I am restoring rusted area in my 81 and want to replace a vin tag from one vette to another. I own both vettes, but what are the laws concerning this and where can i get the proper rivets. Any help appreciated.

 

i Believe swapping VIN tags is illegal. But check with your DMV oe Highway Patrol.

 

Yea I just wanna swap one vin tag to another . I think they keep those rivits right next to the Unicorn Horns only they are more expensive. I did know I guy in Atlanta that claimed he could get the rivits but they were like $200 per rivit.

What you are trying to do is Highly frowned upon even if you do own both vehicles.

 

Where I live, you are supposed to have a duly appointed
official (State trooper or DMV official) witness the removal
and attachment of the plate. Even then, it will probably get
a "special" title.

That said, you should be able to fashion your own roset rivets from 1/8"
pop rivets and a set of needle files.

It has been stated before (from a reliable source) that the
"real" VIN is stamped in the frame. However, not many folks are
willing to remove the body to prove the VIN.

Could you cut a section of the W/S frame out and weld it into the other vette ? Then, technically, you have replaced most of the
birdcage, while retaining that special section ... just as long
as no one checks the frame numbers.

Good luck.

 

try ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=80736
i think it is not exactly legal. but they are avaible.

 

I don't know what state you are in, but you should check the local laws. I do not think any state really allows it. You could be a "car customizer", in which case you might get away with it, but keep in mind the above post referring to the frame numbers is correct. There is a VIN stamped into the top of the rear drivers side arch in the frame, and I think also on one side of the rockers it is also painted on the frame. Keep in mind these cars are old and frames are sometimes swapped out.
Is the other car an '81 as well???

 

http://www.trimtags.com/faq.html

contact this guy, $20 gets you two rivets. Switch them and forget anything ever happened.

 

80 bucks isn't enough for 2 rivets?

 

Remind me never to buy a used Vette from you!

 

The link you posted is for Data Plate rivets not the rossette rivelts used for the VIN tag. VIN tag rivets are available from www.dataplate.com for $20 a pair.

As posted above the actual legal VIN is stamped on the frame of the car. In a unibody it is stamped somwhere on the fron body frame. The puropse of the VIN tag is only for Law Enforcement purposes. It's intention was to simplify the inspection of the vechical for police purposes, it is a federal requirement.

Most states and all manufacturers recognize that the frame is the origion of the car and so mark it. The body, engine, ect, are simply put, accessories to the frame.

To swap VIN tags from one corvette to another is illegal in every state, unless certain rules are followed first. You'll need to check them out yourself. It's illegal simply because it is fraud. The one who changes the VIN is technicaly lying with the intent to desceive. If you want to do it right you can replace the VIN tag with new rivets, but you will also have to cut out and replace the VIN section of the frame by welding in the correct stamping. I would have to assume that simply restamping the frame would aslo be illegal.

BTW, it is legal in most states to have a new VIN tag made and replaced, so long as it contains the same information as the origional. On corvettes there have been many occasions where the windshield fram has rotten out while taking the VIN tag with it. If you repair the frame you can replace the tag since there is no fraud. I'd check with your local law enforcment before you do it. Here in Ohio I was permitted to replace the VIN tag, because the origional was heavely rusted. It was in the middle of a "frame off" when this was done, so checking the frame numbers was easy. I provided proof that the car was mostly complete when I got it and the office who stopped by to verify it did it as curtisy (he's a c-3 fan)


Hope this helps!

Regards,
Heli

 

The other vette is an 80 model. I also was going to use its frame. Now I'm wondering what do you do when you order a frame from a company that sells them. Are there any procedures you have to go through.

Again , any help appreciated. I Do not want to do anything illigal.

 

Quite a quandry you're in. It seems you have two donor cars and want to get one good one from parts taken out of the two... Check your laws but it sounds like the best thing is to use the frame and VIN tag from the same car and have it properly documented/inspected by/for State authorities so they can give you a good title. The other VIN would likely be recorded as "junked" on its title. It will be a strange explanation you make to a potential buyer when you say - "it's a 1980 (or 1981) but the whole body and interior are off a 1981 (or 1980) donor car..." I would run away from that deal as a buyer... Be careful so you don't end up with two cars that cannot be titled... The titling laws are there to protect all of us who are buying used cars! We do not have "superior knowledge" as a seller does as to the origins of a car or at least anything concerning it that happened while they owned it. The laws are supposed to keep the playing field level...so it goes in theory anyway! That brings up another idea - why can't car buyers get title insurance like you do when you buy a house? If they can, I have not heard about it...maybe an idea whose time has come in the days of CarFax, etc... (which doesn't help us with our old cars!)

 

Looks like I'll have to fix the rust on the pillar post, but what if I order a frame from some place. Do they remove the old vin or do they add yours to it? How do people who restore older cars do it?

 

Vely Intelesting....Wascally Wabbit!

 

I removed my tag to por15 the area and bought new rivets from Chicago Corvette. They were cheap and looked just like the ones I removed.

 

Would you happen to have their phone number.

 

Don't plan on ever selling my vette so you have nothing to worry about. The only reason I had to switch mine is because it was easier to switch from the 76 body to the 71 body which I found in texas for $400 less title and vin than it was to fix my 76 body.

The link i posted is good, you have to email and ask for the star (rosette) rivets specfically. They are $20 for the set.