Topic: What Are My Options??
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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I purchased a numbers matching 1969 silver coupe at Bloomington Gold this year and want to restore it to factory specs. Tell me an easy way to get the tank sticker removed so I can see all the equipment the car had when it left St. Louis. Can I also use the VIN number to help identify the car's options? Any help will be appreciated......Thanks!
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398
Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
As far as I know, if the tank sticker is still there, you'll need to drop the tank. Even if the sticker is still there, the liklihood is you'll ruin the sticker removing it. You're best bet is to carefully photograph it and leave it in place.
Maybe someone else will have a better idea.
Maybe someone else will have a better idea.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The VIN is useless for anything other than the sequential build(VIN) number.
IF the tank sticker IS still there, like Gunslinger says, the tank will have to come out, and chances are that will damage the sticker. it all depends on WHERE on the tank they stuck it. Many of them were glued on over the tank straps, so pulling the tank rips them in half. You MAY be able to get a flexible mirror up in there, and determine if there is a build sheet there, and then if it would be damaged by pulling the tank down.
I would have to agree, also, that taking a high quality photo of it would be best, before attempting to remove it.
Adams' Apple 2006-11-02 18:33:24
IF the tank sticker IS still there, like Gunslinger says, the tank will have to come out, and chances are that will damage the sticker. it all depends on WHERE on the tank they stuck it. Many of them were glued on over the tank straps, so pulling the tank rips them in half. You MAY be able to get a flexible mirror up in there, and determine if there is a build sheet there, and then if it would be damaged by pulling the tank down.
I would have to agree, also, that taking a high quality photo of it would be best, before attempting to remove it.
Joel Adams
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I was able to see my tank sticker by pushing down the tank filler neck boot.
After I carefully removed the tank, I was able to use a paint brush to clean off the sheet. Don't use compressed air, it is extremely fragile! After taking numerous photographs, I used a sheet of stick laminating paper to cover the sheet.
I then rubbed the sheet and carefully tried to lift the tank sticker. Occasionally, if some parts of the paper were still stuck to the tank I had to place the sheet back down, rub a little harder and try to pull it up again.
After I got it off, I scanned it and put a copy on the new tank. Here's a pic of it.
Lifetime MemberIndianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
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Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed
Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses.
2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
While I was having some work done on the rear end, the shop let me in and lowered the car so I could reach up on top of the tank. I was able to remove about 75% of the sheet. Can't say for sure if the rest is still up there or if it was already gone.
I finally got around to scanning mine yesterday to preserve it.
I wouln't recommend this for everyone. I got lucky and mine came out fairly easily and with most of the options showing.
I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!
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Is the sticker on top of the tank and how easy is dropping the tank to find it? I would also think replacing the old 69 metal tank with a new one would be a good idea.
Ten15 says he was able to see the sticker by pushing down the filler neck. Any tricks doing this and do I use mirrors so something special to see the darn thing??......Thanks to all of you for your help!!!
The sticker will be glued on top of the tank, often you can see a very small part of it with the gas tank in place. If you replace the tank you could save your original sticker on the original tank 
Wow, I guess I was lucky when I got the original window sticker that was on the car new. This probably saves me the need to get the tank sticker off. I have what I think to be all the options with this sticker? Is there still a need to remove the one from the tank?
Dnicol,
The sticker was on the driver's side of my tank & it was attached w/ a squiggly line of glue. I have heard of others reaching up & removing the sticker like Magnet1. That way will either work or destroy the sticker. It is made of very poor quality paper that is now almost 40 years old.
However, if you can't bend the filler neck boot enough to see the sticker, try to reach up from under the car, and you should be able to feel (carefully) around the top of the tank. If the sticker is there, you should be able to feel it. At this point, it's up to you wether to try to pull it off or drop the tank.
Remember, there is about 40 years of crud up there so were eye protection ( I learned that the hard way).
As for the laminating paper, I just used it again to preserve the serial # sticker on my U69 radio.
Good luck,
Anthony
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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