Hey guys first post. Excellent site!! I Have been using this site for the last few months getting tips and ideas while working on my project and i think have finally come across something i need help with. I will start off with the truck (53-55) was bought as a started project. The po built the chassis is the late 80's where he clipped the front with a '70 ltd. He ran it like this for a few years then sold it. A few years later he ended up buying the truck back. By now the body was all rusted so he tore it down and started again but with piecing different parts together. Somewhere in the process he purchased a cab without vin tags with intentions of buying some parts trucks. Now we both are having a really hard time finding parts trucks that arent the price of a restored truck. The only tag on the truck is the one on the firewall. An option i have is to get an assigned vin but then i have to bring the truck up to 2012 standards. Does anyone have an extra set of tags or ideas/options i have hit a brickwall? Please pm Thanks

 

The good news: Welcome to this site and the addiction.
The bad news: you are caught in a common catch 22 situation. The VIN plate on the inside of the glove box door on a 53-55 is not the legal ID for ownership in most jurisdicitions. Here in the states, each state has it's own rules, I don't know how it works in Canada. Here the legal ID is the number the factory stamped into the frame. Unfortunately if a PO clipped the frame (the number is usually on the top of the pass side frame rail between the front crossmember and the firewall) they likely cut off that section of the frame, leaving a vehicle that has no proof it actually exists and who owns it.
Contact whatever authority there that deals with vehicle titles and explain your situation to them. They likely have a procedure to deal with it, but don't assume, or listen to "buddy advice" find out from those that know your laws and how to work within them.
Worst case scenario would be you would need to find another frame that has proof of ownership, and swap over the rest of your truck to that frame. DON'T try to circumvent the rules! You could risk having the truck confiscated and being charged with title laundering or even possession of stolen goods.

 

To just add to the advice AXracer gave, I'd suggest making your inquiries as high up as possible. The clerk at the local office may not have experience with your situation and may give incorrect information. I had this experience enough times in California that I wouldn't even bother with the local DMV, I'd just call Sacramento.

 

The term 'Vin tag" is a misnomer, as there in no such thing. "VIN Plate" installed on the left (drivers) side corner of the dash, visible thru the windshield. Only has the VIN stamped on it.

First installed on 1968 Passenger Cars, but you won't find one on any truck until the 1980's.

1948/60 Trucks: The "Rating Plate" is located on the inside of the glovebox door, has the VIN and etc stamped on it, but...

No state DMV or Law Enforcement officer goes by VIN's on Rating Plates or VIN plates, as these can be changed.

Ditto 1961/79 "Warranty Plate" & 1970 thru today glued on "Safety Standards Certification Label" that also have the VIN and etc codes on them.

DMV's, polizei (and I would assume the RCMP) go by hidden VIN's stamped on frame rails. Can be hard to read due to rust and road grime. VIN will have astericks, one before and after the number: 1965 example: *F10DR639896*

If frame VIN has been ground off, lotsa luck...because you could be arrested and then have to prove in court that you didn't grind it off for the purpose of stealing it. Not pleasant!

Tags found on firewalls are referred to as BUCK tags, only used by assembly line workers, as the VIN, codes stamped on them match the original build sheet order.

Buck tags are worthless as teats on a mule for any other purpose.