VIN ??'s

[LTS06]

I sold a 360 to a guy from Puerto Rico a couple months ago...and he actually took it to Puerto Rico.

He is contacting me now saying he needs the VIN from the rig it came from in order to swap said 360 into his jeep. BUT that waggy is long gone to the crusher.

I have asked some folks I know from various areas if anyone has another waggy that is being parted to eventually see the crusher as well to see if I could get the VIN from that one...but no one I know seems to have one.

Can I use a VIN like this since I cannot get the actual VIN? I know I can make one up from a book I have but with my luck that rig would end up still being on the road somewhere and then someone would end up in trouble.

Any help is appreciated. I do want to try and help the guy as he wants to buy a transmission from me too.

I

[JERSEY JOE]

I think that VIN tampering is a Federal violation. Certainly transfering a VIN from vehicle to another is a NO NO.. The VIN's are attached with unique roset style rivets which are unavailable to the general public. Attaching a VIN with standatd pop rivets is a sure way to get you rig impounded, at least in my corner of the world...

[Chuck Brown]

Did he explain why exactly he would need the VIN? It sounds awful odd to me that he would say he needed it. I dont mean to say that maybe he's up to something, "uncool" but what reasoning could he give?

Ive done my share of sheet metal repairs in VIN sensitive areas of old Fords and was always careful about what was acceptable and what wasnt, and have done a few motor swaps as well and cant conceive of why I would need the VIN from the donor.

Is this maybe some sort of weird P.R. emissions requirement for "grandfathered" or exempt vehicles?

On the other hand, maybe hes just a guy who is REALLY obsessive about keeping every piece of scrap paper and detail receipt related to his vehicle (which Ive been guilty of-but Im getting better, I promise!).

Just thinking out loud here...

Chuck Brown

[tgreese]

I think the truth is the best response here... If the buyer protests, offer to take the engine back if he brings it to you.

[skeletor]

why would it matter the amc 360s werent serial numbered to go into specific jeeps all it says is 360 on the block and the firing order on the intake.

[jeepguzzi]

why would it matter the amc 360s werent serial numbered to go into specific jeeps all it says is 360 on the block and the firing order on the intake.

There was also a tag on the passenger side valve cover. Maybe he wants to prove the engine was not older than the jeep for emissions reasons. If so, he could use the number from the first engine.

[PlumCrazy]

There was also a tag on the passenger side valve cover. Maybe he wants to prove the engine was not older than the jeep for emissions reasons. If so, he could use the number from the first engine.

Is the tag actually a representation of the VIN?

Just curious

Wayne S

[jeepguzzi]

I think it had a manufacturing date on it. I haven't seen one in awhile.

[flatbackdragon]

Per the TSM...

(QUOTE:)
The engine Build Date Code is located on a tag attached to the right bank cylinder head cover.
The code numbers identify the year, month and day that the engine was built. The code letter identifies the cubic inch displacement, carburetor type and compression ratio.
Example: 3 05 H 15
is a 304 CID with 2V carburetor and 8.4:1 compression ratio, built on May 15, 1979.
(unquote)

No other specific #'s to idendify it to a certain vehicle. So long as he is putting it into the same year jeep, no problem. If put into and earlier or later year jeep, it could make a difference. To solve this problem, use the valve cover of a same year jeep motor as it is going into. Who's to know the difference, unless that size motor was not available for that year.

[LTS06]

I do not need the VIN plate nor do I intend to give him a VIN to put on another vehicle...especially not in another country. (Puerto Rico is still another country right?).

He needs it to prove to whatever licensing agency he has down there what vehicle the engine originally came from...this is so he can 'legally' put that engine into another vehicle. I believe he is putting the motor into a CJ-5.

As for it being a federal violation...I know MANY folks here in Florida who buy/sell VIN plates and titles when building buggies etc. IE: take a VIN plate and title for a 1997 wrangler. You build a buggy with said VIN and title (most folks use at least the hood and grill) and it can be registered as a 1997 wrangler. I've even seen them on ebay for sale.

I think it has to do with the laws on both the VIN/titles as well as vehicle modification allowances in your area. I know it is easier here in FL because at this time you can put pretty much whatever you want on the road as long as it is perceived as safe and doesn't have crap flying off of it. Hell I think you can even build a rig from scratch and still get it titled as 'home made' or a 'kit car'.

I do know that even here in Florida if/when you get pulled over you better make sure your tag IS the one for your rig and the VIN better match what your registration shows as well as your insurance card/info better match as well. If it doesn't they can and will cart you to jail. BUT if it all matches then you are good to go.

I just need the number so this guy can show his govt agency etc that the motor came from a wagoneer that came from the factory with an AMC 360 in it. He has no title, VIN plate or any other item that would allow hiim to actualy put a waggy VIN on his CJ-5 (I think). I think if you do an engine swap in California it's sort of the same way...?

I guess I should not have 'asked' if it was ok...I am confident what this guy is trying to do is not illegal. I was asking just for a VIN number off a rig that will NOT ever be on the road again...this way IF he is up to something at least it cannot be seen as a duplicate VIN since the rig here in the states is scrap. This way he does not have the actual plate .

[tgreese]

I can't help you with the VIN, but there's nothing about the engine other than the build date tag that links it to a specific vehicle. Even that isn't specific to a single chassis, but only to the date the engine was manufactured. The engine could have sat in the factory for an hour or for months before it was used in a chassis. If he disassembles both engines and puts a single engine together from the parts using the build date tag from the original engine, it's essentially the same engine. It's just a matter of installing used parts in the existing engine. Maybe his shop is giving him trouble because of how they want to document the work, but I think there's no need to get the regulatory agencies involved at all.

Sorry if this doesn't help, but I think your (honest?) buyer is up against some bureaucratic BS that he's going to have to work around somehow.

<apologies to previous posters for any repeated contnet>