Legally swapping cabs? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluesfella · 09-10-2009, 04:23 PM

My truck has a pretty rusty cab and doors, but everything else is great. I've been driving it for 3 years now. On Labor Day, I found a great truck near here, and brought her home the next day.

Where this new truck is rusty, mine is perfect - and where mine is rusty, this one is perfect! Between the two I'll have a mostly-rust-free truck for the first time.

How can I take this new cab and put it on my truck legally? Do you have to swap VIN tags or something? I hold the titles to both trucks, so no problem there.

Anyone have experience doing this?

padresag · 09-10-2009, 05:17 PM

just check with your m/vehicle office. they are the ones that will give you a proper answer. it may differ from state to state
ron

jonzcustomshop · 09-10-2009, 07:07 PM

If you have titles for both, I would think no problem, just swap the cabs, and register your new cab in your name with the title that came withit...
the vins on the frame won't match any more, but I wonder how many even know about the vin on the frame...

wouldIt be the same amount of work to switch cabs as it would be to just switch all the good stuff from your current truck to the new good truck?

bluesfella · 09-10-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

wouldIt be the same amount of work to switch cabs as it would be to just switch all the good stuff from your current truck to the new good truck?

Nah, my truck is running and driving, I use it pretty frequently. The donor truck is a mess at the moment. Great sheet metal, but otherwise not sorted at all.

Here's the details - I started a build thread (and an intro - forgot to do one of those!) here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=362116

Thanks!

markeb01 · 09-10-2009, 11:58 PM

I know there are legality issues involved, people go to prison for tampering with body ID information. I also assume this mostly relates to newer vehicles that are switched with intent to defraud someone else.

On something this old, if it were mine, I'd switch the parts I wanted and the ID tag that goes with the truck you're driving. Nobody but you will ever be able to prove it didn't come that way, and since you own both anyway, it just seems the easiest solution. I know years ago in California it was a big deal the frame, body and engine numbers all had to match the original paperwork. I've been swapping engines for 40 years and never once had a problem with DMV.

1962k20 · 09-11-2009, 12:00 AM

we have a clause round these parts, dont tell the DMV, aka the KGB anything.

JRBECK64 · 09-11-2009, 12:54 AM

I think that one of the things you will find is that Chevrolet used a special rivet called a Rosebud Rivet to secure the ID plates on these old trucks. I think that if you drill the old plate off and replace it on the new cab with those kinds of rivets no one will ever know the difference. I would check into this but I also know those rivets are hard to come by and are fairly pricey if you can find them. Good Luck.

JRBECK64

jonzcustomshop · 09-11-2009, 08:26 AM

here is another plan..
call the fla dmv, let them konw that you are putting a different frame on your truck, due to damage, or whatever (this is sort of what you are doing. the key being that you do have titles to both trucks that you have.)
tel them that you were made aware that sometimes the frame had a vin # too. ask them if you need to get your new frame inspected(the bureaucrats will see $$ signs when you ask this

)before you install it on your truck.
the key to all this is that you do have 2 titles, and have both trucks in your name.
most people only have on title, and it is usually for the one they don't want.

jason65 · 09-11-2009, 08:32 AM

If you have the skills, swap vins by cutting the jam on the seams and trade them out. There are seams a few inches toward the front and back. you'll see what I mean. Then save the new title and jam with the vin for a rainy day.

**62 Longbed** · 09-11-2009, 10:19 PM

The Rosebud Rivets are available ... I believe around $15.00 - $20.00 for the pair ... You can find them online ... I swapped a cab to another frame on my wifes old truck ( SHHHHH ! ) Took the truck to our DMV and signed the title ..Got new plates, registration , title .. All in our name ... Its mine , and if ever asked , if anybody other than us are smart enough to know or care I'll just reply with What ??? I Don't Know ??? Not trying to be misleading but here at the scrap / junkyard all they care about is that the vin on the cab matches the title when turning it in

..

