Swapping VIN number plates?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jcfoote60 · 12-20-2005, 08:34 PM

OK guys, so what kind of trouble can I get into by swapping VIN number plates? Let me explain. I have a 69 but want to swap out the entire drivers side bed-side and so need to swap the 72 plate for the 69 plate...can I just drill out the rivets and re-rivet the right plate on? I thought I remembered a post that talked about this issue once before but I searched and can't find it.

I sure don't want to go down to DMV and get into trouble when I want to register it. Surely body shops run into this everyday???

JC

farmtruckIII · 12-20-2005, 08:45 PM

Changing the vin is unlawful by federal D.O.T. laws, if your just changing the bed or bed side you wont have a need to change the vin plate at all. The vin plate is on the cab and stays with the cab, there are a few numbers stamped in the bed but that just means you won't have a matching numbers truck.

**tnblazerk5** · 12-20-2005, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmtruckIII

Changing the vin is unlawful by federal D.O.T. laws, if your just changing the bed or bed side you wont have a need to change the vin plate at all. The vin plate is on the cab and stays with the cab, there are a few numbers stamped in the bed but that just means you won't have a matching numbers truck.

if its a blazer or jimmy the vin is on the bedside/doorjam

and i have done what you are saying a few times with no problems you just need the rite rivits and make sure nobody see's ya do it

farmtruckIII · 12-20-2005, 08:57 PM

My bad, forgot what forum I was in.............I know in texas they'll put you under the jail for swapping, a vin a former employer of mine is currently doing 10 years in the slammer for selling a car with a swapped vin. However I do not forsee a problem if the vin plates are the same shape and size, I would however recomend putting th 69 plate back on. The rivets are still available from gm they are hi-dollar, best of luck, and sorry for my ignorance on the blazer/truck thing.

jcfoote60 · 12-20-2005, 08:59 PM

Yeah this is a blazer I am talking about, so it is riveted to the bedside...it's a PITA enough swapping the bedside so if I am going to get into issues with the DMV I want to know up front so I can just settle with welding up the CB mount holes on the 69 bedside and deal with filler as opposed to avoiding it and changing the bedside.

So in essence...............what IS the bigger PITA?

krue · 12-20-2005, 09:11 PM

The best thing to do is call the DMV in Idaho and see what your state law is. Me personally I don't have a problem with swapping the vin plate. You didn't change the truck other than replacing a bedside, you aren't trying to screw anyone so what's the big deal?

71jimmy · 12-20-2005, 10:30 PM

Body shops do this all the time. You need to be careful and do it correct. I wouldn't go and ask anyone at DMV, if they knew what they were doing they'd work somewhere else. Get the rosebud rivets to do it correctly, but I suspect if you used regular round rivets 99.9% of law enforcement/DMV wouldn't know the difference. And as long as the paperwork matches the vehicle it's good to go. Personally, unless this is a serious show/original, type vehicle with like 5k orig miles, who cares?

How many times have you been pulled over and had the cop check your VIN?

LUV2XCLR8 · 12-22-2005, 01:17 PM

^ I agree 100% with what he said, just re-rivit the original vin tag

Mark Mazzanti · 12-22-2005, 04:54 PM

Here in California my DMV checked the vin plate and checked vin# on the frame to make sure it matched when I bought my blazer in Texas and brought it to California to register it.

Scrubby · 12-22-2005, 10:08 PM

I don't think you will have any problem in Idaho. What I would do is: if you don't have a current Idaho title for it, go get one now. Then swap out the bed side. The VIN isn't changing, so I think you could duct tape on the vin and it wouldn't matter. As long as you own it or sell it in state, no one is going to inspect it. But, I would find someone on the board with the right rivets, and no one will ever know.

67-72williso · 12-25-2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmtruckIII

Changing the vin is unlawful by federal D.O.T. laws, if your just changing the bed or bed side you wont have a need to change the vin plate at all. The vin plate is on the cab and stays with the cab, there are a few numbers stamped in the bed but that just means you won't have a matching numbers truck.

Speeding is unlawful to, but people do it anyway.
Later willis

Jimmy72custom · 12-26-2005, 06:08 PM

I bought a 1970 C20 in Oregon. I had to have the vin checked by the CA highway patrol or any police or sheriff for registration and new title.. I went to the local police department and was told they would rather have the CHP do it, since they have not had the training. I showed them the form and that the police department was listed. The officer came out in the pouring rain looked at the truck filled out the form. He check the box that said the vin was attached with round rivets. I noticed this as I was standing in line at the DMV. The thing is, my 70 has the correct rivets with the points on them. To make long story short nobody cared.

muckmuck · 01-08-2006, 12:44 PM

where is the vin # on the frame on a blazer?

