August 2020

The chassis number is now too short for the UK, currently it is 12 characters and needs to be 17.
The Factory now install the word SPORT to make up the numbers.

I carefully remove the existing VIN with a handfile.

To align the letter and number stamps I fabricate a jig I had seen in a back issue of one of the home machinist magazines.
I also design and 3D print a clamping piece to secure the jig.

Since some of the characters are repeated and I did not want to miss out any, I used an old piece of wood to order the stamps. Where a stamp was to be used more than lnce it was allocated a colourto ensure once used it was placed in position for the next use.

I also pencilled in the characters on the jig above or below the roller position that it would be used in.

I originally bought some number and letter stamps from ebay, these were not very good tbough the square shafts varied in thickness and needed some fettling o work with the jig. The characters were not uniformly located on the end either and so some test runs on scrap metal were pretty poor.
I bought some more stamps from RS Components - these were much better - Buy cheap - Buy Twice....

All this preparation paid off and I did not mess things up, the characters are reasonably well spaced and positioned.

The factory supplied replacement VIN was then riveted to the chassis. I am not happy with the quality of the VIN plate and may look to do something at a later date.