Cowl replacement and VIN swapping

I haven't put much thought into it until a couple of days ago, but I need to keep my VIN matching my car, so I was going to pull the VIN from my cowl and pop rivet it on my donor cowl. A bud of mine dealing in junk cars (rebuilding, piecing together, restoring, etc) says that this is a bad idea as if it is ever questioned, I did change the VIN.

Anyone else run into this?

 

my understanding....it is illegal to change VINS.... but thats what i heard....not sure if its true or not

call the police department or the DOT where you live

 

As a retired Law Enforcement guy myself, this is what I found for you;
After October 25, 1984, the falsification or removal of any VIN required by the DOT on a motor vehicle is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C 511. Motor vehicles which have had their DOT required VINs falsified or removed after October 24, 1984, are subject to seizure and forfeiture under 18 U.S.C 512....yada, yada, yada.,. Good luck!

 

Yes, its illegal to change vin #s, but, by your post your not moving the vin number to a different car. Your replacing a part and trying to keep the vin# on the original car. If that's correct, then that's not illegal. I'm not sure there is a vin # stamped on the cowl anyway. I've never seen one. Only place I know is on the fender apron which usually rust away anyway. Personally, I don't see a problem with it either way. Its not like your trying to deceive anyone or make money off something that is phony. If your building a car for yourself then go for it. Most states can issue Vin #'s under certain circumstances anyway, so the way I see it your saving the state money.

 

this looks like a "fine line" here. you are not changing the vin#,you are keeping it the same . should be no ?? because it will match all the rest of the #s . no diff. than when i pulled the dash, took the plate off, painted the dash and put the plate back on .changing the dash plate to another # might be a prob. because it would not match the other #s...frank...

 

another vote

for do it to it. You aren't changing the vin number.
same car, same number, no foul.

 

We changed the cab on a Nissan pickup, old one was rusted out, put the vin dash plate off the rusted cab on the replacement used cab, it matched the frame vin numbers, couldn't tell it didn't come on it. I believe it's only illegal to remove all the numbers or change them for the purpose of fraud.....to try to hide that a car is stolen,etc.....

 

Even if you were swapping it to another car, I don't see how they could catch you if the other VIN's on the car were not there anymore. Sounds like an easy law to get around. How often does a cop go crawling around under you car searching for a VIN when he pulls you over? These are old cars. Most of the stuff on them probably won't match what the VIN says it has from the factory anyways. If any question should ever come up I would just tell them "prove it ain't the original VIN."

 

i put a new cab on my 80 toyota and put the vin plate off of the old cab and put it on the new cab. i dont see eny problems.

 

I think that it varies from state to state. Call the local Dept. of Motor Vehicles or
Highway Patrol office in your state. I would not rely on local police or sherrif's dept. info as that is usually not their jurisdiction. It needs to be someone who deals with
license and vehicle registration laws. I think you would have an issue in most states doing what you are stating.

Seth

 

You are looking at this all wrong...
If you replace the cowl and do not put your old VIN back on it, you are changing the VIN and therefore breaking the law. The VIN on the replacement cowl is void now that the car it identified has become parts salvage.
To put the proper VIN onto the replacement part (cowl) is the only way to stay legal.
Dave

 

i agree with 411,,,to keep the car its origanal # you got to switch the tags,,,your not switching cars,,,, just a part from one

 

Where is a vin # on a cowl????? I have never seen one.

 

On my F100 there is a VIN on the drivers side dash right up at the windshield. You have to look at it from the outside. Are Mavericks the same way? I have'nt looked on ours yet.
clint