Looking for a previous owner, frame and roll cage

[dmoses42]

I don't know where to post this, so I'm putting it here for now. It's a long shot anyway. Many, many years ago (It was either 2002, 2007 or 2009, I'm thinking 2007 but not certain), I bought a frame, glove box door, title, 6 point roll cage, top loader 4 speed knock off (3 speed overdrive), and transfer case from someone in Virginia. I was overseas when I bought it, and had friends in the transport business pick it up for me. When I got back, everything was as advertised, then it sat at my dad's house for a long time, and then a while back I went to check on it and someone had stolen the transmission and transfer case. Upset of course. Now, through all my military moves and such, I can't find the title or glove box door but I want to build a Bronco on this frame. I'm hoping the guy I bought it from is on here and can help me out. The frame is a '77 and it had a fiberglass body on it before I got it. It also came with the original 9" axle housing and axles, no 3rd member, and no front axle. I bought it on Ebay, and if I remember correctly, the ad was just for the transmission and transfer case, and when I asked if he had anything else he wanted to sell, I got all the other stuff because he was building an offroad buggy or something. Like I said, this is a long shot. If not, I'll just build a woods buggy out of it, I've already got everything to make a roller out of it except a transfer case, crossmember (bastards that stole the transmission and transfer case took that too), and drive shafts. I'd really like to build this into a functional, legally driveable vehicle though. Let me know if this needs to be in a different section of the forum, or the admins can move it for me. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

 

[ared77]

Thanks for your military service and best of luck finding the Bronco info.

 

[DirtDonk]

Hey dmoses, long time no see here!
I think this is the right place to put this. Get some eyes on it.

But I also thing you have everything you need. The frame...
The frame has the actual VIN on it and that's what officials are looking for. The "warranty plate" on the glovebox door is replaceable through Marti Auto and must match the frame VIN.
The only issues most likely to cause headaches and heartburn would be either if the vehicle had been stolen originally, or the thief has already registered a vehicle with that VIN from the glovebox tag (warranty plate).
The good news though is that if that's the case, then you (and law enforcement) would know where the perps lived and that the vehicle they registered is not legit.

Assuming it's them and not some other poor unsuspecting buyer that bought the "title" with the glovebox.
You can probably do a DMV search through a licensed titling company that is independent of, but works with, the various DMV and, when needed, law enforcement in the different states.

Hopefully someone here knows about the transaction.
I'm not really sure it's as simple as I laid out above, but it might be. Others here will know.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[dmoses42]

I'm not terribly concerned about the glove box door, as you said I can get a new warranty plate from Marti. The title is the issue. I thought about a title place, but I don't know of any in Georgia, and couldn't really find one on the internet.

 

[bax]

I got a crossmember you can have. I can bring it to SC.

 

[sprdv1]

Thanks for your military service and best of luck finding the Bronco info.

X2.. it's somewhere just got to take the time right