[OrrieG]

I agree with DWSCR and Ogre; heated metal loses its temper and cannot be worked, think of how and old trash burning barrel is after a few fires.

Clear title is essential before spending a dime on it. If the insurance company paid out on the fire it became their property and they probably declared it a total loss and had the title purged so they would not have any liability. It might be flagged and not able to get a title. Other scenario is it was not insured and has just passed thru so many hands that it got lost. You do a lot of work, then start the title process at which point the last person to have it titled show up to take back his truck. Both these situations have played out before.