This is all great feedback, and after the initial responses to my question, i got a little freaked out, and spent the last few hours tearing the garage, boxes of parts etc apart. The most troubling thing is, is that I can remember during the teardown, finding some cool old wrenches, old match-boxes etc, and I wanted to find a spot to protect everything including the VIN plate, that I just removed, so that in a few years, when the truck is done, I would know where to find it. I showed this post to my wife earlier since it was upset that I could not remember where I stored it. Low and behold, my wife remembered loaning me one of her tupperware containers to put this stuff in. Once she said that, I found it up on a shelf, tucked away, just where I put it 3 years ago. INside was my original old VIN plate, S/N plate, couple of old wrenches, that matchbox, and old scraper, and an old rasp file. Pphhhhheeewwww!!!!!! I feel like I just won the lotto. What a relief.
Now that I am back to square one, and found my tatered plates, they are in really lously condition. I can read everything, but just the thought of putting it back on after every last nut/bolt is restored or replaced, it just does not seem right. SO, I am taking the advise from Kook, I will call DMV this week and ask them is there an option or not. Enough said, thanks for the help.
