Change title VIN for replacement engine - Minnesota????

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Change title VIN for replacement engine - Minnesota????
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David C Jahnke on Thursday, October 30, 2014 - 10:17 pm:

A friend in Minnesota wants to replace the motor in his Model T with one in better condition but one year newer. Since the VIN is the engine number, does anyone know what has to be done in Minnesota to get the title vin number changed to match the replacement engine when he does this?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy Loso St Joseph, MN on Thursday, October 30, 2014 - 10:23 pm:

Feel free to call me or have him call me.

320-293-one953


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Thursday, October 30, 2014 - 10:27 pm:

I wouldn't bother changing the VIN number. Just keep the old motor and if he ever sells the car, include the old motor with the sale.

Or, grind the serial number off the replacement block and re-stamp it with the other serial number.

I think the only time Minnesota will change the VIN on a title is if the VIN on the current title contains a typo. I had to do this with my roadster.

The best source regarding changing the VIN on a Minnesota title would be to contact the Minnesota DMV directly in St. Paul instead of getting bad advice on the forum from folks like me.

Erik in Minnesota


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Thursday, October 30, 2014 - 10:29 pm:

Just get a plate from some one like Langs and put it on the fire wall and put any number you want on it


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Friday, October 31, 2014 - 06:24 am:

From the Ford Service Bulletins:




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Friday, October 31, 2014 - 07:46 am:

Hmmm.....re the last sentence, "when a cylinder is replaced". How many of us have replaced a cylinder? No wonder they were held by the police.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Friday, October 31, 2014 - 10:53 am:

Easiest thing is what Erik suggests. Changing the VIN on a car. Wow. Can't imagine the paper work/ trouble or if there's even a procedure for it. For your info: I had a '27 Tudor that came with a NY title changed to NJ when i bought it that had letters in it. I knew it was wrong but if it didn't bother them..... Contact your local DMV and confuse the hell out of 'em by asking. I'm betting there's no way to do it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Friday, October 31, 2014 - 10:57 am:

Or just grind the number off the new engine and stamp the old number on that. Simple. Sure it's been done before.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Constantine on Friday, October 31, 2014 - 04:17 pm:

I wanted to buy a T from a guy in Minnesota to export to Australia. When inspecting the car I luckily noticed that the VIN on the Title did not match the engine number. We went together to the DMV. Only legal solution was for the DMV to cancel his Title and for him to apply for a new one. When the DMV inspected the car two weeks later they attached a new plastic VIN number to the car. Took 2 months for him to receive the new Title because the DMV was understaffed! He was a nice guy and returned my deposit because I couldn't wait.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Clayton Swanson on Saturday, November 01, 2014 - 10:30 pm:

what Constantine says was true many years ago, i dont think they ever put new numbers on anything but a kit car, or pieced together street rod nowdays. was it long ago Constantine? i did a couple in the early 80's when they would send an inspector to your house, and leave you a small aluminum plate and two rivits to hammer in, and that was your new VIN number. since then i have done many more new title applications allways using the motor number and most go rite thru without a fight, and many without even a bond if its a project car. i currently have one pending that they want to inspect. reason being, its a low cowl 23 with a 24 motor #. they first wrote me to say that my title app would not be processed as 1924 because the number was 24. i should have just shut up, but instead i sent them photos of the difference between high and low cowls, and the probability that someone at sometime changed the motor, and they sent me back a letter saying the car needed to be brought to a dmv station to be inspected. well, since i had never had a problem before, i went ahead and took the whole thing apart to restore it. so, i called the dmv station, told the woman on the phone its all apart! can i just load all the parts in the back of the pickup and haul it in? ABSOLUTELY NOT she said, it must be complete and finished as it will be inspected for safety ! well, we do not have safety inspections in minnesota, thank god, so i knew it was just the dumb girl answering the phone, who really has no business telling the facts that aren't facts, so next time i was near the dmv i went in, took a number, and told the story to real employee who said no, not a safety inspection, we just want to confirm that that motor is in that car. so, after all this ranting, Royce is right, change the numbers. i've done that too, only use a mill not a grinder. find a mill bigger than your usual hobby size bridgeport so the whole complete motor will lay on the table(i've only done bare blocks) and fix your problem before it becomes a problem


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David C Jahnke on Sunday, November 02, 2014 - 10:59 am:

Thank you all for the help. I will pass this information along.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Constantine on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 08:25 pm:

Clayton, it was in 2011. They used rivets to attach the plastic VIN tag to the door hinge area of the Fordor.


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