I'm hoping someone here may know some info when doing car/truck restorations that I'm not sure how to handle it.
I'm getting ready to swap cabs on my 1985 f350 regular cab to a 1986 f250 extended cab.
This is not a problem to do at all but my delicate is how to handle the Vin numbers. If I just switch the cabs the Vin on the dash will not be correct to the truck or the registration which could lead to major dealings at a later date.
Should I pull the dash and do some cutting and welding to attach the Vin from the old cab? If so that Vin comes back to a regular cab and the replacement is an extended cab which could also throw red flags.
I don't have a title for the extended cab so registering it is out as well.
​​well.I know each state is probly different but if someone has delt with this it could help me with a starting point.
I know I can't be the first person to change cabs on a truck so there must be an answer for me somewhere.

 

Well you have a few issues the first is the extended will not fit on a regular cab frame so I don't know how you are going to get around that?

Do you have a bill of sale for the cab with the VIN on it? I hope so as that can help a whole lot.
I would ask this question at the DMV but don't say anything about cutting and swapping VIN'S let them tell you how it has to be done.
Dave ----

 

The extended cab will fit. I have a flatbed on it and I'm going to cut approx 2 feet off the front of it. From there it will set right on and I only need to add 2 cab mounts towards the back of the cab. My entire wire harness is custom made and will be simple to switch and I have completely changed all my guages so all that will transfer leaving no trace of the ford anything in the dash except the heat and air.
I've measured it all out and it really is not a difficult job that will probly only take 2 days if I have a good routine. I planned ahead and when I made my wire harness and such everything is designed to quickly unplug and replace.

 

Better check the frame behind the cab on both trucks as it up turns.
so the extended cab will hit the frame before the rear mount will.
Dave ----

 

Couple of options where I live for the title problem;

You can go to the DMV and request to get the title for the new cab. They will send a registered letter to the last owner, and they have 30 days to respond. This works best if you have a mechanic friend who can put a mechanics lean on the cab. There is risk, if the last owner of the truck wants it back, they may fight to get it back. If it's just the cab though, I doubt it. Then the DMV can issue you a new title in your name. You can put the cab on the other frame, and now you have a new truck, just transfer the tags and pay the fees.

You can get a bill of sale for the extended cab, and then take your title in for the old truck, they will come out and inspect it when it's finished and issue you a new VIN. This will not be a Ford VIN but a reconstructed vehicle VIN, and will have to be riveted to the truck somewhere.

 

Can't help with any of the physical aspects of swapping cabs. But I would caution you about VIN tags and possible registration issues.

Years ago, a good friend bought an early 90s truck that had the cab replaced with another cab from the same model year. It was professionally done by a body shop, and the seller was completely upfront about it. When he tried to register it, $#!+ hit the fan. A VIN inspection was required (WA state) and they saw non-factory rivets on the tag. (They kept it registered by the chassis, not the donor cab)

At first the DMV officials weren't going to let him register it at all. This dragged on for several months. Finally they agreed to give it a special state-issued VIN. He had to hire a mobile glass service to remove the windshield in the officials' presence. They removed the existing tag and affixed their own. It was quite the nightmare for my friend.

So just something to consider. Even if not an issue right now, it could be in the future if you move, are involved in an accident, the truck gets stolen, etc.

 

Down the rabbit hole again.

Every jurisdiction is different, but federal law allows the removal and reinstallation of the VIN plate for purposes of repair. "Correct" rivets can be a thing, but it's not specified in the Criminal Code.

Best option is always to use the same cab or public VIN as your chassis, but that VIN carries a wealth of information as to the configuration of the truck and changing from a regular to extended cab becomes something much more than a simple repair. Using the VIN from either truck in your situation could expose you to a very serious criminal code offense. Only option here is to use an assigned VIN. Good advice in all the preceding posts.

 

I can't speak for other locales; but, this is how we always handle cab swaps.

First, don't tell DMV anything; keep your mouth shut about it.

You will probably have to remove the windshield.

Carefully cut the funny-looking rivets or just drill them out.

Swap the VIN numbers under the windshield.

If you cut the heads off the funny-looking rivets, just glue the plate down and then glue on the rivet heads.

If you use regular rivets, nobody will probably ever notice; but, with a little file work, you can make them look more like the originals.

You will also have to swap the metal plate that is in the door jamb; the procedure is the same except a lot easier access.

Don't get the plates mixed up and put the wrong ones back on.

As old as these trucks are, nobody is going to look too closely anyway; and, if you go seeking advice from DMV, you are only going to open yourself a big can of worms and probably then cause yourself many more problems than if you just made the switch and kept it to yourself.

If anyone ever questions it, and I doubt anyone ever will, just tell them it was like that when you bought it and never mention the other cab.

 

If your wife gets mad at you and is getting ready for a divorce, she can put your favorite truck that you have spent thousands of dollars restoring on marketplace for $500. The guy who buys it can use the method in the previous post to clean the vin up and have himself a nice truck. Correct?

Or some guy gets behind on his bills, has this nice old truck that he used as collateral for some other toy he bought, decides to sell it to get some cash. Of course he sells it cheap since the bank has a lien on it, he "lost" the title. Then he defaults on his other loan, the bank comes to get the truck it's nowhere in sight. Whoever bought the truck tries to get a title for it, it has been reported stolen by the bank, by by truck. Unless he did the plate swap and he is in the clear correct?

See how something so innocent can turn ugly very quickly?