cutting frame + insurance

[dubie]

Alot of our fellow members have cut their long wheel based frames down to a shorty in the past. I want to know what kind of standards have to be followed for you to be able to insure such a modification. Do you have to have it done by a certified welding shop? or can you do it yourself?

I am looking at buying a 56 GMC Short fleetside and it has a Nova front clip welded into it. I am looking at cutting my spare 72 rolling chassis down to a shorty frame for this truck. Have you guys run into problems with getting insurance or passing any kind of gov't inspection?

[Perchjerker]

I'm sure you can get away with insurance by just not telling them about it.

[dubie]

In Canada tho, every vehicle must go through a Gov't safety inspection and pass it before you are allowed to insure it. Anyone else have this problem?

[dubie]

here are some pics of the front clip

[dubie]

This is a pic from above. You can see how it is plate welded together

[dubie]

side pic of the frames welded together
Orange is the original 56 frame
Blue are the plates
Green is the nove clip

[old Rusty C10]

call your equivalent of the Dept of Transportation , motor vehicle office and then call some other insurance companies and see what they all say

[sider68]

Spray undercoating over it and they won,t notice

[gonebad2]

Good thing there's not a strict government inspection in Nevada. That would take quite a few cars off the road. Currently only two counties, Washoe and Clark even have smog testing. A good friend of mine has built alot of early Ford streetrods over the years and never had any problems with registration or insurance. I just got off the phone with him asking what he does when he builds a kit car? He says the state issues a "homebuilt" title and assigns and rivets the vin to the frame at the local DMV. He said even on that there is no safety inspection. Are Nevada's law's leaner than other states? Sure looks like they're not as strict as Canada.

[1972C10]

I shortened my 72 and plated it inside. I havent had any problems down here a person can get the title changed like the tonnage or wheelbase so i may do that but i dont see why it would be a problem as long as it was done fairly right..

[StingRay]

Tim here in Saskatchewan if it's older than a certain age ( about 25 or 30 years) only certain basic requirements have to be met. Frame shortening, suspension swapping, etc have to be done to a reasonable standard but they don't do any specific inspection for it. Check with the Government dept in MB that regulates vehicle standards. Classic/hot rod stuff has alot of lattitude here for modifications. Here it's SGI/Highways and Transportation that regulate it and they actually set up a booth at Draggin's every year. They were real nice and easy to get along with.

[ronh72c10]

Dubie:

Call the Dept of Transportation before you do anything, I don't know what the rule is in Manitoba, but in Ontario (I was told by someone ) that any frame welding has to be done by a certified welder. The same guy also told me that in Quebec they won't register any car that has had any welding done on the frame.

Ron

[dubie]

I just called them and they said as long is an MPIC body man inspects the welds and approves it, there should be no problems with a safety. So it looks like everything should be good to go as soon as I have one of the body guys I know come have a look see

[sider68]

I did hear that the government was looking into banning some mods such as lifting your 4x4 as it was dangerous.They were even saying if you got into an accident with it,it would be your fault no matter what happened and you could be charged with something close to vehicular manslaughter if someone died.Think it had to do with a lawsuit down south.

[Blue Beard]

Usually a certified welder is needed because they make sure of full penetration of the weld for durability.....

[Gee_Emm]

Tim, if you need a "safety" talk to Shaun at Pegcitycruzin.ca

he has a guy.