The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Title Question

I'm thinking of doing a frame swap for my 54 5window to a S-10 frame. If I buy the entire S-10 with a clear title, them move the Vin over to just the body and set the body on the S-10 Frame, can this work with the title? I guess what I really want to know is does the title belong to the body, frame, or engine?

thanks,

To the best of my knowledge the title is issued on the body VIN.Thats the no.I would use.

Personally, I would talk to your local DMV folks rather than getting opinions here. Every state probably has somewhat different rules.

Do you have a clean title to the 54? If so, the DMV doesn't care what you do to that vehicle; new engine, replace half the frame with an IFS, or even a different frame. As far as the DMV is concerned the 54 is still the same vehicle with the same title.

When you say you are going to "move the Vin over to just the body" what exactly do you mean? If you mean you want to remove the vin tag from the S-10, I'd reconsider. That is a felony in most places and will really cause a problem with the 54's title.

Jeff is right. In Texas you are going to dig a deep hole for yourself if you try to move the VIN from the S-10 vehicle to what most will still consider a 54 truck, including TxDOT. Take what you want from the S-10 and when your finished, sell or or give what's left of the S-10 to a wrecking yard WITH the title to the S-10. Your 54 - 5 window will remain a 54 - 5 window. If you ever sell it, just tell the buyer it has an S-10 frame under it. That's it!

Joe

You will need to get an assigned number for the '54 in the state of Texas.

Your '54 was originally titled by engine number. Chapter 25 I of the TxDOT Motor Vehicle Title Manual states:

It also goes on to say if a motor without a motor number, such as the chevy motor you want to install, is installed in a vehicle which requires a motor number, an assigned number must be obtained from the department. (refer to chapter 13)

I'm not going to type it all here. What you need to do is go to your local tag office and get all the required forms.

Joe: Hurst, Texas?
In a just world, the high school football team would ge the Hurst Shifters. Is it?

That's a very good point, Cletis.

My truck is titled by a motor number of a motor that wasn't even in the truck when I bought it. I have considered doing what you suggest, but have decided that many other things may come into play that could cause far reaching problems - like is the truck I have really the truck that goes with the title I have, etc. I'm still working on it and, just as word of caution, do all of your "homework" before you embark on this road because it could end up in a BAD spot!!

If I was in your spot and if my engine number is the number on your title, I would change the title to reflect the VIN, like it should be, before I ever started to change the engine out in the truck or before I made any major changes to the truck. With the original engine in the truck, which could bear the number on the title, I think you could have a much easier time of getting the title changed to reflect the VIN than if you had a newer engine or different engine in the truck.

Just my 2 sense!

Joe

when I have to get a state issued title for an old treasure that has no title the state does a search then a DOT inspector checks vin and looks at frame for correct numbers on the frame so you should get info from your state DMV as what to do to stay legal..doc

Everybody's right... Last three states I've copped in consider altering a VIN a felony, so get with your DMV for sure. Some states let you do what you want to do, but it's usually through their state patrol and lots and lots of documentation and research. Keep yourself out of trouble and DON'T mess with the VIN OR the rivets...

Mine is attached with clutch screws.

Some of the older vehicles do have numbers on the frames. The older Chevrolet trucks have numbers on the frames usually stamped in the area of the steering box. This is where the term "matching numbers" comes from. The body number, the frame number and the engine number have to match for a car or truck to have "matching numbers".

Most of the states are not interested in the "matching numbers" of older vehicles, but they do want, like you do, a number that is on the vehicle to be on the title. Truth is the VIN is what they prefer, but back in the 30's, 40's and even the 50's the engine number was the number used quite often instead of the body number, which was the VIN of the 30's, 40's and 50's - even the 60's.

I still contend that in Texas, if you will explain that you want the VIN on your title instead the motor number, if that's what is on the title, I believe they will agree with you. But you will have to go through the process, what ever that is, to get it done.

Joe