VIN for a "Mongrel"
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 221
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From: Greater Cleveland Ohio
VIN for a "Mongrel"
I am a newbie here, and I have been searching everywhere for the answers to this vexing problem, but now, time is of the essence.
I recently bought a Ford Truck from an out of state seller. The seller has been very cooperative, but both he and I have run into a dead end. The truck was titled to his dad who bought it from a pastor who received the truck as a "gift" from a now-deceased church member. This all happened in the same state. His dad, who is now terminal and unable to get around, transferred the title to me.
The seller has been frantic trying to find something for me to reconcile, and I know he has been a nervous wreck and the people who owned this vehicle, too. The guy's dad is dying of cancer, and this is obviously stressful. They are small town people, and they never had problems with this vehicle even when they filed an insurance claim when it was involved in an accident. Nothing suggests any kind of dishonesty, at least from the point when it was donated to the church.
The truck is, well I don't know what it is? It has a cab from a 1974 F-100 Ranger. It has a bed from a 1979 Ranger. It has a motor and trans from a 1970 Mustang, Cougar, Montego etc., (351C-2V), and it has a title that says its a 1975 F-150. This is because the seller lives across the street from a junkyard and parts are pretty easy for him to replace. From what he told me, it used to have a 360, and the cab and frame were supposed to be the original.
In order to have the title transferred, the title VIN must match somewhere to the vehicle. I have scoured the passenger side frame rail from trans crossmember to the radiator, and nothing is there. I crawled underneath and felt for a stamp on the pasenger side frame rail from trans crossmember to about mid-body. The frame is clean down there, but I can't feel a number "stamping." Nothing is anywhere on the firewall or dash cowl. I also checked on the bottom side of the cab and nothing.
The door VIN and colors looks like the entire cab came from the same unit. The VIN on the door is the only number I've found on the vehicle. I've called a local Ford dealership, and they told me that the VIN on the cab is the only place where the VIN can be found on the vehicle.
My 30-day tag is about to run out, and I sure would like to get this title transferred so I can get plates. What can I do? Have I covered all the bases?
I recently bought a Ford Truck from an out of state seller. The seller has been very cooperative, but both he and I have run into a dead end. The truck was titled to his dad who bought it from a pastor who received the truck as a "gift" from a now-deceased church member. This all happened in the same state. His dad, who is now terminal and unable to get around, transferred the title to me.
The seller has been frantic trying to find something for me to reconcile, and I know he has been a nervous wreck and the people who owned this vehicle, too. The guy's dad is dying of cancer, and this is obviously stressful. They are small town people, and they never had problems with this vehicle even when they filed an insurance claim when it was involved in an accident. Nothing suggests any kind of dishonesty, at least from the point when it was donated to the church.
The truck is, well I don't know what it is? It has a cab from a 1974 F-100 Ranger. It has a bed from a 1979 Ranger. It has a motor and trans from a 1970 Mustang, Cougar, Montego etc., (351C-2V), and it has a title that says its a 1975 F-150. This is because the seller lives across the street from a junkyard and parts are pretty easy for him to replace. From what he told me, it used to have a 360, and the cab and frame were supposed to be the original.
In order to have the title transferred, the title VIN must match somewhere to the vehicle. I have scoured the passenger side frame rail from trans crossmember to the radiator, and nothing is there. I crawled underneath and felt for a stamp on the pasenger side frame rail from trans crossmember to about mid-body. The frame is clean down there, but I can't feel a number "stamping." Nothing is anywhere on the firewall or dash cowl. I also checked on the bottom side of the cab and nothing.
The door VIN and colors looks like the entire cab came from the same unit. The VIN on the door is the only number I've found on the vehicle. I've called a local Ford dealership, and they told me that the VIN on the cab is the only place where the VIN can be found on the vehicle.
My 30-day tag is about to run out, and I sure would like to get this title transferred so I can get plates. What can I do? Have I covered all the bases?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
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From: SD
VIN for a "Mongrel"
What a dilema... 
The VIN should be stamped into the top of the passenger side frame rail somewhere between the firewall and the radiator support. Get a good light and wire brush and go to it...
Marty
The VIN should be stamped into the top of the passenger side frame rail somewhere between the firewall and the radiator support. Get a good light and wire brush and go to it...
Marty
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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VIN for a "Mongrel"
Unless they have been removed, There are 2 Buck tags on that truck.
One riveted to the top of the firewall.
The other underneath around where the cab meets the box.
Unless they have been ground off, the stampings on the frame rail are there.
Remember, they are only as deep from how hard the guy swings the hammer.
One riveted to the top of the firewall.
The other underneath around where the cab meets the box.
Unless they have been ground off, the stampings on the frame rail are there.
Remember, they are only as deep from how hard the guy swings the hammer.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 221
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From: Greater Cleveland Ohio
VIN for a "Mongrel"
On the first suggestion, when I said I "scoured" the rail from radiator to trans crossmember, I literally scoured it using a degreaser. I got down to the pure-d-iron with no gunk (looks really strange now with one rail all clean and the rest of the engine box grimy).
I will try to shine a bright light in there. How large or long is the stamp I am looking for? I will also try to look for the rail stamp under the cab with a mirror and a light.
The "Buck Tags" are they like dog tags? something like that was attached to the bed, and it identified the bed as a 1979 F-150, but both seller and me knew this isn't the original bed. But nothing is on the firewall, there doesn't even look like any place rivets would have been. And I checked the bottom of the cab also, but I didn't see any tags.
Is there a drawing or diagram that I could see where these locations actually are located (Firewall, Cab, Frame Rails). I am pretty sure about where I'm looking, but I would feel more comfortable if I had a diagram.
thanks for your help.
I will try to shine a bright light in there. How large or long is the stamp I am looking for? I will also try to look for the rail stamp under the cab with a mirror and a light.
The "Buck Tags" are they like dog tags? something like that was attached to the bed, and it identified the bed as a 1979 F-150, but both seller and me knew this isn't the original bed. But nothing is on the firewall, there doesn't even look like any place rivets would have been. And I checked the bottom of the cab also, but I didn't see any tags.
Is there a drawing or diagram that I could see where these locations actually are located (Firewall, Cab, Frame Rails). I am pretty sure about where I'm looking, but I would feel more comfortable if I had a diagram.
thanks for your help.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
VIN for a "Mongrel"
Your local State Troopers and Motor Vehicle dept can help get the truck titled properly. They are usually willing to work with you. Bring them all the paperwork and satements from the Church etc.
