Is swapping vin plates legit or not?

[Destructo]

Just curious, i'v wondered if swapping vin plates from another truck would be legal. I don't think it is, but just wanted to know.

Also another question, would it be a good idea to swap cabs with an older one on my 85? I was thinking about doing this so I could technically make the truck 25 years or older. Maybe swap on a 78 or ealier cab. Are they the same?

[lukecp]

Better call up the state on this one.....lisence office or department of motor vehciles, or whatever gov't agency handles those kinds of things in NC.
It is almost certinetly illegial, beign that it is a way to put a stolen truck back on the road with a different title.

I say pull it in the garage, shut the door, and swap them out (unless there is a legal way you can do it)

[Blue Beard]

Running a chop shop........?

Don't know about trucks, but the older cars had the vin on the frame as well.

I would say unless you have a construction title.......don't do it.

[onetoncrewcab]

I was going to do that once. I called the highway patrol up and asked them about it. They said if we EVER pull you over for something and we checked the serial numbers and find a discrepency, we will confiscate your truck. From what I remember, the state (South Dakota) issued me a new data plate for the truck. The HP came down and riveted the plate right under the original one on the door jamb. It seemed like a lot of hassle.

I really recommend checking with your state.

MJ

[Destructo]

I don't think the numbers are stamped anywhere else on these trucks, nowhere that i'v seen anyway and i'v been all over these things. I guess the better option would just be to swap cabs. Or just pass emissions :p I don't think it is legal, cause what was said about putting a stolen truck back on the road would be very true.

[mike reeh]

its definately illegal to just swap em yourself. that doesnt mean that I wouldnt, or dont plan to do it though! in california, my friend had it done legally and like someone said, the CHP does come out and put a new vin plate on the vehicle.

the VIN # is stamped on the frame on our trucks but I would be VERY VERY surprised if a peace officer ever took the time to find it and look at it for any reason.

This same friend of mine also switched vin plates on another truck and he custom made rivets to look like the factory ones (if you look, they are ground slightly to look sort of like a flower) and it looks FACTORY. it wasnt that much effort. IMO if you have good intentions, I would just do it. Im going to be doing it some day.. in fact as of right now, my frame doesnt match the cab VIN, BUT I legally own both titles (I used a couple of trucks to put one truck together)...

oh Im talking about 73-80 body style.. as most of you probably know, the vin was also on the dash at the base of the windshield in the 80's.... on the older trucks its only on the door jamb & stamped on the frame, so it makes it exceedingly easy to modify...

mike

[bigblock73]

OK, sort of on topic here...

Where can I get the proper rivets to re-attach my VIN plate on my '73??

I removed it prior to body work and need to re-mount it.

[bpmcgee]

I believe that our trucks DO have the VIN on the frame. I know for a fact that my '75 does. I think on the 67-72s it's in the drivers side frame rail, in the engine compartment area. It will be stamped into the frame, not on a plate.

I don't think that the VIN plate rivets are available -- they don't want people switching plates.

Brian

[Kybol]

Originally posted by bigblock73
OK, sort of on topic here...

Where can I get the proper rivets to re-attach my VIN plate on my '73??

I removed it prior to body work and need to re-mount it.

I remember seeing them for sale on a site. Dont know the site, or which forum I found the link, I do know they were pretty pricey for a rivet. Other than that I am no help

[Destructo]

Maybe if I own both the titles to the trucks both peices came from it wouldn't be a problem. Like I bought a cab and got a title with it and just changed the vin plates but still own both trucks it wouldn't be a problem.

[8t5Silverado]

What about just swapping frames...

From the posts on here, it sounds like my idea of putting a SWB frame under my LWB cab can't be done without a lot of trouble...

[rolson1039]

Its illegal
I bought a cab from an 81 and sat it on my 76 frame.When i bought that truck i had no title but i have a bill of sale. I removed the glove box sticker and i popped out the VIN plate and using the 76 dash pad noone can see what ive done . there is no other serial number on the cab itself so i just put the one out of my old 76 cab in its proper spot.
technically if you own both titles youre suppoused to show proof and have a state issued vin number issued.
we have a fellow board member who has a car like that with a state issued vin number and even tho its an older car ( 89) he cant get the manufacturer to honor the recalls on it because they cant verify the correct vin number. In NY they take out all the VIN numbers and just use the state issued one
I would just wo what ya gotta do with the vin numbers and not tell too many people and just do it. plenty of people d o it and unless you get caught with like fifty kilos of coke in the car or youre under suspicion for somehting bad noone is ever going to check the serial number out anywhere other than in the cab

[TOMMAY]

I don't know about all of our years,but mine has a partial vin stamped on the top of the frame rail on the pass side right next to the eng and the eng has a partial vin on the block in front of the pass side head.

Good Luck

Tom

[Destructo]

The engine isn't original, so if it has a partial vin then it doesn't match now either. I'll probably just end up sticking with what I have, unless I come accross a good deal on a whole nother cab.