Frame VIN transfer to another frame

[Chuck S.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

Mike, there is the "letter of the law", and there is the practical implementation of daily law enforcement.

Law enforcement officers that are concerned about a frame VIN that doesn't match the body VIN plate on a 40 year old car don't have enough to do...probably the result of overstaffing. In Texas, if somebody ain't getting murdered, raped, assaulted, robbed, or a lot of people getting conned, then law enforcement is pretty much going to let the parties work it out themselves. Unless someone is complaining really loudly, you would never be found in possession of an altered frame VIN in Texas, because they're NEVER checked!

Now, if you moved to Texas, law enforcement would have to do a mandatory inspection of the body VIN plate and the vehicle before it's eligible for registration in Texas. It seems that would be the perfect time for law enforcement to find out whose swapping frames and other such components. But, apparently, they don't have time for such rigourous checks...there is no crawling all over, and under, your car checking VIN stamps; they check the body VIN carefully and dat's dat.

In the previous post, it seems highly unusual that a lawyer/judge that probably doesn't know **** from Shinola about cars, would pick the frame VIN over the more widely accepted and required body VIN as the determinant of ownership...something stinks in Denmark right there (referring to the judge, not the poster). But, if the frame were in bad enough condition to replace in the first place, then it would seem prudent to "format it's hard drive" before cutting it up for scrap.

Fortunately, such attention and adherance to the "letter of the law" would be way down on my list of reasons for not wanting to live in California, but then that's me.

[Jimmy B.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

GM sold replacement frames, to the best of my knowledge they never sold replacement bodies. Think about it. If your car was severely damaged, you got a new frame. Vin stayed on car and the old frame was "scrap" and nothing more. Just like 53 # 0003, the frame was "scrapped".

[Jimmy B.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

GM sold replacement frames, to the best of my knowledge they never sold replacement bodies. Think about it. If your car was severely damaged, you got a new frame. Vin stayed on car and the old frame was "scrap" and nothing more. Just like 53 # 0003, the frame was "scrapped".

[Terry B.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

Frames unfortunately in the rust belt wear out. That myth that the Corvette would not rust because of it's fiberglass body made a number of 40 year old frames down right dangerous. If the body of the car is worth perserving, put a strong frame under it and enjoy the car. We are a society of RESTORERS and that's part of the restoration process. I see no problem with a restoration frame especially if you are not doing it to sell and make a buck.

[Terry B.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

Frames unfortunately in the rust belt wear out. That myth that the Corvette would not rust because of it's fiberglass body made a number of 40 year old frames down right dangerous. If the body of the car is worth perserving, put a strong frame under it and enjoy the car. We are a society of RESTORERS and that's part of the restoration process. I see no problem with a restoration frame especially if you are not doing it to sell and make a buck.

[Michael B.]

[Michael B.]

[Rick S.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

I have been retired for 10 years but it was not a common practice to check frame VIN's unless there was a belief that the body VIN was forged/altered.

Rick

[Rick S.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

I have been retired for 10 years but it was not a common practice to check frame VIN's unless there was a belief that the body VIN was forged/altered.

Rick

[Chuck S.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

You don't have to cite auto theft statistics to me...I live in El Paso.

It's not more than 20 miles anywhere in the metropolitan area to the Mexican border. Cars are stolen here every day, and are in Mexico in minutes before the owner even knows...by the time the complaint is made, the car has been beyond reach for hours. Seldom hear of Corvettes getting stolen though; the Mexicans prefer durable, practical, ditch-jumping vehicles like Ford and Chevy pickups.

Vigilant cops with drawn guns, canine units, or even CIA satellites will be little defense against that happening. Periodically, we hear about a "ballsy" owner that goes over there, finds his own car in Juarez, and steals it back using his own key; There you go!...H.E.A.T (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) in it's purest form.

In twenty years here, I've never had a cop down on his hands and knees checking any frame or chassis VINs, or having it towed to check same. I'm sure they've checked my windshield VIN plate during traffic stops, and found everything in order...but, I could have been riding on a stolen frame.

