new cab or repair old one

[71badblue]

So the cab on my 71 needs a lotta work. Needs inner cowl inner roof panel both rockers pass. Cab corner and pretty sure some cab supports. I found a cab rust free in primer been stored in a garage off the floor for 150 bucks...... one prob ..... he doesn't have the title. Which way should I go. How do I get a title or can I switch them and still use my title????????
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[Dova]

For $150 you can't beat a rust free cab. If i'm not mistaken you can take you vin plates off. But i'm sure someone else will chime in more knowledgeable at it.

[gerfunken]

How much is your time worth? By the time you get/make the appropriate patch panels, cut the rot out, clean it up, weld, grind, weld, grind, clean up you're going to end up with far more than $150 into it, especially if you take the time into account.

[leftybass209]

Just weigh out the cost and time vs originality. Can you purchase all the patch panels and foot labor for $150? Does the originality of the cab mean so much that you'd rather spend time welding? Answer either of those questions and you know what you need to do! VIN swapping is a very touchy business though.
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[67swb72klb]

buy the cab and switch the vin

[alsriv2]

I am sure you can legally switch the vin. Get with someone in your police dept or Motor vehicle place and find out the process. For $150 and some correct legal guidance the money would be well spent.

[mcbassin]

$150 for a rust free cab? I'd buy it today. It's a no brainer

[WIDESIDE72]

Worese case scenario, even if you had to apply for a new title for the cab, from the consition of your current can is, you would still be money ahead with the $150 cab.
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[54belair]

I promise you, even a shoddy repair of the nature youre talking about ill cost you much more than $150.

[RenoKeene]

Pretty easy to tell if the VIN plate has been swapped, impossible to tell if the whole jamb panel has been properly welded in (at the factory seams), and if it just happens to come with a VIN plate and title...well, what can ya do, your just fixing collision damage. Shame that new cab had been hit in the driver's door.
And you know your not allowed to REMOVE a VIN plate.
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[71badblue]

I guess I'm concerned about what to do with the new cab not having a title. Guess I could always use parts from it.
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[RenoKeene]

Use your cab, the one with the title, to FIX the new cab. Re-read my first post.
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[leftybass209]

Its just best to be honest with the DMV. I'm swapping a cab in California, and called highway patrol to verify I could do it. I said I don't want to swap the cab on and find its been stolen just to have the whole truck be impounded. I didn't have a title and they checked. They gave me the okay. Its just getting a new vin tag when it gets inspected. No big deal. It was a 71 long bed vin'd cab going on a 69 short bed.
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[alsriv2]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

Its just best to be honest with the DMV. I'm swapping a cab in California, and called highway patrol to verify I could do it. I said I don't want to swap the cab on and find its been stolen just to have the whole truck be impounded. I didn't have a title and they checked. They gave me the okay. Its just getting a new vin tag when it gets inspected. No big deal. It was a 71 long bed vin'd cab going on a 69 short bed.
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This^^^^^^!!!

[BigCountryx]

Buy the cab, worry about the details later. If its truly rust free, you can't go wrong.
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[jpmanyhearts]

I would say change the vin to the rust free cab pull your vin plates off and pop rivet them in place of the others and your done. but I would also ask questions about the other cab how long has he had it ect also in my state (Montana) you can log onto the dmv website and do a vin search it costs 5 bucks anyway my 2 cents lol

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

Pretty easy to tell if the VIN plate has been swapped, impossible to tell if the whole jamb panel has been properly welded in (at the factory seams),

Bingo!

[leftybass209]

I don't mean to offend anyone, but why keep giving advice about swapping vin plates? The original rivets are rosette rivets. They aren't legal to be in posession of, and are really hard to get a hold of. The DMV has measures in place to legally swap cabs in most all states AND retain a clean title. If the original VIN plate is so special that it needs to be kept, then that cab should be worth repairing the rust on. It's too easy to get a replacement title for a cab. Stop giving bad advice, it can cost someone all their hard work, money, and a huge headache.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Buy the cab (no brainer) worry about details later

Idk how to quote people, but 'insert quote here' of what renokeene said...

But if its not rusted in the cowl and around the windshield frame Id look into possibly fixing it my blue trucks frame is shot (rotted cowl,windshield area,rockers 4 floor supports corners inner rockers and kick pannels)

[nobolt]

if that rust free cab is in michigan you could PM me an address and i will go check it out for you. lol

[Daddy Brim]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

Use your cab, the one with the title, to FIX the new cab. Re-read my first post.
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X 2, It is agents the law to replace your vin. Do this.

[c10srule]

reread renokeenes reply, its easier to cut part of the jamb off that has your old vin tag with the title and weld that part of the jamb with the vin tag still riveted onto it to your new cab,
a lot less work than fixing your old, its not so easy hear in mo. to get a new title for vehicles that dont have them anymore