, Jefferson (plant 3 or later C; Chryslers and Imperials) and Newark (plant 6 or later F; full-size Dodge and Plymouth) used screws. For some reason Belvedere was the only one that I've seen that used rivets.

[Ghoste]

I wonder why?  And why just the big cars?

[69CoronetRT]

I wonder why?  And why just the big cars?

Just one of those 'tag things'.

I find the nuances between plants and years fascinating.

Who know why 69-77 LR tags are different than other plants? Who knows why Belvedere used rivets instead of screws? Who know why Windsor tags code so differently than the rest? Why did Jefferson code things no other plant ever did? You'd think there would be corporate consistency when it came to things like fender tags but there wasn't. Every year and every plant is different. Even the number of changes throughout the year at the same plant are interesting. In a company of that size and 'corporate culture', the huge differences between plants are astounding and perplexing. There is a large amount of autonomy in how each plant handled tags.

[Ghoste]

It is fascinating, it really is.

[ODZKing]

It is fascinating, it really is.

I agree. Lynch Road was notorius for being different.  On the 73-4 Chargers they assembled the front bumper brackets and who knows what else differently.