Legalities Of Body And/or Frame Swaps

Are there any legal issues with swapping the body and or frame on a cj5 to a cj6 or even a flat fender body? i know parts get swapped and stretched and such but if i am building a frame to replace the old one and update the suspension and then i do a body swap in the future to a mb body, it is really no longer a cj5 and is more of a home built vehicle but with the cj5 title...

 

Don't ask, don't tell, I guess. I have wondered myself. In Michigan I would think they would want you to get a new" Assembled" title. When I was doing motorcycles, you had to have it inspected by the State Police, and they would issue a new number and a permanent sticker to put on your bike with an Assembled Title.
In the 70's I would go to Tennessee and buy nice older pick-up's and bring them back to Michigan, I would have to have them inspected by the State Police to get them transferred to a Michigan title. Good luck.

 

Every states requirements are different as to how strict they are and what the inspectors know about. If you replace the same stuff with the same components, how can they tell aside from the vin? My title says "jeep" on it. Not cj2a or any model, just 1948 jeep.

 

I would think that something along the lines of a new title from your state would be the legal beagle thing to do. In PA, they are called "reconstructed" titles.

In PA it goes something like this.....a vehicle was in a major, declared totalled by the insurance company. It gets a "salvage" salvage or certificate. It could then be purchased by an individual, have the major damage repaired, inspected by a certified state inspection mechanic, fill out the proper paperwork and submit it to the state. If all is well, the state then issues a "reconstructed" title which tells any prospective buyer in the future that the vehicle had serious structural damage at some point and had been repaired. Usually a red flag to most buyers.

The same might apply where a major structural component (frame or a part of it, body tub) is replaced for some reason other than a crash. Rust is one example.

 

Each state is different. The only real big issue would be if you were involved in a major collision where the insurance company had to do a big investigation. The question would be whether the rig you insured actually existed past the VIN tag and title.

 

Circa 87 I clearly remember being pulled over in the 2a with historic tags. The officer grilled me and repeatedly went over the registration. He just couldn't believe it was a 39 yo vehicle.
While we are quick to note subtle differences the average person is going to be hard pressed to distinguish changes. I think most could not distinguish between a 5 and a tj.A girlfriend and her family referred to her stepfather's s10 jimmy as a jeep. She didn't last....
Of the 3 good titles i possess 2 of them are signed by po's that are deceased. I bought the vehicles that way....The state gets my money if I bring them current. Beyond that they dont seem to care. Neither do I.

 

Just to chime in for the don't ask don't tell....

Unless your a jeep person, or are good at decoding jeep vin tags... a NYS title for has my 49 cj3a, 73 cj5 and 74 Cj6 both listed as jeep cj universal.
I would have no trouble sleeping registering a 45-75 jeep as a CJ universal.
Your insurance provider and state DMV really doesn't care about much more either.

 

I usually would think there would not be an issue IF you built your own frame and kept the CJ5 body (or a replacement CJ5 tub), but changing to a 1940's flat fender style body and still titled as a Cj5 I think would be a big issue if this vehicle was to be driven on public roads. You would be surprised how many law officers in south Florida know what different type Jeeps there are.
As mentioned above, if there were any type of insurance claim, you would be hanging out in the wind.
-Donny

 

The model and Vin number is stamped on the vin tag. Ie... 57548 123456 The vin (123456) is also stamped on the jeep frame and it's on the title.. 3 places.

If the frame vin and title don't match.. What happens if the insurance gets used, what happens when you sell the jeep and the numbers don't match. I know when I buy a car I verify the vin..

Washington state the vin has to match the frame, vin tag and title. Period.

Here if you did a frame swap you would have to take in all proof of swap to get a new title made with the correct numbers.

I had a honda stolen years ago. They destroyed the dash. I got a dash from the wrecker, we didn't know at the time but we switched the vin tag from the old dash to the new and riveted it on. Like I said we didn't know you couldn't do that..
Went to the wsp station to get it inspected. We had to bring in the vin from the replacement dash and the receipt and have it re inspected. While we waited in a locked room.. And the honda was in the other locked garage. Wsp ended up riviting a new vin onto the door frame.

I would ask the dmv to get a accurate answer. Just my opinion

 

Washington State was the most difficult place to get my junk registered.

 

Very rare to find a Jeep around here with a matching frame number. it is even more rare around here to find a stock Jeep. The 4 cylinders couldn't make it up our hills and the 9" brakes certainly can't stop you coming down the other side.

 

That has totally changed. No more out of state inspections any more. The only inspections required now are for rebuilt totals. I have a pretty easy time transferring titles now.

 

My first 2a was already salad. The front frame horns and cross member already reconstructed, frame tag long gone. My 2nd no frame tag. Current ecj5 frame under my flatty glass body had some obscure #'s stamped on passenger frame rail. Sandblasted, couple grinder skips expoxy primer and they are long gone. Spare late flatty or Dj frame has a few stamped #'s still legible. I get everyone has to feel out how picky their state is. Just saying never had anyone even glance at a frame in these parts. Vin tag and registration match, good to go.

 

Thats great. It was a real hassle in the mid to late 90's

 

I still have all three titles and VIN tags from the donors just in case someone ask any questions. My title says Station Wagon, I guess a Tux is a station wagon in some states.

 

wicked easy to get an assigned vin in maine call em,they send a trooper and you show him all the numbers you have, receipts for any parts you bought ,and he inspects and gives you a new tag.the salvage liberty was titled with just a written description of what totaled it and what i did(nothing but the tail light and mashed the gate till it worked) to fix it. they sent a rebuilt title right out.

 

Florida is a PIA to get anything titled. Unless you have a clear record of parts, you can't get it titled. DMV told me the first thing to do is get the title transfered into your name. DO not start working on something that is not in your name. All three have to match. When I sandblasted my CJ8 frame there were no numbers. A buddy at the sheriff's office suggested I get a set of number stamps and restamp the frame. Not sure how legal it was but I did not change the numbers, just restamped them. I also know they 99.9% only look at the tag on the firewall. Heck we can't hardly find the numbers on the frame and we know where to look; too much dirt, grime and paint that fills it in.

But I'm a believer in trying to do everything legal when I can.

 

Per CA DMV any change/upgrade to motor, frame or body needs inspection/reported for proper registration. I know there have been a lot of vins that have been switched from one vehicle to another or frames that have been switched under vehicles, (mine included), if you were to be stopped by LE and it was determined that vins between frames and body didn't match and haven't been registered thru DMV, you could loose the vehicle until it could be verified. I switched out the frame when I rebuilt and had it certified thru CHP inspection center and then re-tagged for DMV to register. When I re-placed the motor with the one Terry built for me I again went to CHP inspection to have it certified for DMV. I dont want to be put in a position to prove that its legit so I can get it back. Just my 2cents......