I'm doing some much needed clean up and repainting in my engine bay. The VIN plate is looking pretty dirty and the clear plastic lamination on the front is starting to peel off. I was thinking of removing the plastic film and spraying some clearcoat on it to protect it. Anyone ever try this? I might use an adhesion promoter to help the clear stick to the bare aluminum. Although I'm kinda paranoid about it messing up the printed text. Anyone ever try it?

I'm also curious if anyone has customized theirs - stamped in their name, or the "name" of the car, etc. Not planning on doing that myself as I might want sell the car one day. Not that I'd EVER part with one of my dear 7's

 

I'm not sure how well a clear coat would stick to aluminum - like you said. An adhesion promoter would help but I'd be nervous too while doing it. I'd say go for it but be super cautious, that print is like 30 years old and God knows it would be a shame for any of it to come off.

 

My thoughts exactly. It worked on the door jamb stickers but I'm not sure about this aluminum. If no one else has tried it, I might have to be the guinea pig.

 

I have considered it since my VIN plate is also pretty beat looking. Getting 30 years of oil/grease/dirt etc off of there without damaging the print though will be difficult. Might be worth finding one in a junkyard/parts car etc to experiment on first.

 

Well, most of the dirt and grime on mine was on the plastic film. Once I removed it, the rest was fairly clean, except at the edges where the screws go through. There's a good bit of corrosion on there. Luckily the corrosion doesn't reach any of the print. I've also noticed that there is another thin layer of clearcoat on it. It's peeling off in the corroded areas. Not sure if this is an anodization on the aluminum or just a clearcoat over top of the print. I think I'm gonna mask over the printed area and try to buff the corrosion off the edges with a dremel and a wire wheel. Then I'll clearcoat the whole thing. Pics coming soon.

 

Have you tried metal cleaner? Theres products you get at auto parts shops that clean the oxidisation off alluinium like no-ones buisiness.
a wire brush will destroy it.

 

Which would you suggest? I haven't tried any cleaners on it, assuming it would destroy the print. Although if I tape it up and take a q-tip to it, that shouldn't be a problem.

 

Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish is what I'd try first. Worked awesome on the projects with aluminum I've done.

 

chemtec aluminium cleaner. contains phosphoric acid. There would be equivalent brands in the U.S. Its not a polish, you use it before polish to make old aluminium brand new and clean. I dont think it would hurt the print, but you probably should to a test spot first.
It jut goes on, watch it fizz up on the oxidisation, maybe agitate with a toothbrush (or in your case a cue-tip), and then rinse wth plenty of water.

 

I have some of that Mother's polish. I'll try that with the polishing wheel.

I tried pure phosphoric acid and it surprisingly had no effect. I applied it with a q-tip on the corroded edges.

 

Try the Mother's and post some pics