Let's hope so... It is/was a case of buyer beware IMO. The OP apparently didn't know the differences between various F-series models and how they should be configured. That's a major fail in my opinion.

In the end, the OP needs to do more homework and his state and situation. Most DMVs and DOTs don't require a VIN verification for a typical private party transaction...in CA, specially constructed, reconstructed, and salvage vehicles do require an inspection. Otherwise it's give them your money with a clean title and it's good to go. The VIN on the title needs to match the registration and physically on the vehicle. I don't know how Illinois cops do a traffic stop but I don't see a cop running a frame VIN under typical circumstances.

Furthermore, the transaction has been completed and it is a private transaction and therefore a civil matter which can be addressed by the courts if the OP decides to take legal action. That is unless there is substantial evidence can be presented to the police that it is indeed stolen property. In that case, it can become a criminal matter. Is it a "can of worms" the OP wants to open? That's why I stated it may not be a significant issue.

To follow up on your earlier post, I don't hear of many guys in here who undertake a cab swap "doing it right", as you stated, by moving the data plate. Maybe there are.. and if there are they sure as heck don't mention it.

Technically, it's illegal to tamper with the VIN plate... that's why they are riveted on and why repro plate makers require you to send them your plate before making a new one and sending back the new plate with the correct rivets. Would you trust a vehicle if it had the data plate secured with sheetmetal screws? ... Yeah, I didn't think so.

 

I'm not even going to respond to anything you posted other than what I underlined. Your opinion and my opinion are completely different and I'm done repeating myself.

Some guys are just a little smarter than others.

Technically it is illegal to speed to.

There is only 1 company that reproduces those tags that I know of, Marti. I had them make me a new tag for the 350, never once did they request my old one and I had to buy the rivets, they weren't supplied with the tag.



No, no I wouldn't. I wouldn't even buy one with different VIN numbers on the door/frame.

 

If i get pulled over, and the cop has enough reason to Google where the frame VIN is, then go to his trunk and get out his lacquer thinner, some wire brushes, a jack, lug wrench, and whatever is necessary to see the number, im going to assume that i did something way more that a traffic violation.
The point of having the Vins match makes sense, but the "getting pulled over reason" obscures it a bit.

It DOES sound a bit fishy though as the original seller said that he swapped in the 4x4/400 blah blah, but maybe only the door was swapped? Here in California, you would swap the door maybe if you had fines or late registration fees maybe a salvaged title and had a clean title on the door truck. Another reason is if you found a Presmog donor door and put it on a Smog year truck.

Easiest way is just swap door VINs and accererate the rust on the rivets...

 

You're correct, it is illegal to tamper with a VIN plate but the door mounted plate on the F series isn't legally a VIN plate. It's mounted on an easily removable part of the vehicle so Ford calls it a "warranty plate".
To be a legal VIN plate it must be attached to a permanent part of the vehicle. If it was riveted to the door jamb instead of the door, the it could be called a VIN plate.
When I had my door plate reproduced by Marti, it was all done by E-mail. I did send a photo of the plate but that was so there wouldn't be any mistakes made when they made the new one. It wasn't something that was required. I still have the old one....it's still attached to the old door.

 

Don't be silly, everyone knows cops don't carry lacquer thinner.

In all seriousness though you wouldn't have a problem buying a truck like the OP bought?

The rivets don't rust, they are aluminum.

 

I'm done repeating myself too.

No, I wouldn't have any issue buying a cross-swapped truck which is, in fact, exactly what I did.

Your results may vary.

Respectfully, moving on.................

 

When it comes to these matters if you can make it past the initial registration then there usually won't be a problem. Ignorance is bliss.

 

I am waiting for the OP to find the chassis vin to see what he has. It wouldn't hurt for the op to try and track down the title to the frame. If he can find the owner of that, than it's an apply for lost title and go from there. Get a new warranty plate and sjamb sticker to match and go from there.

 

I never checked my vin or warranty plate when i bought my truck, lol. The warranty plate was primered over until about 2 weeks ago. But i spent $1k, if i was spending more i would go through it better