I have a cab/hood/frontfenders off of a 52 and i need to find a junked out 52 that i can use the vin number for my cab.

 

I may be out to lunch on this topic but is that legal? I'm know it's only illegal if you get caught but it sounds like it can be pretty expensive.

 

I know in Utah if you dont have a title or vin and it's on an older vehicle they just make up a new vin# and have it stamped on a little tag that you are supposed to rivet to your firewall, give you your new title. and off you go.

Does not seem to much different to me? but your probably right about not being 100% legal. of course if you go and order one of those brand new chassis for our trucks and then swap the cab and body panels on to it your still going to use the original vin for the new chassis.

just my thoughts,

 

The VIN follows the chassis, not the body parts. What you need, Dale, is to find a truck or chassis with a title that you can use your good parts on, if that's your plan. There's nothing illegal with that, as long as all of the parts have been obtained legally. Where things get sticky is when people start falsifying records and documents, or altering numbers, etc.

 

As long as you can find a clear 52 title, you can have a 52 tag stamped.

I may have just a tag, but no title.

 

As I mentioned...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10470409

Having a title that doesn't match your frame isn't worth a whole lot, imho, since there's supposed to be a frame to go with it, and if there's paper, there's a frame, somewhere. Altering and/or changing/restamping numbers, especially those found on frames is a federal offense. There are procedures for obtaining correct and proper paperwork for vehicles, which vary from state to state. Yes, it is a highly complex and PITA process, but it is highly suggested that the rules are followed. None of these old trucks are worth a stint in the big house.

 

I know you're right; so how does a '50 on an S-10 chassis get titled?

 

In Missouri you would need the title for the 50 and the title for the s 10. There is a 25 dollar form you get and make a appointment with a highway partol station and a motor vehicle inspector will look at the two titles, checking the vin on the s10 frame with the s 10 title and the same with the 50. You will have to produce the 50 frame with correct vin number. Then he will fill out the form and the state will issue a vin number A vin plate will be made by the state. After it's made you return to the highway patrol they rivet the vin to the truck. Actually very simple, just have to do it correctly. In Missouri, if your vehicle is found to have a altered vin it is seized and you can kiss it good by. The people that Mickey Mouse a vin will be in trouble if their truck is ever stolen and recovered. In Missouri at least all recovered stolen vehicles are inspected for correct vin and the truck and frame better match. If not you better be able to produce a title for the cab vin and a title for the frame vin if they are different. Without the numbers matching your vehicle is not releases to you and will eventually be crushed. I have seen a couple of high dollar street rods seized after a theft recovery with messed up vins and they were crushed. one was a local guy and his car was worth 45,000 and lost it all cause he bought a "Historical Document" from a guy on HAMB and had no correct vin tag. Your state may vary.
I rebuild totaled wrecks for a living and deal with salvage titles and highway patrol inspections several times a month so am fairly familiar with Missouri law on titles.