1950 title question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

smittster · 12-03-2014, 02:25 AM

Bought an original truck in CA in 2007. The vin matched the engine. Engine was changed and I moved to OK. I immediately took the truck to a body shop where it still is located. I registered the truck in OK but they are holding the title until the tag agency can verify the vin. The problem is the CA vin was the engine number which they will not find. Has anyone had this problem and what fixed it?

mr48chev · 12-03-2014, 11:40 AM

If you have the old block with that number on it stashed away it isn't a big issue as you just show them the block and explain that it has had an engine change.

What you should have done after you swapped engines and then moved was to have the state you lived in then mark the title as "engine change". They then would have used either the number on the tag on the door post or assigned a new vin.

What you will have to do now is explain that it has had an engine change (quite obviously it has) and go from there. I'm not sure how many flaming hoops that will call for jumping through on your part though. It might even help if you have those old photos from when you pulled the old stock engine and put in the new engine back when.

dwcsr · 12-03-2014, 01:15 PM

I think to avoid getting bad info from the OK DMV I'd check out a title service like http://oklahomaautotitle.com/ they may charge you a fee but at least you would get the correct info. I have found over the years that each DMV office seems to interpret the law differently because they just don't do enough old titles to be up on the laws.

OrrieG · 12-03-2014, 02:57 PM

Here we go again. There are lots of "my title is screwed up" threads here but like dwscr says they all boil down to you going to the DMV (tag agency) and finding out exactly what they want. Start with a small local office, they might be more user friendly, but they might also kick you up the food chain to a central office that handles title issues. Any other information the rest of us from other regions provides is speculation on the local process.

Apachemike · 12-03-2014, 03:05 PM

And if your state does like Georgia there is a form where The Sheriff comes and verifies the vehicle VIN and information. I would go with as much information and records you can.

**MidLifer** · 12-03-2014, 04:14 PM

This seems to be pretty darn common issue - I have it with my truck and am wondering if I even want to go through the re-VIN process. How many guys just live with this vs deal with it?

63 & 64 Bowties · 12-03-2014, 04:45 PM

Just like OrrieG said, every state is different. So far nobody from OK has replied to this, so it's all guesses. I had the same issue with the 53 I had. Engine number on the title. It wasn't hard to get the VIN title, but I'm in VA. So, nothing I could tell you would help. You need to make a trip to your DMV.
Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.

Donaldo · 12-03-2014, 05:23 PM

Edit by Forum Staff
Only LEGAL suggestions please.
This thread is locked.

franken · 12-03-2014, 08:22 PM

I'd dig around the internet for OK specific info, particularly from the OK DMV.
Trouble is, whoever separated the engine from the truck separated the title from the vehicle.

12-03-2014, 02:25 AM	#1
smittster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 96	1950 title question Bought an original truck in CA in 2007. The vin matched the engine. Engine was changed and I moved to OK. I immediately took the truck to a body shop where it still is located. I registered the truck in OK but they are holding the title until the tag agency can verify the vin. The problem is the CA vin was the engine number which they will not find. Has anyone had this problem and what fixed it?

12-03-2014, 11:40 AM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,342	Re: 1950 title question If you have the old block with that number on it stashed away it isn't a big issue as you just show them the block and explain that it has had an engine change. What you should have done after you swapped engines and then moved was to have the state you lived in then mark the title as "engine change". They then would have used either the number on the tag on the door post or assigned a new vin. What you will have to do now is explain that it has had an engine change (quite obviously it has) and go from there. I'm not sure how many flaming hoops that will call for jumping through on your part though. It might even help if you have those old photos from when you pulled the old stock engine and put in the new engine back when. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

12-03-2014, 01:15 PM	#3
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: 1950 title question I think to avoid getting bad info from the OK DMV I'd check out a title service like http://oklahomaautotitle.com/ they may charge you a fee but at least you would get the correct info. I have found over the years that each DMV office seems to interpret the law differently because they just don't do enough old titles to be up on the laws.

12-03-2014, 02:57 PM	#4
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: 1950 title question Here we go again. There are lots of "my title is screwed up" threads here but like dwscr says they all boil down to you going to the DMV (tag agency) and finding out exactly what they want. Start with a small local office, they might be more user friendly, but they might also kick you up the food chain to a central office that handles title issues. Any other information the rest of us from other regions provides is speculation on the local process. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

12-03-2014, 03:05 PM	#5
Apachemike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austell, Georgia Posts: 162	Re: 1950 title question And if your state does like Georgia there is a form where The Sheriff comes and verifies the vehicle VIN and information. I would go with as much information and records you can.

12-03-2014, 04:14 PM	#6
MidLifer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South NJ Posts: 1,262	Re: 1950 title question This seems to be pretty darn common issue - I have it with my truck and am wondering if I even want to go through the re-VIN process. How many guys just live with this vs deal with it?

12-03-2014, 04:45 PM	#7
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: 1950 title question Just like OrrieG said, every state is different. So far nobody from OK has replied to this, so it's all guesses. I had the same issue with the 53 I had. Engine number on the title. It wasn't hard to get the VIN title, but I'm in VA. So, nothing I could tell you would help. You need to make a trip to your DMV. Good luck. Let us know how it turns out. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

12-03-2014, 05:23 PM	#8
Donaldo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Morro Bay, California Posts: 447	Re: 1950 title question Edit by Forum Staff Only LEGAL suggestions please. This thread is locked. __________________ Thanks, Don http://www.donsbirds.com/pick-up Last edited by 63 & 64 Bowties; 12-03-2014 at 11:13 PM. Reason: Illegal suggestion.

12-03-2014, 08:22 PM	#9
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,057	Re: 1950 title question I'd dig around the internet for OK specific info, particularly from the OK DMV. Trouble is, whoever separated the engine from the truck separated the title from the vehicle.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.