The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Does it matter

my truck had a 3 window cab , I since found a 5 window in much better shape. my truck is registered as a 51. Changing the cab theroretically could change the year model ? No ID. plate. Depending on the doors (vent / non vent) that i put own it could be a different year model? So what really determines the year model characteristics of the truck ? also some people weld up the vents and cowls so how do you really classify if po changed some of these things ? I still have my orig ID. plate with 51 ven code

My truck had a 52 door on one side and a 53 door on the other, nothing very unusual about that, at least I have vent windows on both sides. Jim Carter's parts catalogue lists all the minor differences in the AD series of trucks.

My original truck was a 1951 1/2 ton Shortbox. I also replaced the original rotted out 3 window cab to a solid & more desirable 5 window cab,converted 48 doors (swing down handles)to accept side vent windows like the original 51 rotted doors.
Donor 5 window cab is 1949,drivers side cowl vent was removed,48 doors were modified to accept the 1951 vent windows. Took all the info from the original 1951 serial number plate, and as far as the MVD is concerned this is the same truck restored. I have taken the time to make sure everything looks 51.

Many vehicles were titled by the engine number prior to 1955. You might want to see if your title shows an engine number or possibly the serial number off the door jam plate. Don

From an ethical and maybe even legal standpoint, you should be able to simply use your body (Vehicle) ID plate on the "new" cab (as long as you legally own both cabs).

What year is the cab you are considering using?

If you interested in reading "too much information" here are some year-differences "factoids" accumulated from various websites, documents, and articles. This article from the LCVA is especially comprehensive (LCVA - Light Commercial Vehicle Association, which later became This Old Truck, and now Vintage Trucks).

Like Don said, if your truck was titled using the engine number AND you still have the engine in it that it was titled to, you're good to go. If it was titled to the engine and that engine is no longer in the truck or it was titled to the unit serial number you probably have (or will have) some hoops to jump through.

There is nothing on the id plate in the door jamb that designates a 3 or 5 window cab. There is nothing illegal about replacing parts including cabs with other used parts. If it was a Texas truck to begin with, the title would bear engine number.

yes it has serial number on door jam plate. There is no engine id on title or plate

I agree except there is no engine number on title or id plate.

The id plate or "vin" is all i have from id plate inside door. There is no engine id number. And the original engine is in my storage. I will simply put the old id tag on the new cab.Should not be any hoops, i don't think. Side note everything i purchase i get signed receipt even if its on notebook paper.Hopefully it will keep me out of trouble.

Does DMV want to know that you have changed some of the sheet metal? I think they just want their fees and could care less unless you drastically modified your truck. What do you guys think?
For myself all I had to do is get a professional appraisal and everything was good to go once I paid the tax to register.
Of course I think this can differ depending on the rules for different states. Like someone mentioned earlier you may have to do some homework and jump through some hoops. I talked to other people in my area that had already done this and they gave good advise.

The DMV will compare the engine serial number to the number on the title.If the truck is already registered and licensed,don't worry about it.


Tim

Texas does a title only transfer and no one cares about numbers. If a running vehicle is brought into Texas from out of state, a licensed inspector must do a safety inspection and compare numbers on the title. I have been a licensed inspector in Texas for many years and the regulations are silent as to where the number has to be on a vehicle manufactured before 1981. Just go to your county tax assessor, collector with the old title and a signed and dated bill of sale and pay the 6.25% sales tax and you will be fine with a title only transfer. I am assuming you already have a blue Texas title in your name. If that is the case, it is your vehicle, and you can do with it what you want.

I find it hard to believe you have a title with no number on it.

Hey, Project area 51, If you are going to use Year of Manufacture plates you better get it registered now. 9/1/11 will mark the end of YOM plates unless you already have them.
In Pearland, they have already started it. I found out yesterday. I have to go to Angleton Monday to register mine.

I bought my Suburban in Texas and the engine serial number was on the title.The state of Kansas DMV had make sure the engine number and the Title number matched before I could register in in my name.

Tim

My 53 has the VIN # from the door jam on the title. Would the engine serial number be the same number? Just wondering because mine didn't have the engine with it when I bought it.
As far as I know it was originally bought in Texas and has spent its entire life here.

no fasteddie, the tag number and the engine number were different things giving different info

Bill

The engine number was used in Texas to register all '55 and older vehicles except certain Fords. When an engine is changed the title is supposed be changed to the new engine serial number if it has one. If not it is supposed to get an assigned number. There is no provision for using the body number. I have a copy of the vehicle code that the tag office uses and have copied it word for word on here previously.

However, my Suburban had a Colorado title listing the body number. When I applied for Texas title they used that number. I suspect Fast Eddie's truck was transferred from another state.

A previous owner may have purchased a Blank door post I'd plate, and stamped an engine number on the door post to match the title vin.


