Cab Swaps

[maxx442]

I have a question for those of you doing cab swaps. A lot of these threads involve putting a different cab on your trucks because of rust, options or whatever. So if you are building a K20 or K30 and you find a C10 cab in excellent condition and you put it on your titled K30 truck what do you do about registration when you are done? The VIN now says it is a (fill in the year) C10, not a K30. Around here all they look at is the dash VIN plate. I do know it is illegal to change the VIN plate to the new cab.

[mongocanfly]

I'm thinking you'll need a title for any donor cab

[andrewmp6]

Changing a vin is illegal,I would talk to your local dmv see how is the legal way to do what you want to do.Reason i say this a lot of any cars/trucks value is really the vin number on it.

[69chevytrucker]

i put my 1969 c10 body on my 1983 blazer frame and it is reg as a 1969 c10
it is kinda the same as putting 3/4 axles on a 1500 its still a 1500 just with beefier axle

[69chevytrucker]

darn pic always shows upside down

[mongocanfly]

I bet that things hard to drive upside down..gas mileage probably sucks..haha

[maxx442]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Changing a vin is illegal,I would talk to your local dmv see how is the legal way to do what you want to do.Reason i say this a lot of any cars/trucks value is really the vin number on it.

Exactly my point, sort of. If you are putting a 1/2 ton cab on a 1 ton chassis, the main value is in the chassis, not the cab. I have titles to both my builder and my parts truck. The parts truck ('86 K10) has a better optioned cab and is almost 100% rust free. If I put it on my '84 K30 frame though the dash VIN now matches the 1/2 ton, not the 1 ton. Not too concerned with resale value, just curious how you would retain your original K30 VIN. A lot of states would require a salvage title, even if it was never wrecked, which would severely diminish the value.

[mongocanfly]

Same as you said in your first post..the only thing they check here is the dash vin..you could put a combination of ford ,dodge, jeep, geo metro,1/2 ,3/4 ,1ton and whatever under your truck..only thing they look for is dash vin..I wouldn't be to concerned about the k30 vin if all your using is the running gear and frame..but ask first your state may be different.

[maxx442]

Where you run into issues is when it's time for emissions inspections, insurance claims, etc. Emissions are different for different classes of trucks. Pull in with a 1 ton truck registered as a 1/2 ton and you'll have issues because they don't match. If you title a 1 ton as a half ton, the insurance company insures it as a 1/2 and then you get in an accident and they won't pay to repair a 1 ton. See where I'm headed with this?

[maxx442]

Some states will issue a builder title. You build the truck, take it for a safety inspection and then they either assign a new VIN or put both VINs on the title. No diminished value and you are legal. Not all states do this though. It is either a clean title or a salvage title.

[mongocanfly]

Gotcha..not an issue here thank goodness

[cadillac_al]

Around here if you put an 85 cab on a 76 truck you still have a 76 truck. Trying to pass it off as an 85 wouldn't be ethical. I'm sure it can be done either way and DMV would be none the wiser. A cab is just another part you put on your truck. My friends have done it with no problems but having another VIN # on the cab is bound to make things a little complicated. I'm sure your local DMV has seen this issue before and knows what to do.