Cab swap legality

Jrgunn5150 · Apr 11, 2016

yevgenievich said:
You happen to get the two reasons that they would care. I called the dmv office before to check on the status of a vin number. Always check before using different cab or frame. I see complete dash swap as acceptable if cab is trashed and simply needs new sheet metal.

I agree, but lesson learned, I make sure before I buy anything I have clear claim to it now.

HotRodPC · Apr 12, 2016

1low4x4 said:
When I totaled my red 85 I bought an 84 k10. I lost the title and didn't want to go back into the process of filing so I took the dash vin plate from red and stuck it on the k10. and the license plates. No one the wiser

smoothandlow84 said:
....except when they inspect it and find the correct vin number on the frame in the "hidden area" that most square owners know about. Some states perform inspections, some don't.

That's true. You're truck would never make a legal California registration. The vehicle will have to be inspected and they will find the frame VIN and match it to the dash VIN and see it doesn't match. Even worse, how will you explain a 2wd VIN to a 4wd vehicle? So long as you keep the truck, it should never be a problem. If you move out of state, you might consider checking the state you're going to. In OK, you'd be fine too.

I don't care to admit it publically, but I've got a similar situation myself. However, it was C20 to C20 and I do still have the frame the VIN plate came from, and do fully intend to re marry that VIN plate to that frame someday.

For the OP, if he's just doing a Cab swap, keeping the same VIN to the same frame, if he's quiet about it, noone will ever know the difference since VIN #'s are not stamped into the cab sheetmetal. Just do it in a way that you keep the same VIN tag rivets. It can be done, I've done it, and it's tedious. You will have to open up the holes just a hair to get the used rivets back in, and glue the tag down. Inspectors know what the rivets look like and some models and different years use different style or shape rivets. If they aren't year and model correct, it's considered tampered VIN.

hatzie · Apr 12, 2016

Jrgunn5150 said:
I agree, but lesson learned, I make sure before I buy anything I have clear claim to it now.

HotRodPC said:
That's true. You're truck would never make a legal California registration. The vehicle will have to be inspected and they will find the frame VIN and match it to the dash VIN and see it doesn't match. Even worse, how will you explain a 2wd VIN to a 4wd vehicle? So long as you keep the truck, it should never be a problem. If you move out of state, you might consider checking the state you're going to. In OK, you'd be fine too.

I don't care to admit it publically, but I've got a similar situation myself. However, it was C20 to C20 and I do still have the frame the VIN plate came from, and do fully intend to re marry that VIN plate to that frame someday.

For the OP, if he's just doing a Cab swap, keeping the same VIN to the same frame, if he's quiet about it, noone will ever know the difference since VIN #'s are not stamped into the cab sheetmetal. Just do it in a way that you keep the same VIN tag rivets. It can be done, I've done it, and it's tedious. You will have to open up the holes just a hair to get the used rivets back in, and glue the tag down. Inspectors know what the rivets look like and some models and different years use different style or shape rivets. If they aren't year and model correct, it's considered tampered VIN.

If you have clear title to the cab and frame some states will do a composite Von issued by the state. You'll have documentation from a government agency In this case.
Some states do not do composite or salvage titles but will likely allow you to use one legally acquired in another state.

Sent from my SM-P605V using Tapatalk

HotRodPC · Apr 12, 2016

For sure. Every state is different. In OK, you take both titles to them, and then you get a state issued VIN that doesn't even relate to the vehicle at all and I don't like that at all.

bucket · Apr 12, 2016

HotRodPC said:
For sure. Every state is different. In OK, you take both titles to them, and then you get a state issued VIN that doesn't even relate to the vehicle at all and I don't like that at all.

They issue a NEW vin or just use the one that's closest to correct (like using the 4x4 frame vin and not the 2wd cab vin)? My '86 Camaro has a vin issued by the state of California, I've always assumed it was a theft recovery. Dash vin, spid label and everything else are gone, but the the state issued vin seems to be the original vin to the car.

Jrgunn5150 · Apr 12, 2016

Michigan forces you to post a bond, while they track all of the VIN's, if any come back lein/stolen whatever, your bond goes to release the claim. It can be a real mess.

