Transplanting a Truck Cab on a Different Chassis

BTW, with the camper configuration and trailer, you're an RV in most states.

That's another ball of wax.
 
One obvious VIN in the factory location doesn't beg any questioning.

When that location is a removable dash, or a door... makes this type of project even easier.
 
Grendel said:
As you're finding out, some states, the body is the vehicle, others it's the frame and the few, it's any part that carries a VIN.

In NH, they do a VIN verification, which means looking at any VIN permanently affixed by the manufacturer or State approved agency. Yes, I've had Jeep hard doors that came from my jeep cause NH to register two different Jeeps with the same VIN. A friend parted out a jeep I bought, so the doors went to someone else and they did a VIN verification with the doors and I did with the firewall tag and frame stamping.

Some states allow you to change the GVW.

Thing is, once it's ***led or registered, any state has to accept it, under the 14th Amendment, so they do.

So, yes, I did a 68 IH Cab on a 85 Chevy commercial chassis. Cab's (VIN) GVW is 33K, frame is rated for 26K.

It's registered as a 1968 IH with a GVW of 25,999. - I used the body VIN. I also stamped the body VIN into the frame, but we're allowed to do that, as we're a state approved collision center, following the NH laws.

In NH, a frame replacement or repair must be the same or stronger than the frame it replaced.

Which is funny, as the Chevy frame is much stronger but rated for less.
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'
These are my two ultimate main points of the thread.


I have to find out:
How does Idaho (where I live) register vehicle; body or frame.
 
I did a '48 dodge onto a mid 70's ute chassis for a hot rod build years ago.

It turned out really good and drove really nice, but I'd avoid doing it again if at all possible. Much nicer if you can swap the new driveline into the old chassis. Looking back at my project, that's what I'd do next time round.

I did it to make the registration here easier, but kind of lost a lot of the soul of the old truck when it lost the old chassis.
 
CDA 455 II said:
'
These are my two ultimate main points of the thread.


I have to find out:
How does Idaho (where I live) register vehicle; body or frame.
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Per the ITD form, Looks like they look for 2 VINs. Connecticut does similar but I have got things through such as motorcycles and older vehicles that only have 1, not sure if Idaho will be the same there or not.


If it were me I'd register the cab I wanted to use then do the modern frame/drivetrain swap after its already registered.
 
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Toreadorranger said:
Per the ITD form, Looks like they look for 2 VINs. Connecticut does similar but I have got things through such as motorcycles and older vehicles that only have 1, not sure if Idaho will be the same there or not.


If it were me I'd register the cab I wanted to use then do the modern frame/drivetrain swap after its already registered.
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'
Could it safely be assumed the 2 VINs would be dashboard and frame?

Or could it be dashboard and doorsill sticker? :confused:
 
CDA 455 II said:
'
Could it safely be assumed the 2 VINs would be dashboard and frame?

Or could it be dashboard and doorsill sticker? :confused:
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They have a book of vin locations for year/make/model. They'll just pick two random ones depending on the preferences of the officer and how easy they are to access.
 
Grendel said:
As you're finding out, some states, the body is the vehicle, others it's the frame and the few, it's any part that carries a VIN.

In NH, they do a VIN verification, which means looking at any VIN permanently affixed by the manufacturer or State approved agency. Yes, I've had Jeep hard doors that came from my jeep cause NH to register two different Jeeps with the same VIN. A friend parted out a jeep I bought, so the doors went to someone else and they did a VIN verification with the doors and I did with the firewall tag and frame stamping.

Some states allow you to change the GVW.

Thing is, once it's ***led or registered, any state has to accept it, under the 14th Amendment, so they do.

So, yes, I did a 68 IH Cab on a 85 Chevy commercial chassis. Cab's (VIN) GVW is 33K, frame is rated for 26K.

It's registered as a 1968 IH with a GVW of 25,999. - I used the body VIN. I also stamped the body VIN into the frame, but we're allowed to do that, as we're a state approved collision center, following the NH laws.

In NH, a frame replacement or repair must be the same or stronger than the frame it replaced.

Which is funny, as the Chevy frame is much stronger but rated for less.
Click to expand...
I don’t even know if you’ll see this cause it’s an old forum, but I noticed you’re privy to the state laws on this matter being a collision center. I’m looking into doing a cab swab on my 07 Duramax and was wondering the legal steps I would have to take to do so with the obviously different VINs. Hopefully you see this and can give me insight!
 
07Duramax said:
I don’t even know if you’ll see this cause it’s an old forum, but I noticed you’re privy to the state laws on this matter being a collision center. I’m looking into doing a cab swab on my 07 Duramax and was wondering the legal steps I would have to take to do so with the obviously different VINs. Hopefully you see this and can give me insight!
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Might be helpful if you told us what state you're in?
 
In Washington all you do is walk in with a ***le and get a registration? Is this the only good thing about this state?

Use case: 1979 C10 on a 2000 GMC 2500 Chassis. Registered and insured as the C10.

IMG_8277.jpeg
 
Bcoiteux said:
In Washington all you do is walk in with a ***le and get a registration? Is this the only good thing about this state?

Use case: 1979 C10 on a 2000 GMC 2500 Chassis. Registered and insured as the C10.


Thats how I've always done it here in Nc too
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07Duramax said:
I don’t even know if you’ll see this cause it’s an old forum, but I noticed you’re privy to the state laws on this matter being a collision center. I’m looking into doing a cab swab on my 07 Duramax and was wondering the legal steps I would have to take to do so with the obviously different VINs. Hopefully you see this and can give me insight!
Click to expand...

Grendel said:
Might be helpful if you told us what state you're in?
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NH… that’s why I responded to your post…
 
Bcoiteux said:
In Washington all you do is walk in with a ***le and get a registration? Is this the only good thing about this state?

Use case: 1979 C10 on a 2000 GMC 2500 Chassis. Registered and insured as the C10.

IMG_8277.jpeg
Click to expand...
Just want to say nice truck man. That is close to what I had wanted to build for my wife at one point. Hers wouldn't need to be 3\4T but just a good all around truck.
 
350TacoZilla said:
Just want to say nice truck man. That is close to what I had wanted to build for my wife at one point. Hers wouldn't need to be 3\4T but just a good all around truck.
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Thanks lot of work on that one. Actually a 400” turbo LS, 4 digit horsepower blah blah blah. Wife drives it more than I do but it’s a fun truck with a bunch of history for me.
 
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