question about blazer bedside install
 

i did a search and did not find the answer to this-

when replacing the bedside on a blazer drivers side, the VIN plate is mounted to the bedside. do people swap plates with the new side? is this all legal? the rivets look different from normal ones.

any info?

I would NOT swap the VIN plate. I'd cut around it and weld it into the new panel. Although it's illegal, the real issue is what will happen when it comes time to SELL the vehicle and you don't have the proper rivets.

Brian

swap the vin, member bisquik65 sells the rosebud rivets you need to attach it.

GO to your DMV (or BMV depending on your state) and ask them the proper procedure for this. They should be able to tell you how to legally do this.

There are lots of not so legal ways to do this, but I had rather be sure.

Good luck, Rg

:agree: The easiest way by far to do it :metal:

that sounds great on the rivets. i will prob. do that, but check with the dmv also. thanks a bunch!

VIN Plate
 

Be careful of the questions you ask, they might just hang you if you do the rivet thing. I ask a question once, and then couldn't register the vehicle because the DMV person thought she remembered me and decided I was lying. I ended up going through hell to get it done because I had to overcome the perception of wrongdoing. The rivets work and if you do not give them a reason to be suspicious there will not be an issue. Harmless questions can lead them to think, and that is dangerous with any government official!

Mike

Why not just replace the bedside and leave the door pillar in place? If the door pillar is in good condition that is what I would do... WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

Having worked at a dealership and swapped complete dashes out of new cars with the VIN plate riveted on the dash. It is perfectly legal to swap the vin plate and use the original style rivets. The VIN plate goes with the vehicle not with the parts.

the door pillar is rusted bad, above the vin plate and below there are big holes.

i have a new passenger side bed complete and i am still looking for a drivers side complete just in case anyone has one laying around???

thanks for all the tips on this!

The rose bud rivets use/need a different kind of tool to install them.

If you look close, you'll notice that the inner stud is not there like on a standard rivet.
Some folks at DMV might pick up on that. (might)

Another option: very carefully grind off the rose buds from the back side but leave the front portion intact. (be carefull here)
Then use a very thin/permanent glue and adhere it to the new pillar.
When done correctly there's no way to tell its been changed.

Your on your own, good luck.
I'd still check with the local authorities.

smbrouss70 is correct that it is done in collision purposes all of the time. The vin goes with the vehicle, not the part. If that was the case those parts would not be legal for sale.

Just a caution--not wanting to challenge Wes here but---a quarter panel for a blazer from GM comes either complete with B pillar attached or as a skin. You really don't want to take apart a B pillar as the skin is actually welded to the pillar bracket. It is a mess to rebuild if you need to open up or weld back. Keep it whole and swap it out as a bedside. If careful, you can actually work the old rosebud rivets loose or just buy new ones and swap out the vin plate.

thanks again for all the info!