When does a truck loose it's original VIN identity?
 

At what point does a truck loose it's VIN tag identity. For instance, I started with a properly tagged and titled '72 GMC longbed, swapped the cab over to a '69 Chevy shortbed frame, bolted Chevy front sheet metal to it. I still have the VIN tag for the cab and the title matches the VIN tag, '72 GMC, but obviously the frame has '69 VIN #'s stamped into it. Is this anything to worry about here in Texas?

In Texas, No Idea, In 10-UH-C, No One Would Ever Know ;)

*PS- I would only do this on a vehicle I was going to keep

I think that would vary by state. I have never been anywhere in this country where any of them checked the frame ID, they used the visiable VIN. Some states don't even require titles on vehicles as old as ours. They know they are going to be a mismatch of parts. I can't speak of all states, but I think the only time the two macthing would come into play would be a court battle.

I second that. It varies from state to state. I don't believe that the DMV checks the frame tags. The most they would do is look at the frame to make sure that it's not rotted through.
Alot of states don't even require a title anymore on a vehicle that old. As long as the VIN clears on the cab you should be just fine.

Original Vin
 

Here in Nevada they check frame numbers. I know at least 4 guys that had to cut holes in the body so the inspector can see the frame numbers. This was not on trucks but they do check.

I'd never cut a hole in my car's body for some inspection unless they planned on replacing the sheet metal and repainting the whole car...

Up here in Alberta, Canada, they don't even look at the VIN unless you get your vehicle impounded.

:bowtie: (QUOTE) Here in Nevada they check frame numbers. I know at least 4 guys that had to cut holes in the body so the inspector can see the frame numbers. This was not on trucks but they do check. (QUOTE)
I LIVE IN CARSON CITY NEVADA, & THEY ONLY DO VIN. INSPECTIONS ON VEHICALS THAT CHANGE OWNERSHIP & ARE BROUGHT IN FROM OUT OF STATE & ARE REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NEVADA. I HAVE HAD VIN. INSPECTIONS ON 7 DIFFERENT VEHICALS, & THEY HAVE NEVER LOOKED FOR A VIN. # ANYWHERE BUT THE DOOR JAM. MY NEIGHBOR WORKS FOR THE DMV AS AN INSPECTOR, & I TALKED IT OVER WITH HER & SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY WOULD EVER DO ANYTHING DESTRUCTIVE (LIKE CUTTING A HOLE IN A CAR BODY TO FIND A VIN.#) IS IN A COURT BATTLE, OR A POLICE INVESTIGATION, & THEN THEY WOULD NEED A COURT ORDER. THEY CAN'T JUST CUT YOUR CAR UP WILLY-NILLY LOOKING FOR A FRAME VIN. :lol: :lol: :lol: JOHN

VIN inspection? Nobody's ever looked at the VIN plates on anything I've ever owned......so yep, varies from state to state.

Never had a VIN inspected either.

UMMM..... :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs:

When I got my C20 inspected the dude just looked at the VIN plate in the driver's side door jamb to verify the VIN number, he didn't look at the one stamped in the frame.

original vin
 

Well junkyardjohn you should come down here to Clark County because they really know how to give you a hard time. First of all I never said they cut a hole. They tell you where the numbers should be and they make you cut the hole and bring it back for reinspection so they can see the numbers.Usally the numbers are under the floor but on a pickup they are under the bed. If you don't they don't register it.There isn't one person in the inspection part of the DMV that has a clue as to what they are looking at or what they are doing. All the vehicles that had problems were out of state coming into Nevada but I have also heard of Nevada vehicles being given a hard time. It depends on what mood they are in and the age of the vehicle.

When I registerd my truck in Saskatchewan Canada all I had was a hand written bill of sale. The PO lost his old registration. I could have taken the old liscence plate in so they could run it on their data base but I had to grind it off the bumper. The vehicle had been parked for nearly 10 yrs. For some reason the VIN I gave them threw their computers for a loop and my gmc is now registerd as a chevy. The girl at the counter talking to the guy on the computer said if I wanted it registerd as GMC they would have to make up a new VIN and issue me a sticker or if I didn't have a problem we could just leav it that way. So my truck is now a chevy. I guess it didn't help that I had the VIN # written down wrong and had to go back home,, twice! lol. I was just relieved that they didn't make me run it thru an inspection, and got the hell out of there. I guess I won't be selling mine any time soon, or the next poor bugger may have a hell of a time.

