The rules with frame VIN numbers

[EB70]

Well for one thing, we are not talking about a 2K Jeep from a field here. If it ends up being a typical 40-60K EB when done I would want to have everything 100% correct. Think about down the road. It is sold to an out of state buyer and they have an inspection and something comes up. You could be in a spot and with that kind of money you probably want all your ducks in a row.

I would start at the state level and go from there. They have to have a process and I would want something in writing.

 

[ngsd]

The laws are very clear and every time I post against this, I get nothing but grief online from those that feel it is OK. The fact is that most people that swap or restamp VINS would NEVER disclose it. I wonder why? Yes, I am one of the whiners that hates this practice. DMV will give you a reassigned VIN the right way but nobody want to lose the vlaue that comes with the VIN loss so they would rather justify breaking the laws.

 

[roundhouse]

The laws are very clear and every time I post against this, I get nothing but grief online from those that feel it is OK. The fact is that most people that swap or restamp VINS would NEVER disclose it. I wonder why? Yes, I am one of the whiners that hates this practice. DMV will give you a reassigned VIN the right way but nobody want to lose the vlaue that comes with the VIN loss so they would rather justify breaking the laws.

The laws are very clear but they are also different in each state

You can’t remove the VIN plate but you CAN cut the metal around the VIN tag and re weld that metal into a new replacement body etc

It’s different in each state but I’ve seen some folks do it on the tv shows , legally , in whatever state they are in .

Saw an episode of FantomWorks where they replaced the entire body on a 57 Chevy and they discussed it with the DMV and they cut out the metal around the VIN and welded it into the new replacement body , so they didn’t actually touch the rivets or the tag .

And they broadcast it on the tv show so apparently what they did was legal in their state

 

[ngsd]

I think if people really WANTED to know the truth they would take it to DMV. They most likely will not like the answer so they justify what they are doing as legit. Transfering a vin whether you cut the metal around it or not would never fly if you disclosed what you did. Federal laws cover that.

 

[Todd66]

Just curious, If your building a new bronco from an old bronco you can't put the vin from the old bronco to the new restored bronco? I got a new frame coming for my 76 and everything else is new except the hood. No go?

 

[blade]

Just curious, If your building a new bronco from an old bronco you can't put the vin from the old bronco to the new restored bronco? I got a new frame coming for my 76 and everything else is new except the hood. No go?

After many years of reading about this subject on this forum I think it should be safe to replace the entire vehicle as long as you leave the right side frame rail in place and have made sure that the numbers stamped there match your title. Just kidding, I have no idea,
Check with your local DMV or a specialist on titles to be sure. I had a Bronco with a lost title, I asked around and found a local private DMV that specialized in title problems to help me get a bonded title. It was a little bit of a process but worth it.

 

[Todd66]

After many years of reading about this subject on this forum I think it should be safe to replace the entire vehicle as long as you leave the right side frame rail in place and have made sure that the numbers stamped there match your title. Just kidding, I have no idea,
Check with your local DMV or a specialist on titles to be sure. I had a Bronco with a lost title, I asked around and found a local private DMV that specialized in title problems to help me get a bonded title. It was a little bit of a process but worth it.

I've done the bonded title before not much of a big deal.

 

[PCB 4x4]

Let's talk about frame VIN rules. Although how much you can get away with varies state to state VIN number rules are federal laws. I'm NOT suggesting anybody do anything illegal. Instead I'm gathering information on what is ok and what is not and starting a discussion that.

I have a 71 bronco. The frame VIN is there but it's pretty hard to read and the frame is destroyed anyway. About half of it is either rotted through or you can poke it through with a screwdriver. The glovebox VIN is there and in my state that is all you need for a title which I have. But of course I'd like to have both VINs as it will help with resale someday down the road. So what's my best course of action to assure I have a legable vin number on my frame?

I believe I read on a previous forum it's illegal to cut out a section of the frame and weld the section with the old VIN in place. Makes sense, could spell lots of defrauding the system even when your intention is good. But then you get into a tough grey area on the difference between "repairing" and replacing." Is there actually law that spells out the difference between repair and replace? Like if you repair 51% of the frame it's considered a new frame? Is it worth any attempt to fix it anyway if I already have a title and glovebox VIN? Is there another hidden secret location for a VIN number on the frame inside a frame rail besides the well know spot just behind the passenger front wheel?

I'm going to assume stamping new numbers on a new frame would be completely illegal? I'm guessing that probably means restamping a VIN that is already there to reinforce numbers that are already there is illegal as well? Anybody know what size stamps ford used anyway? I have stamped a VIN number once before on an old jeep under the advice of the state police that had to do a VIN inspection on it. When they couldn't find it they send me a state issued VIN metal sticker like they put on the trailers. Then they suggest I stamp it in place myself in the same number at the spot they are usually found on the jeeps. But this was after they determined the frame had no readable VIN number.

I use to stamp all the Mustang left front aprons all the time when we replaced the panel. Had a jig setup to duplicate thr vin #. Customer's had to send us a copy of their title first