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So I ordered a repop VIN sticker right after I bought my Cutlass, and not realizing it was actually supposed to have the VIN printed on it, I stuck it on the door blank (doh!)
After doing some research I realized my folly. So I ordered two more blanks (just in case I trash one while trying to print the VIN).
Well, I'm happy to report that my first attempt at printing was successful, and here is the result. I am quite pleased with how it came out😀
A regular laser printer. But first I taped the sticker (with the backing still attached) to the center of regular piece of 8 x 11 1/2 paper. Then I typed the VIN and the lettering on the computer and kept printing it and holding it against the sticker, adjusting the spacing accordingly until it lined up on
the sticker. Once I got it where I wanted it, I put the piece of paper (the one with the sticker taped to it) and printed the VIN on the sticker. Mind you the ink won't dry very good on the sticker, so be careful handling it and when you apply it to your door. Once you get it stuck down, just carefully put the clear adhesive cover over the sticker that comes with it, and you're good to go😀
Didn't you leave something out? There is no date "shown above" as the sticker says there should be. The month/year of manufacture should be in the upper right next to "Corp."
These are often called the "Nader Sticker" after Ralph Nader. Here's the one on my '78 Toronado. It was a different color by then, but it says the same thing, and there actually IS a date of manufacture "above."
Here's a sticker similar to yours but WITH the date of manufacture shown. It also has the vehicle weights. Should that be on your sticker as well? The weights are also on my car's sticker above.
Didn't you leave something out? There is no date "shown above" as the sticker says there should be. The month/year of manufacture should be in the upper right next to "Corp."
These are often called the "Nader Sticker" after Ralph Nader. Here's the one on my '78 Toronado. It was a different color by then, but it says the same thing, and there actually IS a date of manufacture "above."
Here's a sticker similar to yours but WITH the date of manufacture shown. It also has the vehicle weights. Should that be on your sticker as well? The weights are also on my car's sticker above.
Thanks for the input but I don't know the exact date of mfg and I dunno what the weights are either. I wasn't going for an exact copy, I just didn't want it blank. Maybe later I'll give it another go?
After doing some research I realized my folly. So I ordered two more blanks (just in case I trash one while trying to print the VIN).
Well, I'm happy to report that my first attempt at printing was successful, and here is the result. I am quite pleased with how it came out😀
Dave, I hate to rain on your parade but that door decal isn't done right. It's missing key components of manufacture date, GVWR and the font is incorrect. Here's the decal from my car - you can see the difference
Your manufacture date is on the cowl tag. One of the members here (Jason) TK-65 makes these stickers and also reproduces window stickers. They look very much like the sticker that would have been on your car when it went to a showroom.
Your manufacture date is on the cowl tag. One of the members here (Jason) TK-65 makes these stickers and also reproduces window stickers. They look very much like the sticker that would have been on your car when it went to a showroom.
The original decals almost looked like they use a typewriter. Can you duplicate that font on a laser printer? Trouble is you only get one shot at the decal so you gotta get it right.
The original decals almost looked like they use a typewriter. Can you duplicate that font on a laser printer? Trouble is you only get one shot at the decal so you gotta get it right.
That's the beauty of it...the ink doesn't dry right away. If it's not right, you can just wipe off the ink and try again. Although I wouldnt advise doing that too much, but a couple tries won't hurt...trust me.
The original decals almost looked like they use a typewriter. Can you duplicate that font on a laser printer? Trouble is you only get one shot at the decal so you gotta get it right.
The font is wrong and too large. Have you considered printing a test strip with a grey tone for the information you're using? I'd like to see the link to that GVWR you got, it looks too light for a 72 Cutlass.
The font is wrong and too large. Have you considered printing a test strip with a grey tone for the information you're using? I'd like to see the link to that GVWR you got, it looks too light for a 72 Cutlass.
Allan, the weight info was a PDF file called an "info kit" for 1972 Oldsmobiles. I found it by searching for "1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme front rear weight". Once the results pop up, it's the 4th one down.
The font is wrong and too large. Have you considered printing a test strip with a grey tone for the information you're using? I'd like to see the link to that GVWR you got, it looks too light for a 72 Cutlass.
In the pictures of the originals the vin numbers are perfectly aligned each letter directly below them. Also it looks like the spacing between the two lines is too big. Maybe single space instead of double. Yours is close but not 100%.
In the pictures of the originals the vin numbers are perfectly aligned each letter directly below them. Also it looks like the spacing between the two lines is too big. Maybe single space instead of double. Yours is close but not 100%.
