VIN Plate--Starting Build--Need Advice

[palposity]

Hey folks,

I've done some searching and I can't find the answer to this question...I apologize in advance if this question has been asked before and I missed it in my search.

I'm starting a build of a 1980 truck (build thread to come). I'm in the disassembly stage. The truck is a total rust bucket, but has been in my family for 3 generations now (my wife's grandfather bought it new). I bought an 86 donor truck w/ solid body and bad engine. Can I switch my 80 VIN plate over to the 86 cab? This will save me an awful lot of metal work replacing the bottom half of the old cab. I would like to preserve the VIN number for family heritage reasons.

Thanks for your help! This forum is a great resource!

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Check with local Motor Vehicle, but I believe that the VIN and title apply only to the chassis.
Changing out the cab will not affect it. The origonal VIN plate can be swapped over to the new cab/and or/drivers' door if replaced.
Todd.

[71swb4x4]

You DMV will tell you, as will all DMV's, that you absolutely positively can't alter the VIN in any way. This includes swapping the VIN over to a new cab.

Some DMV's will issue a new VIN sometimes when cabs are changed. You will have to ask how they do it.

Do some people swap VINs? Probably. It's safe to bet that they do it in their garage, and don't post such things on a public internet forum...

[palposity]

Gotcha. Thanks for the good info guys. I saw another build thread in the 73-87 forum where someone changed out the entire bottom half of their cab...maybe that is the route I should go as well.

[old Rusty C10]

legally you would need to provide the bill of sale for both trucks and get a new vin which ruins the truck for classic value through your state police of DMV depending where you live.. ive heard of people swapping out the lower part of the cab and its alot of work but its the only way to do what you want to do legally

[palposity]

Yeah...I think replacing the bottom half is in my future. I really liked what was done in this thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=291276

I hope I can do as good of a job as this guy did. I am a rookie at body/paint work though, but I am comfortable welding.

[68 TT]

I worked at a major collision shop for a while and we had a few where we swapped cabs onto a good chassis.

Legally we had to take them to the state patrol inspection lanes and they attached a new VIN plate to the cab with the chassis VIN number on it. It was a placard on the top of the dash with the donor vehicle VIN plate removed by the state patrol after the inspection.

I know you are not supposed to alter the VIN plate at all legally but I have seen situations similar to yours where someone had cut out a large area around the VIN plate and welded it into the donor vehicle.

I know there are several hidden VIN numbers all over the vehicle so a swap like that would turn up with mismatching VIN's if an inspector really looked at it but I guess you could swap all the hidden VIN's too or in your case just the ones on the cab.

[JohnC]

You could always pull the vin tag off and save it in a photo album with pics of the progress of the build. Then just use the newer cab. When it's all said and done you would have the better cab. People won't know the difference in the cabs, but at the same time you have the old VIN number there for memory sake in the album. You may even make a plate and put the vin plate on it and mount it on the dash, or somewhere like that.

[68 TT]

My dad was an auto theft detective for 27 years. I asked him about this and he said not to touch the VIN tag.

You need to be really careful dealing with VIN tags.

Altered VIN's & mismatched VIN's are a sign to the police that the vehicle or parts of the vehicle may be from a stolen rig.

Call the state patrol inspection lanes and tell them what you have and what you want to do. They will tell you what they expect to see and what you need to do to stay legal.

[palposity]

Thanks for all the input. In light of this I will not swap the VIN plate and will pursue doing the rust repair to the bottom end. Thank you so much!

[Jonboy]

Since you don't sound like you are ever going to get rid of the truck, I don't think an assigned VIN would kill the value to you. It is still the same truck, without killing yourself cutting out the whole floor. If you have a bill of sale for the replacement cab, it shouldn't be much of a hassle, and would save a ton if time.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Since you don't sound like you are ever going to get rid of the truck, I don't think an assigned VIN would kill the value to you. It is still the same truck, without killing yourself cutting out the whole floor. If you have a bill of sale for the replacement cab, it shouldn't be much of a hassle, and would save a ton if time.

I agree. Call the state patrol inspection lanes and see what you have to do legally.

You are going to do a whole lot of work putting those two cabs together just to save a VIN number on a cab.

It is still your old truck even if it has a different cab on it.