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another vin question!

5K views 12 replies 4 participants last post by  Kevbz 
#1 ·
Looking at a 97 wrangler. It was in the middle of a rebuild, repainted, inside of tub bed lined and interior reinstalled except dash and rear seat. The problem is there is no Vin# visible. No dash so its gone, no door jam sticker either. My ? is were else can I find a vin so I am sure the title is to the jeep I'm looking at?
 
#2 ·
My ? is were else can I find a vin so I am sure the title is to the jeep I'm looking at?
Look for a fendertag, which is a small metal plate about 2"x3" in size. You should find one either riveted to the floor between the driver's seat and the driver's door, or held on by one rivet attached to the front frame underneath the plastic sway bar overlay.
 
#4 ·
Sherpa said:
Look for a fendertag, which is a small metal plate about 2"x3" in size. You should find one either riveted to the floor between the driver's seat and the driver's door, or held on by one rivet attached to the front frame underneath the plastic sway bar overlay.
The one beside the seat was removed before the floor was bedlined and misplaced, the one on front of frame was removed by previous owner when he replaced the grill and added a very bad after market bumper! Isn't there one on the frame somewhere or the motor or tranny?
 
#6 · (Edited)
Sounds fishy.

Did the whole thing get painted? Inside and out? On mine I have vin stickers on all the fenders, on the tub back by the door, underside of the hood.

Obviously the fenders and the hood numbers are more for stolen parts ID, but there is that one on the back of the tub inside by the contacts for the rear door.

If there is no dash Vin, how will you title it? No matter how many stickers you find or plates you came across...if there is nothing up visible in the dash, most places wont title it at inspection time, and any cop that pulls you over would have a field day with that
 
#9 ·
couldn't technically someone have bought/taken that old dash and VIN plate, plus the VIN plate by the driver door, and with a duplicate title took it out of state and titled it, thus getting a new title from that state...and then if you buy the jeep with the original title and no VIN's, but prove its the right jeep, get a new dash VIN and title it...now there would be two jeeps with the same VIN. Plus its been repainted (same color?). I live in MO and I know the DMV here is crazy...one discrepancy and you are done for.

is it a project jeep? who doesn't have a dash in a daily driver?

I am just asking because if you buy it and then IL says you cant title it...its a trail rig.

And the DMV actually makes VIN plates for the dash? Who installs it?

And, I do not believe that Jeep puts any hard, stamped, VIN numbers on the frame or the engine that will suffice. Best you will find is plates and stickers.

not sure if 97 year did the stickers on the fenders, but they would have to remove everything to paint it so you might find one there
 
#10 ·
Kevbz said:
couldn't technically someone have bought/taken that old dash and VIN plate, plus the VIN plate by the driver door, and with a duplicate title took it out of state and titled it, thus getting a new title from that state...and then if you buy the jeep with the original title and no VIN's, but prove its the right jeep, get a new dash VIN and title it...now there would be two jeeps with the same VIN. Plus its been repainted (same color?). I live in MO and I know the DMV here is crazy...one discrepancy and you are done for.

is it a project jeep? who doesn't have a dash in a daily driver?

I am just asking because if you buy it and then IL says you cant title it...its a trail rig.

And the DMV actually makes VIN plates for the dash? Who installs it?

And, I do not believe that Jeep puts any hard, stamped, VIN numbers on the frame or the engine that will suffice. Best you will find is plates and stickers
not sure if 97 year did the stickers on the fenders, but they would have to remove everything to paint it so you might find one there
Yep same color. Checked under the hood it was left alone. Yes it was a project. The Vin is isued through the salvage division and if proven to b a good reason for original to be missing(restoration or rebuild) they will issue a salvage,rebuilt or replacement vin and they install it. They issue a lot of replacement vin plate for Jeeps that that have after market dash replacements that people toss the old ones and realize during installation that the vin was attached to part of it.
 
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