I just went through a six-month ordeal, trying to transfer the title for my '52 PU from VA to PA. PA would not accept the VA title without verifying the VIN. When I tried to do that, discovered that the VIN plate on the door frame had been painted over; no luck trying to remove the paint without destroying the original number. So I appealed to the VA DMV. They sent a state police inspector out to verify the VIN. He said that some early trucks had the VIN stamped in the frame adjacent to the engine compartment. Don't know if mine did because the SBC motor mount was welded right where it should have been. But the guy kept searching and finally found a VIN stamped in the door frame below the metal plate. You needed a magnifying glass to read it. Once the number was located, I was able to provide the verification that PA needed. Bottom line is, even if the truck you are looking at was titled by engine number, you may be able to locate the VIN on the frame or driver's side door frame.