Thanks to all for their advice and suggestions, and after some more refining, here's what I have. I know it's not quite like the original, but it's the best I'm gonna be able to do. Pending clarification on the weight ratings, I'm gonna roll with it.
The original decals almost looked like they use a typewriter. Can you duplicate that font on a laser printer? Trouble is you only get one shot at the decal so you gotta get it right.
I wonder if "Times New Roman" in all caps (capital letters) would be close to "typewriter font" ? Do a test on paper.
Times New Roman is not a tyerwriter font. If you want it to look like a typewriter, what you want is "Courier." Both are "serif" fonts. The common non-serif ("sans serif") font is Arial.
Dave, I hate to rain on your parade but that door decal isn't done right. It's missing key components of manufacture date, GVWR and the font is incorrect. Here's the decal from my car - you can see the difference
What year is the poster's car? 1970 only had date of manufacture and the VIN.
There is a company called ECS Concepts that not only has labels but can do it in the correct font. If you can supply them a picture of the original or similar they can duplicate it.
What year is the poster's car? 1970 only had date of manufacture and the VIN.
I would guess, from him username, and from the fact that he put "06-72" as the build date on his repro sticker shown in post #23, that it's a '72. But I'm just guessing here.
I would guess, from him username, and from the fact that he put "06-72" as the build date on his repro sticker shown in post #23, that it's a '72. But I'm just guessing here.
Dave,
Correct me if I'm mistaken but I believe this is the source of your research?
If that's the case, your VIN calculations on the door sticker for GVWR are not correct.
CURB weight is the car with built in standard features and maybe a gallon of fuel for delivery. That does not include extra options like AC//PDL/PS/PB/AT/L75/ FE2/ N10 (Factory RPO's - search your 72 SPECS booklet) etc which adds up in a hurry.
GVWR on the other hand includes EVERYTHING including the weight of passengers, full tank of fuel, and cargo. Assume that your average person weighs 160 lbs (likely more) and that cargo would be around another 150+ lbs. Now add the total weight and you get 3499 + 640 + 150 + (fuel) 120 + options (guesstimate 300-400 lbs) = 4809
If I take the ratio of 1964/3499 and 1535/3499 I get 56% and 44% respectively which should be the weight (axle) distribution. If you assume your car is a GVWR of 4809, that would break down as follows: Front GVWR 2693 and Read GVWR of 2116 These numbers I've posted are hypothetical based on what I remember your car has for options.
Dave,
Correct me if I'm mistaken but I believe this is the source of your research?
If that's the case, your VIN calculations on the door sticker for GVWR are not correct.
CURB weight is the car with built in standard features and maybe a gallon of fuel for delivery. That does not include extra options like AC//PDL/PS/PB/AT/L75/ FE2/ N10 (Factory RPO's - search your 72 SPECS booklet) etc which adds up in a hurry.
GVWR on the other hand includes EVERYTHING including the weight of passengers, full tank of fuel, and cargo. Assume that your average person weighs 160 lbs (likely more) and that cargo would be around another 150+ lbs. Now add the total weight and you get 3499 + 640 + 150 + (fuel) 120 + options (guesstimate 300-400 lbs) = 4809
If I take the ratio of 1964/3499 and 1535/3499 I get 56% and 44% respectively which should be the weight (axle) distribution. If you assume your car is a GVWR of 4809, that would break down as follows: Front GVWR 2693 and Read GVWR of 2116 These numbers I've posted are hypothetical based on what I remember your car has for options.
Does this help?
Yes Allan, that is my source. What is the 72 specs booklet? Are you talking about the CSM?
I was able to get a sticker made for my 442 convertible. Bob was not crazy about doing more because of the pain in the *** factor.DEFINITELY Not worth it.,
Here's what my car is equipped with:
L75 455 engine
TH400 transmission (column shift)
Air conditioning (not comfortron)
Remote driver door mirror
Power driver seat
Tilt wheel
JL2 brakes
N10 dual exhaust
G80 anti spin differential
I was able to get a sticker made for my 442 convertible. Bob was not crazy about doing more because of the pain in the *** factor.DEFINITELY Not worth it.,
It doesn't. It just shows all the options that were available. All the various combinations that could have been ordered means that few cars weighed exactly the same amount.
But you know what? WHO CARES? Put whatever numbers you want on the sticker. Who would ever question them? Who, besides you, would ever know that they weren't exactly correct?