09-10-2009, 04:23 PM	#1
bluesfella Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 53	Legally swapping cabs? My truck has a pretty rusty cab and doors, but everything else is great. I've been driving it for 3 years now. On Labor Day, I found a great truck near here, and brought her home the next day. Where this new truck is rusty, mine is perfect - and where mine is rusty, this one is perfect! Between the two I'll have a mostly-rust-free truck for the first time. How can I take this new cab and put it on my truck legally? Do you have to swap VIN tags or something? I hold the titles to both trucks, so no problem there. Anyone have experience doing this? __________________ www.vancerutherford.com Last edited by bluesfella; 09-10-2009 at 04:25 PM.

09-10-2009, 05:17 PM	#2
padresag Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sidney,b.c. Posts: 4,425	Re: Legally swapping cabs? just check with your m/vehicle office. they are the ones that will give you a proper answer. it may differ from state to state ron

09-10-2009, 07:07 PM	#3
jonzcustomshop 1961 crewcab Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: missoula, mt Posts: 6,164	Re: Legally swapping cabs? If you have titles for both, I would think no problem, just swap the cabs, and register your new cab in your name with the title that came withit... the vins on the frame won't match any more, but I wonder how many even know about the vin on the frame... wouldIt be the same amount of work to switch cabs as it would be to just switch all the good stuff from your current truck to the new good truck?

09-10-2009, 11:58 PM	#5
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: Legally swapping cabs? I know there are legality issues involved, people go to prison for tampering with body ID information. I also assume this mostly relates to newer vehicles that are switched with intent to defraud someone else. On something this old, if it were mine, I'd switch the parts I wanted and the ID tag that goes with the truck you're driving. Nobody but you will ever be able to prove it didn't come that way, and since you own both anyway, it just seems the easiest solution. I know years ago in California it was a big deal the frame, body and engine numbers all had to match the original paperwork. I've been swapping engines for 40 years and never once had a problem with DMV.

09-11-2009, 12:00 AM	#6
1962k20 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: broken dreams CT Posts: 37	Re: Legally swapping cabs? we have a clause round these parts, dont tell the DMV, aka the KGB anything.

09-11-2009, 12:54 AM	#7
JRBECK64 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cornelius Oregon Posts: 1,073	Re: Legally swapping cabs? I think that one of the things you will find is that Chevrolet used a special rivet called a Rosebud Rivet to secure the ID plates on these old trucks. I think that if you drill the old plate off and replace it on the new cab with those kinds of rivets no one will ever know the difference. I would check into this but I also know those rivets are hard to come by and are fairly pricey if you can find them. Good Luck. JRBECK64

09-11-2009, 08:26 AM	#8
jonzcustomshop 1961 crewcab Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: missoula, mt Posts: 6,164	Re: Legally swapping cabs? here is another plan.. call the fla dmv, let them konw that you are putting a different frame on your truck, due to damage, or whatever (this is sort of what you are doing. the key being that you do have titles to both trucks that you have.) tel them that you were made aware that sometimes the frame had a vin # too. ask them if you need to get your new frame inspected(the bureaucrats will see $$ signs when you ask this)before you install it on your truck. the key to all this is that you do have 2 titles, and have both trucks in your name. most people only have on title, and it is usually for the one they don't want.

09-11-2009, 08:32 AM	#9
jason65 Registerd User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,118	Re: Legally swapping cabs? If you have the skills, swap vins by cutting the jam on the seams and trade them out. There are seams a few inches toward the front and back. you'll see what I mean. Then save the new title and jam with the vin for a rainy day. Last edited by jason65; 09-11-2009 at 08:34 AM. Reason: sp

09-11-2009, 10:19 PM	#10
62 Longbed Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gresham , Oregon Posts: 588	Re: Legally swapping cabs? The Rosebud Rivets are available ... I believe around $15.00 - $20.00 for the pair ... You can find them online ... I swapped a cab to another frame on my wifes old truck ( SHHHHH ! ) Took the truck to our DMV and signed the title ..Got new plates, registration , title .. All in our name ... Its mine , and if ever asked , if anybody other than us are smart enough to know or care I'll just reply with What ??? I Don't Know ??? Not trying to be misleading but here at the scrap / junkyard all they care about is that the vin on the cab matches the title when turning it in ..



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