Hey everyone i will make this short and sweet. I just bought a 1952 sedan it came with the ***le. The vin number on the ***le matches the engine but NOT to the body. is this normal are these numbers going to match. Also is there a frame number and if so where is it. I was told back in the old days they ***led the engines and that the numbers may not match the bodies just getting some input let me know thanks.
The engine VIN on older vehicles, model A, B so forth matched the frame but when you swaped the engine the Frame VIN is what you have left. I have two 50 Fords that are ***led in NC and both match the Firewall (Body) VIN. When I talked to the inspector in Fayetteville about the Engine match question on my 30 she said that they would look for the frame VIN. Is your ***le a NC ***le or out of state. That will make alot of difference. If it's a clean NC ***le you can get a ***le in your name and drive it. If it is out of state, the inspector will want to verify the ***le and check out the Body VIN.
It is a Virginia ***le. The ***le matches the engine number i have not yet looked for the frame number. There is a little number on the a piller but it does not match. There is also a number on the tag on teh firewall but that is just model number, paint number, body ect... not a vin.
i understand they will have to come inspect it not a big deal i just want to make sure that the number on the engine and ***le are fine. I am thinking they will re stamp me a vin plate for the body so when i do a engine swap i will still have the numbers.
Read this. It can be a real PITA. NC is not easy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405553&highlight=nc+***le Do a search on NC ***les.
Ok so i am headed to the car tag place today. i have done some more research and found out that 1952 chevy cars did not have vin numbers on the frame. Also i stopped and looked at one on the way home the other day and the a pillar tag and the engine number did not match either. I am thinking this is normal. So i am about to do a engine swap i am hoping when the inspector comes and sees the vin on the engine that matches the ***le he will re-stamp me a tag for the a pillar. Does this sound right any help would be great. I am not getting tags on it today just the ***le in my name!!
Well went to the dmv on lunch. Everything so far has gone alright. I am going to call the inspector in the morning to set up an appointment for them to check it out. Cost was crazy today 135.00 bucks to send the ***le off this is not even tags!!!!!!! My last project a 1972 c10 was 46 bucks not sure why this thing is more but gotta love NC!!!!
What you have found is true. The Chevys before 55 used the engine number as the VIN. The stamped numbers and letters on the door jamb are the cars serial numbers. Used for Identifying it's year, style, place of ***embly and finally the number in the sequence at the factory. There was no vin stamped on any ch***is before 1955. Get them to see and accept the engine number and you should be golden. Then just stamp it yourself on the ch***is.
Yep; The ***le didn't have a VIN, it had a MOTOR NUMBER in those days. None of those other numbers on the car say VIN****. They say SERIAL#. or something like that....................
The money you paid was likely for tax on the vehicle. You had not paid any taxes on it after purchasing it, had you?
I would have something printed out that shows that prior to 55, the engine number is the VIN number. Maybe you can find something on one of the cl***ic car magazine sites that mentions it. That would probably be more 'official' than just a post here. You never know who you'll get as an inspector. It could be someone who doesn't know squat about old cars. The VIN number that's printed on my 52 Dodge truck ***le is comprised of both the original engine number and the body serial number. I was wondering what may happen when I change the engine in the truck. I have a receipt for purchase for the engine...but since it came out of an aircraft tug, I don't have a ***le for that engine. At least I have the body serial tag, so hopefully, it will work out. To be safe, I'll never dispose of or sell the original engine.
NC has a ton of red tape.....especially if you build and have to get a state generated VIN. Better have the receipts for the beer you drank, cigs you smoked, and toilet paper you wiped your a** with......if you have to go this route. Whether it be a simple ***le swap with inspection....do your homework. The fayetteville office of DMV Theft Bureau wanna be cops are reallllllllly uptight..... BEST OF LUCK
Before the NC dmv comes out make the number match. Do not hotrod or custom the car befor the NC dmv comes out? The Dmv will make you reply for costom ***le. Good luck and I mean good luck
Not always true. I have been through it a few times and have helped a couple customers. A lot depends on the agent you deal with. My Buick doesn't have the stock suspension or engine and I had no problems at all. Absolutely do not "make" the numbers match. If they even think you did it will make the process a really big pain in the ***. Level with them, don't try to pull one over on them.
Good point.....or your whatever year car will become a whatever this year is custom or hot rod....not cool for taxes or insurance. My 29 is gettin inspected how she sits.....if they ask...its a restoration in progress. They just dont realize that the"restoration includes a blown 331 some metal fab......and a case of F-off to the state.
Certain states used the engine number and others used the body serial number. Ideally, you want the number on the pillar to be on the ***le. If the original engine is in the car, they car match that and should be able to make the correction to the body number being as the vehicle is being inspected. There are numerous websites and books that breakdown the body numbers and verify the engine numbers. Be prepared before you go. One last note; if you plan on swapping out the engine at some point, you need this number switched on your ***le before doing so. If you were pulled over and there is no verifiable number to match the registration or ***le, the car could be impounded if the cop is a hard ***.
Try this guy ,as long as you have body numbers, I ran into a similar problem with my 51, this guy got me a registration and a notorized bill of sale signed over to me, went through the NCDMV no problems. THE ***LE MAN 585-232-3217
Ok here is a little update. So July 2nd i called and talk to one of the two inspectors for my area. Really cool guy he told me he has only been in the biz for about 2 years and that the numbers on the a pillar and engine SHOULD match i told him the car was in primer the previous owner was restoring it and i was missing the a pillar one. He told me to get online and order a vin tag and stamp it to match the engine and ***le. All along i cant believe the dmv guy is telling me this. Anyways so after chatting for a while i look around online and find a place that has pretty original looking ones. I called to see if they had anything else then what was on the site and this old timer on the phone asked me what car and everything. He said on a 52 Chevy car they DID NOT MATCH AND DO NOT BUY A TAG AND MATCH THEM THAT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT. He said to call back and talk to the other guy hoping that he was a old timer. So i call be talk to the same guy i told him and told him the deal he said no biggie call back July 6th and talk with the other one. Well i did he seemed to be pretty cool to although i did tell him i had a a pillar tag he said don't mess with them leave them alone if the engine matches my ***le i will be fine and as long as the car looks to be running. Just needs a motor 4 wheels ect it will p*** inspection. He said if i ever do a engine swap i will need to call them back out and have the new number put on the ***le. I am just going to hold onto the original motor when i take it out so it stays with the car. I image once they come out and take pics of the numbers on the pillar and the engine they will stay on record.
Do you or do you not have a pillar tag? Post the number up if you do, or at least all but the last 4 (****).
Just to let everyone now the update. I GOT MY ***LE IN THE MAIL TODAY. It took about 8 or 9 weeks for them to process it but it was easy. They took pics of the engine vin and the car never even looked at the a pillar tag. I got the ***le in hand and over the weekend the motor came out cleaning the engine compartment for the sbc, s10 rear and 700 r4 hope to have it going by xmas. Also just got the a arms stepped very slick!!!!
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