I just got back from the Massachusetts referee station and it seems there will not be an issue getting a new VIN issued and a title issued here in MA. The most critical thing is proving ownership of the donor 80, which is no problem as I have the title and it is registered in my name currently. Next is proof of purchase of the 79 series body from Proffitt's. I do have an Excel spreadsheet showing where I bought it from them, but when I showed this to the referee he said that I would have to have something a little more "official" I'll be calling Proffitts to see if I can maybe get something written up on company letterhead and signed to satisfy the referee. He also told me that it wouldn't be a bad idea if I could get some sort of documentation from Proffitts showing proof of where they purchased the bodies. It's all about making sure no stolen parts are used in the build. And I will also have to show receipts for any parts that I have to buy for the build.
The State referee said that VINs are issued for any vehicle sold in the US and shows things like engine size (cylinders), transmission type, 2 door vs 4 door, color, etc and when any of these are altered to something other than the stock configuration, diesel swap, change color, or put a pick-up on a SUV chassis for example, a new VIN should be issued. In those states where this whole process appears to be much easier, like New Mexico or North Carolina, will the DMV be issuing a new VIN that shows the truck being changed from a 4-door SUV to a 2-door pick-up or do they just reflect the change on the registration? I can see a problem if the registration does not match what the VIN says the vehicle should be.
They will then issue a new VIN for the truck. I then will have to have a safety inspection. The only issue I see here in Massachusetts is that the truck will have to have airbags. This is just a visual inspection and only the lack of a driver's airbag would probably be an issue. The only thing that will fail me is the lack of airbags and a light on showing a faulty airbag. The airbag light can be fixed by removing the bulb.
My Options:
-Try to retrofit the 80 series column to the 79 series firewall and retain the 80 series airbag.
- Use a 75 series column and see if any other airbag equipped steering wheel has the same splines and can be bolted onto the 75 series column to give the appearance of an airbag.
- Hope the inspection station doesn't catch not having a passenger's airbag or somehow "graph" on some sort of badging that gives the perception of having a passenger's airbag.
- Find an inspection station that is more lenient than others.
The State referee said that VINs are issued for any vehicle sold in the US and shows things like engine size (cylinders), transmission type, 2 door vs 4 door, color, etc and when any of these are altered to something other than the stock configuration, diesel swap, change color, or put a pick-up on a SUV chassis for example, a new VIN should be issued. In those states where this whole process appears to be much easier, like New Mexico or North Carolina, will the DMV be issuing a new VIN that shows the truck being changed from a 4-door SUV to a 2-door pick-up or do they just reflect the change on the registration? I can see a problem if the registration does not match what the VIN says the vehicle should be.
They will then issue a new VIN for the truck. I then will have to have a safety inspection. The only issue I see here in Massachusetts is that the truck will have to have airbags. This is just a visual inspection and only the lack of a driver's airbag would probably be an issue. The only thing that will fail me is the lack of airbags and a light on showing a faulty airbag. The airbag light can be fixed by removing the bulb.
My Options:
-Try to retrofit the 80 series column to the 79 series firewall and retain the 80 series airbag.
- Use a 75 series column and see if any other airbag equipped steering wheel has the same splines and can be bolted onto the 75 series column to give the appearance of an airbag.
- Hope the inspection station doesn't catch not having a passenger's airbag or somehow "graph" on some sort of badging that gives the perception of having a passenger's airbag.
- Find an inspection station that is more lenient than others.
