Relocating the VIN plate?

[Damkid]

is it legal to relocate the VIN on the firewall? of course i'd keep it on the firewall, i'm just entertaining an idea i have to help disipate heat out of my engine bay

[links56]

I think it varies from state to state. I know in most states its a serious offense. Call your local DMV to find out for sure.

[TominMO]

How about dissipating it out the inner fender well? Or taking that plate off on the pass. side, next to the VIN?

[Damkid]

I'm thinking vents most of the way across the firewall which includes the plate that the wiper motor is bolted to etc. i got looking at the cowl vents and i'd like to match that width worth of vents on the firewall as well, which would mean relocating the VIN plate

[Kraig]

Never had anyone look at the VIN in the body...just the dash mounted one!!

[Damkid]

Ah maybe if i think of it, i'll swing by a local body shop on the way home from work tomorrow and ask them since i think that'd be something fairly relevent to them

[Christ]

Just ask someone at dot.

[resuwrecked]

You aren't trying to vent the engine bay into the wiper cowl, are you?

[TominMO]

You aren't trying to vent the engine bay into the wiper cowl, are you?

That does sound like what he's planning. Another thought: modify the hood. Maybe a rear-facing scoop at the rear of the hood.

[Larry Hampton]

Classic Mustangs are bad about lifting the front end at around 120mph, the front end is sorta like a wedge, one solution was to stack some washers between the hood hinge and hood and use longer bolts. This vented air from under the hood, which helped a little.

[Bert]

Tinkering with VINs is a highly suspicious business when cars are new, expensive or exotic but no one looks at (or likely even for) the firewall plate on a Festiva. Mine are sprayed over with multi layers of evil asphalt undercoating and the stickies on the door post have been rubbed off or have otherwise 'disappeared'. And during every Ontario e-test anniversary I don't think the technicians even look at the dashboard VIN on any of my stuff.
I would argue that you have a legitimate excuse for relocating the firewall VIN, because there is now a functional hole where it used to be, so you've done your bit. Many cars had pop-rivet VINs years ago and I'm of the opinion that Festy's are getting to that vintage now too. What the gov't doesn't know won't hurt them.

[Damkid]

You aren't trying to vent the engine bay into the wiper cowl, are you?

Thats exactly what i'm thinking, it'd save making hood scoops or raising the rear of my hood etc.

What the gov't doesn't know won't hurt them.

Thats what i was thinking as well but figured i'd ask on here first :lol:

[Aaronbrook37]

Here's my plan for hood ventilation. Have a closer look at the cowl and you'll see what I have in mind. Very similar to your own plans, Chris, but a little more visible. Special thanks to Ian for his lovely car as donor picture.

[Safety Guy]

Venting engine air into the wiper cowl area might not work too well. The cowl area is a high pressure zone which takes air INTO the vehicle. Even if engine compartment exhaust air overpowers the cowl air, your cabin ventilation is now compromised.

You'd need to seal off the cabin from the cowl area to protect the occupants from engine smells, and possibly any small CO leaks. I think this creates more problems than it would be worth, because you're now going against the car's basic design.

Karl

[TominMO]

Venting engine air into the wiper cowl area might not work too well. The cowl area is a high pressure zone which takes air INTO the vehicle. Even if engine compartment exhaust air overpowers the cowl air, your cabin ventilation is now compromised.

You'd need to seal off the cabin from the cowl area to protect the occupants from engine smells, and possibly any small CO leaks. I think this creates more problems than it would be worth, because you're now going against the car's basic design.

Karl

Good point!