Moparts

What makes a truck???

Posted By: HotRodDave

What makes a truck??? - 06/08/21 09:12 PM

Looking at buying basically two trucks and making myself one nice truck, one complete truck is a roll over 2019 Ram with pretty much every piece of sheet metal dented up (good frame PA certificate of salvage) and another set of sheet metal including a bare cab to replace all the sheet metal on the other, what do I need to keep to keep it all legal and get a useable title? Does the title go with the cab, the frame, something else? I don't think I can get the cab title from the guy selling parts on craigslist (said he's going to use the frame and engine and everything), do I need both titles? Can I just put all the sheet metal on the rollover, swap interiors and everything into the bare cab then get a salvage title from the state?
Posted By: stumpy

Re: What makes a truck??? - 06/08/21 10:01 PM

why go through all that when you could pick a up a good truck for less money and grief?
Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: What makes a truck??? - 06/08/21 10:54 PM

I would be less than $10,000 in to it, no way no how gonna get a nicer truck for that. Even if I had 100 hours labor into it at my shop rate would be another $7500 still less than 1/2 the price of a comparable truck, I pay myself and I can improve stuff to my taste along the way like extra sound deadener, rust proofing, 6.4 swap and sell the 5.7...
Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: What makes a truck??? - 06/08/21 11:19 PM

The details on how to do what you want to do varies from state to state. Don't let anyone tell you anything unless it relates directly to your state. I am a licensed rebuilder in Illinois. There are easier ways to do this, but if you want to use this roll-over, I would buy a flood truck like yours (fresh water only, of course) and swap all that sheet metal to yours. Maybe even find one the right color.

Wherever the VIN numbers are located will need to be the parts and pieces that are kept together on the end unit. Everything HAS to match the title. As long as all the proper parts that have the VIN from the title are retained, you should be good to go. But check with your state people on this.

And be sure to understand your state's process for turning a salvage title into a rebuilt title. Without a rebuilt title, the vehicle CANNOT be licensed.
Posted By: TJP

Re: What makes a truck??? - 06/08/21 11:57 PM

that could really turn into a can of worms and almost every part of newer vehicles have the vin# on them somewhere. In a sense, You're basically wanting swap VIN tags.
I would be a bit leery or the no title truck as it could have a history you don't want to find out about later. Check with your States DMV regarding the legality of what you want to do. might be able to get an "State assigned VIN". I would also run a VIN check on the no title vehicle at a minimum.
It may also cause issues if and when you decide to sell twocents beer
Posted By: A12

Re: What makes a truck??? - 06/09/21 12:24 AM

Quote
It may also cause issues if and when you decide to sell


Especially 35 years from now when Moparts II calls you or the new owner out for selling, buying or owning a.............wait for it..................................Re-Body no hammer tsk stirthepot argue laugh2
Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: What makes a truck??? - 06/09/21 12:25 AM

I think I am going to abandon ship fer now, the guy with the cab has the title but want's to keep it with the frame, he's supposedly gonna put it under an old warlock or something. Montana requires the title to go with the cab not the frame but if you do swap frames you need the receipt title or bill of sale for the frame of the donor vehicle. I will look for a truck or cab I can get a title with.
Posted By: 5thAve

Re: What makes a truck??? - 06/09/21 02:27 AM

It's strange how trucks vary so much, Usually title goes with the frame because it's the most significant part and the cab gets treated as a replaceable part. But there's also the argument that you can swap a damaged frame and keep the VIN and title for the rest of the truck.
If I was that guy with the cab I'd want to keep the title too but wouldn't necessrily use it. At least if the problem comes up why a warlock has a chassis that's 40 years newer there's paper work to go with it and not that someone threw their cab on a stolen new truck.
Posted By: Piers Morrison

Re: What makes a truck??? - 08/01/21 06:59 PM

The way I see it, installing those parts, sheet metal and welding or whatever you will use, and getting the titles will cost you a lot more than buying a ready-made truck. I understand you, you think you'll manage to save money, but that's not the case at all. Besides, you can find a used vehicle for the money you wrote. I've bought a used car myself, for a job delivering loose materials for building construction. I was leafing through the classifieds on truckexporter.co.uk until I had my eye on a DAF LF55 250 4X2 3-WAY STEEL TIPPER (2012). Yes, it was not new, but still works properly.
Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: What makes a truck??? - 08/01/21 10:34 PM

As stated, check with your local DMV. Every state is different. California is pretty easy, but some states make you jump through major hoops.
Posted By: Rhinodart

Re: What makes a truck??? - 08/02/21 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by stumpy
why go through all that when you could pick a up a good truck for less money and grief?


You apparently have not been paying attention with the prices of used trucks right now, people are selling theirs back to the dealers for more money than they paid for it... eek
Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: What makes a truck??? - 08/02/21 03:24 AM

Also....
Maybe it might be interesting to assemble a vehicle without having to repair rust or deal with crappy aftermarket stuff .....you know, like what we all face when restoring a classic.
Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: What makes a truck??? - 08/10/21 03:32 AM

It varies by jurisdiction. They may even want to issue a new VIN if they consider it an amalgamated vehicle.

Originally Posted by HotRodDave
I would be less than $10,000 in to it, no way no how gonna get a nicer truck for that. Even if I had 100 hours labor into it at my shop rate would be another $7500 still less than 1/2 the price of a comparable truck, I pay myself and I can improve stuff to my taste along the way like extra sound deadener, rust proofing, 6.4 swap and sell the 5.7...


Yeah but all that and you still have a piece of crap newer dodge truck. 2000's dodge trucks are at the bottom of the heap for reliability and resale value. I can't imagine a 2019 is a good move and it's not like there's anything special about it. I would sooner just buy something a little older but clean and nice that I can drive today and save the wrenching for something worth saving.
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