12-20-2005, 08:34 PM	#1
jcfoote60 Active Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 263	Swapping VIN number plates?? OK guys, so what kind of trouble can I get into by swapping VIN number plates? Let me explain. I have a 69 but want to swap out the entire drivers side bed-side and so need to swap the 72 plate for the 69 plate...can I just drill out the rivets and re-rivet the right plate on? I thought I remembered a post that talked about this issue once before but I searched and can't find it. I sure don't want to go down to DMV and get into trouble when I want to register it. Surely body shops run into this everyday??? JC

12-20-2005, 08:45 PM	#2
farmtruckIII 71 GMC 454/TH400 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Blue Mound TX Posts: 214	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? Changing the vin is unlawful by federal D.O.T. laws, if your just changing the bed or bed side you wont have a need to change the vin plate at all. The vin plate is on the cab and stays with the cab, there are a few numbers stamped in the bed but that just means you won't have a matching numbers truck.

12-20-2005, 08:57 PM	#4
farmtruckIII 71 GMC 454/TH400 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Blue Mound TX Posts: 214	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? My bad, forgot what forum I was in.............I know in texas they'll put you under the jail for swapping, a vin a former employer of mine is currently doing 10 years in the slammer for selling a car with a swapped vin. However I do not forsee a problem if the vin plates are the same shape and size, I would however recomend putting th 69 plate back on. The rivets are still available from gm they are hi-dollar, best of luck, and sorry for my ignorance on the blazer/truck thing.

12-20-2005, 08:59 PM	#5
jcfoote60 Active Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 263	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? Yeah this is a blazer I am talking about, so it is riveted to the bedside...it's a PITA enough swapping the bedside so if I am going to get into issues with the DMV I want to know up front so I can just settle with welding up the CB mount holes on the 69 bedside and deal with filler as opposed to avoiding it and changing the bedside. So in essence...............what IS the bigger PITA?

12-20-2005, 09:11 PM	#6
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? The best thing to do is call the DMV in Idaho and see what your state law is. Me personally I don't have a problem with swapping the vin plate. You didn't change the truck other than replacing a bedside, you aren't trying to screw anyone so what's the big deal? __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

12-20-2005, 10:30 PM	#7
71jimmy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,083	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? Body shops do this all the time. You need to be careful and do it correct. I wouldn't go and ask anyone at DMV, if they knew what they were doing they'd work somewhere else. Get the rosebud rivets to do it correctly, but I suspect if you used regular round rivets 99.9% of law enforcement/DMV wouldn't know the difference. And as long as the paperwork matches the vehicle it's good to go. Personally, unless this is a serious show/original, type vehicle with like 5k orig miles, who cares? How many times have you been pulled over and had the cop check your VIN? __________________ '71 Jimmy, 350, SM465, NP205, 2in Tuff Country lift, 33s on rallies, TBI, softtop and hardtop "If life was fair you'd be able to afford one of each and a garage large enough to house them all." Last edited by 71jimmy; 12-20-2005 at 10:31 PM.

12-22-2005, 01:17 PM	#8
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,468	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? ^ I agree 100% with what he said, just re-rivit the original vin tag __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

12-22-2005, 04:54 PM	#9
Mark Mazzanti Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: California Posts: 27	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? Here in California my DMV checked the vin plate and checked vin# on the frame to make sure it matched when I bought my blazer in Texas and brought it to California to register it.

12-22-2005, 10:08 PM	#10
Scrubby Check out GMTrucks.org Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boise, Id Posts: 284	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? I don't think you will have any problem in Idaho. What I would do is: if you don't have a current Idaho title for it, go get one now. Then swap out the bed side. The VIN isn't changing, so I think you could duct tape on the vin and it wouldn't matter. As long as you own it or sell it in state, no one is going to inspect it. But, I would find someone on the board with the right rivets, and no one will ever know.

12-26-2005, 06:08 PM	#12
Jimmy72custom Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Willits Ca Posts: 261	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? I bought a 1970 C20 in Oregon. I had to have the vin checked by the CA highway patrol or any police or sheriff for registration and new title.. I went to the local police department and was told they would rather have the CHP do it, since they have not had the training. I showed them the form and that the police department was listed. The officer came out in the pouring rain looked at the truck filled out the form. He check the box that said the vin was attached with round rivets. I noticed this as I was standing in line at the DMV. The thing is, my 70 has the correct rivets with the points on them. To make long story short nobody cared.

01-08-2006, 12:44 PM	#13
muckmuck Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 329	Re: Swapping VIN number plates?? where is the vin # on the frame on a blazer?



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