VIN tag question

[larryd]

I know this might be considered shady but I'm going to ask this as a question. If I have to swap a 82 GM cab going onto a 78 GM chassis and I want to keep the VIN label thats located in the door well opening on the 78. What is the best way to remove the VIN tag label and put it on the new 82 cab in the same area on the door well?. I was told that I would have to cut the the VIN tag out of the door well and leave about 3/4" around the tag and then make a template of the hole and mark the 82 cab and cut a hole matching the template and weld it in. I was told the rivets are special OEM and are not sold and the tag would be damaged if you tried to seperate it from the metal underneath it.

 

[gildardo01]

ive done that.... you can just cut around the vin plate and weld it to the new cab... i think maybe more that 3/4 might be necessary, you have to make it look as stock as possible and don´t mess with the rivets... if the rivets look as if they have been messed with, thats when people start asking questions.... cut it out, trace it on to the new door or cab, cut the other section, weld it in, do a little bit of grinding... might have to use a little filler to get it perfect.... and once your done and got it painted, never mention it to anyone...   

[Irish_Alley]

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,22386.0.html
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,14522.msg112615.html#msg112615
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,10482.msg74621.html#msg74621
its not that easy. if done i would cut more of the metal out of the door jam to make it less noticeable

[Blazin]

I file regular rivits to have the shaped head, and use them. The tag is only rivited to the door jamb not glued.

[larryd]

Blazin,
So you file the new rivets to look the same as the OEM's?.

[Blazin]

I have in the past. Allot less work than chopping a hole and welding it back in!
On Yellow Snow I didn't even bother, its a dash mounted tag.
Just used regular rivits, wire brushed, then spray bomb satin black over it.

Not to mention if you using the original VIN from the truck and it came down to it being stripped down to verify it would match the chassis.
The newset possible version of this cab is going on 20 years old now. The state is probably not to concerened with theft, and VIN swapping on them like they would be something newer.

[larryd]

I understand. I have a good title and never had any clerk come out to check my vehicles at the DMV.
Thanks for everyones help.

[Irish_Alley]

had i state cop  check my truck once to see if the vins matched. this was for getting a simple ticket. now he didnt check the frame and all that but he checked the door stricker then looked at the vin plate in the dash. if something doesn't look right you can bet they will let you know. now someone does sell vin rivets i think they are $20 for 2 or 4 cant remember.

[78 Chevyrado]

I'd do the "cut out the door frame and weld into the other cab, and leave the rivets undisturbed, solely because I'd be so paranoid I'd build the truck and then some cop in 4 years wouldn't like something about it and then I may lose my truck based on that.  that kind of thing scares me... 

[kmanrsss]

Dumb question, but where's the vin on the frame? I've been over mine with a wire wheel and haven't seen it. It's on an 87 by the way. Thanks

[gildardo01]

Dumb question, but where's the vin on the frame? I've been over mine with a wire wheel and haven't seen it. It's on an 87 by the way. Thanks

i actually never found it on my frame either i cleaned the whole frame and nothing came up... i have a 1974 stepside.

[HAULIN IT]

I've found them in a a couple places. On the top flat area...sometimes near the steering box & on some, under the cab. Lorne 

[Blazin]

All the years I've been plyin with these trucks, and the hundreds of them I have owned, and tore apart. I have never seen a VIN # on a frame.