OldIHC

The plate in the cab says HF8734 (from best I can tell)

The frame rail says D28742

And my title states Vin is H0213---

It's registered as a 1937 D2 but can't find a vin to verify with title so I can title in new state.

Help!?!?!

Much appreciated

Jay

Hi Jay,

I believe D28742 is the vin #, my title says D210904 and if I remember correctly the number should also be stamped on the front frame on the driver's side. If no one else
chimes in I'll check my 37 tomorrow.


--George

It's actually "HD213" that's what's stamped on the engine. It's a 213 cu in IHC HD flathead six cylinder.
Either the engine number (HD213) OR the vin/ frame (D2....) number is OK to use at the DMV as long as everyone understands...
BRJ was just explaining this process...lots of old vehicles were tagged using the engine number. In your case HD213. But you're missing a piece of the engine number...does your truck still have its HD213 engine?
Obviously, engines get swapped out and frames don't. Logic would say use the vin/frame number.

It has a Chevy 283 now so it doesn't look like I'll be able to match the vin on the title to the truck.

Sounds like that's wrong too since it reads HO and not HD.

Guess I have my work cut out for me.

What state do you live in? Is the DMV that tough?

CT. They are a pain for everything.

Can not hurt to have Wisconsin Historical Society write up a letter to verify that the "serial" "chassis" number that is on your frame is a valid number, should also be able to verify that for date range with the info on the page: http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm ... 529/rec/15
Good luck, It will be best if you can get it on the chassis number from now on.

The plate in the cab HF 8734 is simply the cab model designation-HF and it was 8734th one built,

Has nothing to do with IDing the truck, if you have it inspected don't even point to it, just muddies the water,

Like stated, your title VIN is the engine number, which is long gone apparently,

The Wisconsin Historic Society lists by chassis number of generally when your truck was made,
IHC didn't use date codes back then like other makers,

If you have the ID tag with both engine and chassis number , not the little cab ID one you may be able to talk to someone reasonable,

Otherwise it sounds like you will need to get it retitled to the chassis number,

I'm going to give my unrequested opinion on "VINs".
In my job I check VINs everyday. About 2000 a year x 25 years for a total of about 50,000 VINs.
When I started we were checking 1966 and up cars and trucks. Early vehicles do not have the now-standardized 17 digit VIN. Their VINs were much shorter. Sometimes just four numbers.
Guess what, our CA DMV doesn't care (on older stuff) if you tag off engine, frame, cab, whatever. As long as a DMV or law-enforcement officer can walk over and find a corresponding number on the vehicle to what's on the registration.
I've owned old vehicles titled off engines, transmission bellhousings (Ford), frames, ID plates, etc.
It really helps if the number that is used is readily visible, though.
In the case of my first (ex-USMC) IHC D-2 I bought 30 years ago I was forced by the CA DMV to go get a "replacement VIN" installed at the California Highway Patrol. After a couple of appointments blown because the man was off fighting traffic crime, I finally got a replacement VIN installed in the door jamb of my old D-2. It looks completely wrong on a D-2. Oh, well.
My point is that the early VIN numbers used can be somewhat arbitrary. I used a D-35 (two-ton) ID plate for my 1/2 ton D-2/Tacoma. The CA DMV could care less. It's not like they have antique VIN RESEARCHERS on staff. Funny!
To point out how little they care, when I sold my first (ex-USMC) D-2 it still had that funny California HIghway Patrol plate in the doorjamb, but I had switched the entire works unto a 2000 Nissan Frontier frame and running gear!
CT DMV workers can't be any more intuitive than CA DMV workers?

Some DMV people can't get past the 17 digit thing,

My 1937 Diamond T had a 4 digit VIN, so did my 37 GMC, my 49 KB 1 panel is 6 digits

Funny they left off the GRD in front of the numbers at DMV