Raising coupe body

Ray P

Ray P

Member
I have been told by DMV officials I will have to show proof of my VIN to transfer title. The motor was swapped out years ago so the numbers on it don't help. It looks like I'm going to have to raise the body and hopefully find a readable number on the frame. Unfortunately the garage roof does not have adequate bracing to safely hoist the body. Any advice on a safe way to raise the body to show the VIN? Thanks
 
find someone in your area that goes to the DMV ( A Professional ) that will do the vehicle transfer for you. Most often they will know a way to get-r-done with out removing the body. I am sure fellow Barner's can give you recommendation for people in your area
 
IF you have AAA they should be able to do it. I used the engine number on mine when I registered her in Ca. If they force you to verify then you should be able to just lift her up front and back via floor jack. Lift about 6 inches front and back and then set her back down.

Mike
 
Mike is correct in using a floor jack to raise the body. But there are things that must be done first, such as, removing the hood, radiator support rods, disconnecting the wiring running from the terminal box to starter switch/generator, the steering column clamp under the gas tank, running board/splash apron and possibly things I have not mentioned. Remove all body bolts on driver side. Loosen all body bolts on the passenger side to allow the body to pivot lengthwise. Observe all areas as the body comes up.
I have done this a few times without a great deal of trouble.
Another question comes to mind however and that is "if you are lucky enough to find the chassis number, does it match the number on your title?"
Good luck with the project. Let us know the result.
MAG
 
My experience has been that I just went to a DMV with the engine #, and paper work and if that wasn't enough I went to another DMV . That was quite a while back but it worked.
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You can order a generic VIN plate with you id number from the title stamped on it...on line cheap.
 
Before you get to carried away with lifting the body, double check the frame right in front of the cowl. That is where my vin number is. I had the body off to rebuild the frame and that was the only set of numbers. It was along the edge on the outside of the frame on top.
 
You may consider this, clean the engine number pad to bare metal. Find a piece of aluminum very thin as a dime. Go back to the engine number pad and make template exactly the same as the pad. Take your template to the aluminum and cut to the size of your template. Find someone that has number stamps the same as Ford's with the star and the letter A, carefully stamp the aluminum plate you just made with the number from your title. If you cannot find the correct number stamps, then use any letter/ number stamps for steel. DMV does not know what they should look like from factory. Make sure when you stamp the numbers onto your plate that you are hitting against a very hard surface, or your plate will distort. After you get your numbers stamped onto the plate, glue it on to the engine number pad with JB Weld, clamp with a couple of squeeze clamps for a day, then paint over it with whatever color your engine is. Call Dave Morton right there in Lexington to see if he knows someone in your area that has the number stamps to do this job. I have done this numerous times in Florida and the DMV takes it. Don't lift your body just for this.
 
Ray P said:
I have been told by DMV officials I will have to show proof of my VIN to transfer title. The motor was swapped out years ago so the numbers on it don't help. It looks like I'm going to have to raise the body and hopefully find a readable number on the frame. Unfortunately the garage roof does not have adequate bracing to safely hoist the body. Any advice on a safe way to raise the body to show the VIN? Thanks
Click to expand...

I was in the same boat 2 weeks ago, 1930 engine, title state the same but it's a late 31' I got the car from another state so my state's BMV wanted a VIN inspection... 12 local car dealership later, and a little grease.... And done...;)
 
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