How is the number configured?

you should be able to enter a door post s/n here


This info may help the original poster of this thread as well (not to hijack)

It's best to get your ducks in a row before spending a penny on a project

always a good idea to get it titled and registered

Good Luck

I have my truck registered got tags, and all already. Most trucks don't have engines at this point and time but anyway have no idea how this got into a dmv/vin topic.
the original comment was as much as these things are handed down changed and altered does it matter what year your truck is titled under? being that the only difference is vents which may or may not have been welded up or wing windows that may or may not have been changed. someone even stated that your title don't have a number ?? when was that said ? my comment was that it is not a engine number !!! s l o w d o w n and read people.

. . . the original comment was as much as these things are handed down changed and altered does it matter what year your truck is titled under? . . .

. . . s l o w d o w n and read people.

slow down and read what?

Here are your original questions (comments?):

Changing the cab theroretically could change the year model ?
Theoretically, yes. But not always.

Depending on the doors (vent / non vent) that i put own it could be a different year model?
Depending on what the words in your comment/question really mean, a possible answer is that the doors do not change the model year, but the change in doors might change the general appearance (for some people) and make the truck seem to be another model year.

Depending on the doors (vent / non vent) that i put own it could be a different year model?
You might be referring to the doors or to the truck. There were at least three styles of doors (more, if you consider differences in window garnish molding and door/window control handles). A few leads and links to information on differences have been provided above.

also some people weld up the vents and cowls so how do you really classify if po changed some of these things ?
What are trying to classify? What year the truck looks like? If that is the question, the answer is not simple - as far as what year the truck appears to be, it depends on what changes have been made.

In your last post you state, " . . . Most trucks don't have engines at this point and time but anyway have no idea how this got into a dmv/vin topic.
the original comment was as much as these things are handed down changed and altered does it matter what year your truck is titled under?"
I do not see that question ("comment") in your original post, but in order to answer your last question regarding a title, this seems to indeed be a DMV/VIN topic. Even though there were no VINs in 1951 - the engine serial number or cab-plate vehicle serial number are what were used at different times in the same and different states. People from Texas have all reported (above) that the engine serial number was used for titling purposes in Texas.

What is the vehicle identification (the number or code) on your title?

Even though it seems that this discussion has wandered away from your question(s)/comment(s), has it been answered?

im glad you took the time to almost get it "Does it matter " was the topic meaning does it matter what year you title it under 50,51,52? all these are seperated by cosmeticds. If you by a truck with no engine how will you know if it's the eng code or not? if the previous owner changed the doors and or the vents welded up whats the year model?
As someone stated state don't care about all that and they don't I simply took my title with my insurance and wholla!!
Now we are on to dmv ?if you rightfully own the cab ? Jumping through hoops ?
Now you tell me if the question is being answered
Now you see why s l o w d o w n ?
now to answer your question about engine code or vin number. The id plate on my original cab does not identify it by enginbe number. I did the research and found when it was built what plant etc...
yes the conversation has wondered a bit but my original question is "Does it matter"

Yes it matters. Are you buying a stolen truck with a different trucks paper work? I've seen 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks offered for sale with a 1 1/2 ton titles. Once you got it right with the DMV, you can do almost anything to a vehicle but it does not change what you started with. When you are done with it will you be able to sell it without the DMV red flags waving? Always keep the DMV in the loop with title updates. If your title has the engine number and you replace the engine you have to get a new number assigned to the title. Same goes with the cab serial number.

Well does everyone run a stolen vehicle report when you buy one ? I thought that the dmv did that when you file for title xfer ? Since we are stuck on dmv instead of what year your truck is titled under.
If so you should know way before you get ready to sale correct ? The first thing i did was title and register mine day 1.
But just to carry on someone said that early models were by engine code correct ? so if i take the 1 ton engine and surround it with all 1/2 ton body parts or say i by a 1 ton engine and later score a 1/2 ton rolling chasis with cab I must register it by the engine or id plate off of the new cab ?

I won't debate the issue with you here because it tends to get heated and make the mods mad, but IMHO once a vehicle is parted to the point that it cannot be identified with the title the title should be destroyed. It is not an "historical document" unless it has an original Button Qwinnett signature. As far as I know every state has a process to deal with a builders or salvage title.

that's fair, we all have opinions. No need to get bent out of shape about things.(we should all be grone guys and gals). Anyway thanks for your responses. My coworker rebuilt a 57 bellair, he told me he insured it through the biuld. So i did the same thing by getting it registered and all. The only id was on a door plate that matched the numbers on the title. just got me to thinking what if the doors were swapped ? And a side note I lkeft my truck in the yard of my dads shop for a few days after i returned someone had tried to pry the plate off ??? I told my coworker about it he said people do it al the time to get titles. He also said people go to scrap yards and buy wrecks just to get titles !!