Evidently those inspectors are on a power trip then. I dont see any state requiring someone to destroy their property to comply with vehicle registration for said vehile. Best way to combat those morons is to make them cite the specific state code that requires one to destroy their property to comply with their registration requests.

Here in my state I have never known them to look at the vin numbers unless they suspect theft or that it has parts of a stolen vehicle on it.

They love to look up vins on Harleys up here...they check all the numbers and locations before you can get theft insurance.

From what I was told in Texas the title goes with the body (cab) of the vehicle. I was told this by a DMV person about a truck I am cobbling togeather.

I do not know who you been talking to but they are laughing their Butts off as are we!!!!

I brought my Vehicles into Nevada through Clark County... The Inspection stations are not County controlled, they are State Controlled... That's why they are called State Inspection stations, and have State Patrol Officers doing the Inspection.
There is no vehicle made that a piece of Body has to be CUT to see the Frame VIN.... They do the search with Mirrors, They use a couple of them and align them just right to see the Numbers.

If you want to be told the truth from the Horses mouth, Go to the Inspection station and ask... It's on Sahara across the street from Gaudin Ford, Just down a little.. ( that's where my F-350 came from)

But to answer the question. I have not put something together from a different frame and Cab here in Nevada, But I did many of them in Washington State. Washington is classified as a Type 6 inspection State, THE TOUGHEST!! But if you have all of the documented paperwork it's not bad. They will issue a new title combining both Numbers..
I built a Chopper in the 80s, Piece by Piece, I had all of the documentation except a Notorized Bill of sale for the Motor, They kept the Bike for a few months, Then when I did get it back, I had to Bond it for the estimated value in case someone came back on it at some time within the next three years and claimed the Motor was stolen.. They gave me a title that said Home Built Vehicle, and the year that it was done in.. ( can't remember exactly) I have built a few trailers while here in Nevada, They are nothing to get titled as they were in Washington either...

Here in n.c. i have a 86 cab,90 454 motor,2002 dually rear,87 dana60 front rear,a flatbed off a 87 crew cab dually,a 83 front clip,and one hell of a front bumper, I forgot to say its a 80 suburban frame And titled as another 80 burb that donent match the frame. The title says 80 :gmc: 2500 truck

It seems technically here in VA if you combine major parts like a cab and frame then a reconstructed vehicle vin has to be obtained from the DMV and both the title for the cab and chassis will be made into a new title.

come on down to Louisiana, i have had at least 22 vehicles in the last 28 years and i've never had ANYONE look at a vin anywhere on the vehicle. heck, until about 5 years ago i could get my state inspection sticker dropped off at my house while i was at work. all i had to do was call the guy and give him the info over the phone.

This is what I'm told for so. dak. also. However I have never heard of the vin being checked. We do not have yearly inspections. If you go to where you get your licence plates, they should at least be able to tell you who to talk to.

I've had 3 out of state inspections done so far (here in Ohio) and none of them have ever attempted to look at the frame.

I have asked before and the legal thing is to save all of your receipts and apply for a home built vehicle. The problem with this is it then has to meet all emission requirements for the current year (2004).

To make a long story short, get them inspected before you tear them apart.

Isn't this what boyd coddington is getting in trouble for in California.

Ron, nobody said they were county run inspection stations. I know they are all state. You can laugh your butt off all you want but if they can't see the numbers with their little mirrors it's cut time. I don't have to go to the Sahara inspection and ask them because there isn't one person that knows what they are doing and you get a different answer from each person. I don't know when the last time was that you registered an out of state or rebuilt vehicle here but it's getting bad. My friend just had a run in with them and he owns an AC and Hot Rod business here and they told him and I quote " maybe you better find another line of work because we are not registering this car if we can't find the numbers. And I will show you 4 cars that had to have the floor cut so the so called inspectors at the Sahara station could see the numbers.

Vin numbers on 67-72 chevy trucks
 

On our pickups the frame vin numbers are ontop of front left frame rail and on left side of left frame rail under cab. I have never seen a 67-72 chevy 1/2 or 3/4 ton pickup with Vin numbers under bed.