Manipulating Emissions laws
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Elder User
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From: So. California
Manipulating Emissions laws
I understand that the vin tags are always in the door post and the date of manufacture is deteminant of Smog exemption. I have conepmlated over as many buget 4x4 setups as I can think of but today I have the best one yet.
'78/'79 Bronco Frame,
Dana 60s $330+ reapirs at local junk yard
Np 435 tranny $135 at local junk yard
Np 205 t-case $50 at my local junk yard
custom d-shafts with U-joints, yokes $750
'70 or so Ford truck cab with rear wall removed to match up to Bronco rear bed of tub. Use the older ford truck front clip t look like the year of manufacture.
How much of the orignial truck do you actually need to be that year of truck?
I wonder how angry the inspectors will be when it comes time for registrain in California.
'78/'79 Bronco Frame,
Dana 60s $330+ reapirs at local junk yard
Np 435 tranny $135 at local junk yard
Np 205 t-case $50 at my local junk yard
custom d-shafts with U-joints, yokes $750
'70 or so Ford truck cab with rear wall removed to match up to Bronco rear bed of tub. Use the older ford truck front clip t look like the year of manufacture.
How much of the orignial truck do you actually need to be that year of truck?
I wonder how angry the inspectors will be when it comes time for registrain in California.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Legally, the vehicle's year is the year of the frame and nothing else.
A decent inspector will know that the FSB wasn't born until 1978 on paper and you will be screwed right there, regardless of what the truck looks like.
If you can replace the VIN tags everywhere on the truck with the ones from the old pickup, AND you get a dumb inspector, then you might be OK.
IMO, you are asking for trouble from the cops. Your title/vehicle combination is going to raise a few eyebrows, especially if you get pulled over.
Even if you were to take a 1973 frame and shorten it to fit the FSB body, it's still going to take some explaining.
A decent inspector will know that the FSB wasn't born until 1978 on paper and you will be screwed right there, regardless of what the truck looks like.
If you can replace the VIN tags everywhere on the truck with the ones from the old pickup, AND you get a dumb inspector, then you might be OK.
IMO, you are asking for trouble from the cops. Your title/vehicle combination is going to raise a few eyebrows, especially if you get pulled over.
Even if you were to take a 1973 frame and shorten it to fit the FSB body, it's still going to take some explaining.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
Andym's got it right. The frame is the vehicle as far as DOT is concerned. What you do to it after that doesn't matter to them unless you remove something that was required by law in the year of manufacture of the frame of the vehicle. That's why its much easier to get an older vehicle past inspection even if it has had a newer drivetrain installed because the emissions laws only got more stringent over time and so a newer setup in an older vehicle will pass more often than the other way around. You can drop the body from a '56 T-bird onto a modern day chassis and even though it looks like a 56 T-bird, the inspection criteria will hold for the chassis underneath.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
The VIN is stamped into the frame, and on my '74highboy, it was in the passenger side frame rail right behind the tire somewhere.
They know where they are. Worse, get pulled over and get your VINs checked by the trooper. I'm sure it'll be impounded until they figure out if anything's stolen.
The best thing to do is use a '73-'77 frame AND cab from an F-series, shorten it, put the bronco rear part on it, and call it a day. Leave the badges saying F250 or whatever, it'll be easier to explain. Find the VIN # on the frame, and if the inspector has any problems with it, point to the VIN, it matches the one on the door, the reg, etc. etc.
They know where they are. Worse, get pulled over and get your VINs checked by the trooper. I'm sure it'll be impounded until they figure out if anything's stolen.
The best thing to do is use a '73-'77 frame AND cab from an F-series, shorten it, put the bronco rear part on it, and call it a day. Leave the badges saying F250 or whatever, it'll be easier to explain. Find the VIN # on the frame, and if the inspector has any problems with it, point to the VIN, it matches the one on the door, the reg, etc. etc.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
There is a "1965 Ford Bronco" that I personally have seen and spoken with the owner. Now everyone knows there is no such animal. Its a 65 shortbed that has been shortened even further and major bodywork done to make it look a lot like a FSB would have looked in 1965. Its registered as a 65 1/2 ton because thats what it is according to the VIN on the frame. Its got early Bronco insignia all over it and everything else but the registration is done in accordance with the vin stamped into the frame. He has never had anyone make any issue over it. Because he registered it as it should be.
Last edited by greystreak92; Apr 22, 2006 at 02:23 PM.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by greystreak92
There is a "1965 Ford Bronco" that I personally have seen and spoken with the owner. Now everyone knows there is no such animal. Its a 65 shortbed that has been shortened even further and major bodywork done to make it look a lot like a FSB would have looked in 1965. Its registered as a 65 1/2 ton because thats what it is according to the VIN on the frame. Its got early Bronco insignia all over it and everything else but the registration is done in accordance with the vin stamped into the frame. He has never had anyone make any issue over it. Because he registered it as it should be.
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Lead Driver
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From: Gateway to the West
Probably, the guy spared no expense putting the rig together. He had a custom tonneau cover made for it but not a "top" so to speak but that was "in the works" a few years back. havent' seen him since but he's from the NC area if I recall correctly because he hadn't travelled far to get to Tellico Off-Road Park.
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From: So. California
I found a $1800 Bronco 1967. I will keep this project we discussed for futrue ambitions. Thanks for your great input. I was about to do this but I do not have any; way to lift the bodys and beds of trucks at the moment.
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