I just stick to having titles for everything unless I am going to part it out.

4WDKC · May 4, 2016

Shields said:
Hey all, this is my first post on this site as I was formerly a member of nastyz28. I traded my first car 80' camaro for an 83 Chevy c10 shorty that needs a cab and fenders I also have a 1976 c10 in good shape on a long box. What are the conflicting issues with me dropping the 76' cab and fenders on the 80' frame? I'm also located in BC, Canada.

If you were to put the 76 cab on the 83 frame then move the VIN plate from the 83 to 76 cab, wouldn't that be the same as repairing a rusty cab and dash with new metal and having to reattach a vin plate

donmateo · May 5, 2016

CSFJ said:
You would need to find out what the rules are in your area regarding that. I know that down here, to be completely legit, I will need to get an assembled vehicle title. I know it's not uncommon to find trucks down here that are simply registered to whatever the cab originally was. I guess it would matter how the local law enforcement handles stuff like that up in your neck of the woods. There is a vin on top of the passenger side frame rail if the officers cared to crawl under with a mirror to try to see.

So I was thinking...where exactly is this? I have my bed off now, will I be able to see it easily or is it further up? Interested to know what year my frame is lol

CSFJ · May 5, 2016

donmateo said:
So I was thinking...where exactly is this? I have my bed off now, will I be able to see it easily or is it further up? Interested to know what year my frame is lol

From what I've read, my understanding is that is stamped into the top of the passenger side frame rail, in the area of the pass floorboard near the forward cab mount. I have a bare 1 ton frame in my garage right now and wasn't able to locate it on there. Haven't had a chance to cleanit with flap wheel to see if it's just got some road crud covering it.

Jrgunn5150 · May 5, 2016

CSFJ said:
From what I've read, my understanding is that is stamped into the top of the passenger side frame rail, in the area of the pass floorboard near the forward cab mount. I have a bare 1 ton frame in my garage right now and wasn't able to locate it on there. Haven't had a chance to cleanit with flap wheel to see if it's just got some road crud covering it.

My Ford has a vin in that exact location, as well as up in the engine compartment. I couldn't see the engine compartment one until I blasted the frame though.

74propu · May 11, 2016

my dodge 3500 has a Kansas recover title it was stolen and recovered so Kansas did a new title with the same vin# that it had before and Florida didn't have a problem with it as long as they got there inpact fee and new title cost me $400 to reg that truck the 1st time

HotRodPC · May 11, 2016

Jrgunn5150 said:
My Ford has a vin in that exact location, as well as up in the engine compartment. I couldn't see the engine compartment one until I blasted the frame though.

You can trust though, Law Enforcement knows where to go to get VIN's, on firewalls, frames etc. And they have no problem scratching paint off to get to them either.

We did a burnt stolen recovery on a Ford pick up not long ago. I knew it was a 92-96 by what little was of the dash. Front clip and bed were gone so it then looked like an 87-96. Once the investigators got on the lot, looked in their little book and asked me if I had an idea of the year model, I showed them the part of the curved dashed, and explained the 87-91 was straight across they agreed. Then asked if we had a forklift to lift it. We did of course and they went right to it. Ran it, and it had been reported stolen 6 days earlier from a grocery store parking lot.

Jrgunn5150 · May 11, 2016

HotRodPC said:
You can trust though, Law Enforcement knows where to go to get VIN's, on firewalls, frames etc. And they have no problem scratching paint off to get to them either.

We did a burnt stolen recovery on a Ford pick up not long ago. I knew it was a 92-96 by what little was of the dash. Front clip and bed were gone so it then looked like an 87-96. Once the investigators got on the lot, looked in their little book and asked me if I had an idea of the year model, I showed them the part of the curved dashed, and explained the 87-91 was straight across they agreed. Then asked if we had a forklift to lift it. We did of course and they went right to it. Ran it, and it had been reported stolen 6 days earlier from a grocery store parking lot.

I absolutely know, like I said earlier, I've had two vehicles pulled from me before lol.

I don't but anything at all without clear claim, period. The Ohio State Police didn't care at when when I told them Mike from the internet said it was ok to take a handwritten Bill of Sale :Insane:

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