Custom Trucks

Depends. What parts did you cobble together?

 

It depends what parts you are using.

If you are using the original cab with the original frame there is a Vin number on the frame and the cab and whatever else you swap is no problem.

If you are using a different frame or a different cab I think most States have a process to reconstruct the truck. You would have to contact your state to find out how that works.

Here in Pennsylvania you have to take photographs of everything that you're doing and then send it into the state and they send you back a reconstructed title with a completely different Vin number.

And in Pennsylvania your truck is no longer a 1990 freightliner. It is a Pennsylvania reconstructed Vin truck number whatever it is and the new title will reflect that.

You definitely do not want to get caught driving a truck that the cab has one Vin and the frame has a different Vin.

 

I'm definitely not telling you to not do it but the chassis and the cabs from the nineties to the 2000 are basically the same.

Depending on what brand of truck you're talking about even the ones from the eighties are very similar.

So my point is if you just found something in one piece it would be a lot easier to make whatever modifications you want without all the extra mechanical work and extra paperwork.

 

Most headache free would be to buy a truck that is already good to go and then customize it.

I know in BC, Canada they have an "Assigned VIN" program where they rivet a new, unique VIN tag onto the vehicle that is used for registration purposes. This is done by a Designated Inspection Facility after it is verified that all major components were obtained legally. Maybe your jurisdiction has a similar program?

Vehicle identification number (VIN)

 

For emissions and safety equipment mandate standards you want to keep it registered as old as you can. So You will be exempt of all the things that were mandated after the truck was originally built. Example if you have a 1972 cab with clean title and/or serial/vin and you also have a 2000 chassis with clean title and vin. You want to keep it a ‘72. You’ve now got the benefit of a classic cab and hood that only needs to have what was mandated in ‘72 with newer chassis that doesn't need the extra mandated bs that a 2000 model must have.
I know Texas does not care if you have a 2000 engine in a 1972. To them it is still a 1972 so it is still exempt of anything after that.

 

As long as your title and the Vin number on the cab and the Vin number on the frame are the same you can do anything you want.

So yes it would be easiest just to find a truck that is in one piece that you like and then modify it without changing the cab or changing the frame.

If you do change the cab or change the frame then you have to make sure that wherever you are at that you are legal to use that truck.

Most likely will involve quite a bit of paperwork and going back-and-forth with the state.

If you plan on actually running the truck you definitely need to have all of your paperwork in order.