So, how does law enforcement KNOW a vehicle is stolen, or has been stolen?...By the owner(s) making a complaint, either today or a long time ago. Once you have a complaint, you can start looking for cars of that description with the stolen car's windshield VIN plate; once you find a car that matches the description, you make a stop. Hopefully, you wait until you at least have a license plate match before you draw your guns.

But, lets not get distracted; we're talking about the owner replacing a rotten frame here...the owner isn't going to file a stolen car report; and if he's upfront about replacing the frame, then there shouldn't be any complaints filed by the buyer.

However, in view of this discussion, I HAVE changed my idea about not altering a frame VIN...If I bought a replacement frame now, I would ensure I had documentation for the purchase, and then I would grind the everlivin' hell out of that old VIN stamp until it completely disappeared. Better yet, I would have the seller grind it off. I figure the car would then have to be involved in a murder before they used acid to raise the frame VIN stamp..."Dunno, officer, it was like that when I got it; here's the receipt."

[Chuck S.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

You don't have to cite auto theft statistics to me...I live in El Paso.

It's not more than 20 miles anywhere in the metropolitan area to the Mexican border. Cars are stolen here every day, and are in Mexico in minutes before the owner even knows...by the time the complaint is made, the car has been beyond reach for hours. Seldom hear of Corvettes getting stolen though; the Mexicans prefer durable, practical, ditch-jumping vehicles like Ford and Chevy pickups.

Vigilant cops with drawn guns, canine units, or even CIA satellites will be little defense against that happening. Periodically, we hear about a "ballsy" owner that goes over there, finds his own car in Juarez, and steals it back using his own key; There you go!...H.E.A.T (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) in it's purest form.

In twenty years here, I've never had a cop down on his hands and knees checking any frame or chassis VINs, or having it towed to check same. I'm sure they've checked my windshield VIN plate during traffic stops, and found everything in order...but, I could have been riding on a stolen frame.

So, how does law enforcement KNOW a vehicle is stolen, or has been stolen?...By the owner(s) making a complaint, either today or a long time ago. Once you have a complaint, you can start looking for cars of that description with the stolen car's windshield VIN plate; once you find a car that matches the description, you make a stop. Hopefully, you wait until you at least have a license plate match before you draw your guns.

But, lets not get distracted; we're talking about the owner replacing a rotten frame here...the owner isn't going to file a stolen car report; and if he's upfront about replacing the frame, then there shouldn't be any complaints filed by the buyer.

However, in view of this discussion, I HAVE changed my idea about not altering a frame VIN...If I bought a replacement frame now, I would ensure I had documentation for the purchase, and then I would grind the everlivin' hell out of that old VIN stamp until it completely disappeared. Better yet, I would have the seller grind it off. I figure the car would then have to be involved in a murder before they used acid to raise the frame VIN stamp..."Dunno, officer, it was like that when I got it; here's the receipt."

[Kevin M.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

That's the point NOM with no pad stamp or a wrong VIN stamp and a VIN tag with funny rivets they'll be looking for frame numbers for sure,at the tow yard. I think it's the VIN on the frame that has identified more stolen Corvettes over the years. It's the hardest one to remove without of course lifting the body that's why there put there in the first place.

Kevin

[Kevin M.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

That's the point NOM with no pad stamp or a wrong VIN stamp and a VIN tag with funny rivets they'll be looking for frame numbers for sure,at the tow yard. I think it's the VIN on the frame that has identified more stolen Corvettes over the years. It's the hardest one to remove without of course lifting the body that's why there put there in the first place.

Kevin

[Edward M.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

That really doesn't make sense. The frame and VIN tag were together, that should be the end if it. Legal decisions make me wonder sometimes.

[Edward M.]

Re: Frame VIN transfer to another frame

That really doesn't make sense. The frame and VIN tag were together, that should be the end if it. Legal decisions make me wonder sometimes.