My 57 shortbed
 

Well, I pulled the trigger on the 57. It will take some "fitment" work to make it go together as the cab is original and in pretty good shape, the doors have one small dent between the two of them, and ALL the other body and bed parts are new from LMC.

Before you go off on me for all the new parts, I have been told of the fitment issues and I swear I will get through them. I'm fitting a new firewall to the 54 right now and I know that it didn't "drop right in" and fit, in fact I have already reworked the two lower rounded corners to make it fit the kick panels.

I will get pictures this weekend when I pick it up. I'll post them here for the time being.

It still needs a name, and I will start a build thread as soon as I finish the 54. Also, I was asked "how much"? I paid 8000 for it, titled on the 79 frame.

I found a bare frame for it and will pick it up next week.

The only real problem I see is that it isn't titled as a 57. Obviously, this won't be a resale truck as it is for ME, so I just want to title it as a 57. I would rather not do a "bonded title" or even title it as a kit car.

So, I'm looking for ideas on how to title it as a 57.

I've read on the Vermont title system, but they have stopped doing it for out of state people, so it won't work.

However, if anybody has a lead on a cheap truck I can buy for the title, please let me know.

Thanks

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

great news about the new purchase. hopefully the title thing works out. post up lots of pics when you get to it. would love to see the new project

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Thank you, and I will be posting pictures.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Sounds like a nice project. Good luck with the titling issue. Although, if you are able to set it on an original type frame, have it inspected, you might be able to get that changed.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Thank you sir. I am picking up an original frame for it next Tuesday.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

you have it bad 8man.
you might want to seek professional help :D
we're here to help

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Yeah, I wish my wife would stop encouraging me. My buddy's first question was "what are you going to do with all those trucks".

Just so you know, I've already got the parts to do your door electric connector, so it'll have power to the doors.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

The Bonded title thing goes off the title in three years. That brand goes off in three years.

You can check into a Texas rebuilt title https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/...les/VTR-61.pdf

You should have the seller write you out a separate bill of sale for the cab if you do that and get a bill of sale for the frame. Not a thing wrong with tellng the inspector /state that you bought a put together truck with that cab on it and a frame that matched the title either.

Still what applies in Texas is the only thing that counts. I have no issues with bonded titles because you can have the brand removed in three years. I don't have an issuewith "rebuilt" titles as most of us with AD and TF trucks have "rebuilt" trucks anyhow. I mean, really, think about it, Theoretically a guy is looking at a 57 3100 with a Morrison chassis, 18 inch billet wheels, an LS 3 and matching trans with a 9 inch Ford Rear end and is balking on the purchase because the truck has a "rebuilt" brand on the title?

The main thing is that branded or not branded that when all is said and done you know that you bought every piece legally to your knowledge and did the right thing as far as getting a legit title that isn't going to come back and bite you on the tailfeathers.

You can pull up and print out official looking Texas bill of sale forms to take along when you buy major parts. https://eforms.com/bill-of-sale/tx/t...-bill-of-sale/

Then keep the completed ones in a binder for that truck. Organization with all the ducks in a tidy row goes a long way with officials when you are going though the process.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Thanks for the tips. That is very helpful.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

your wife is a keeper! mine rode in my truk one time

good luck with the door harness. i'm quite happy with them after 13 yrs on the road

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

maybe you wanna work on the title before anything else. just to be sure it will be roadable.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Yes, it has a title right now, but it's for a 79, because the frame has a VIN.

I got the truck home and there is a VIN plate on the door, but it has been painted over. I have not drilled it out and taken it off yet to see what I can do with it to get to the original VIN. If I can get the newer paint off and get to the original VIN, I can license it as a 57.

I am working on a plan B off I can't get the paint off.

I'm starting a build thread that is going to be excruciatingly slow as I need to make the 54 into a truck first.

We are thinking of naming it Ol' Blue, and that will be the build thread.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

before you do ANYTHING check with the local authorities. where I come from a vin plate that is removed or has new, non original rivets, is as good as stolen. that means charges against you. then they check EVERYTHING for stolen parts so you need a bill of sale/reciept for all the non stock parts or stuff that looks like it wasn't from the original truck. at least take pics of the vin plate with relevant parts of the truck showing, so you can show that the vin plate removed was from the truck it is on currently. the vin plate would have numbers etc stamped into it, correct? not just painted on the plate. if it got painted over then scratcking the paint off would reveal the numbers which would be low spots filled withthe paint?

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Thanks again Raven. I am going to check on some stuff regarding the title. If I can use a pencil and some thin paper to get a number, I'll start with that. Maybe Saturday since it's stored about 2 hours from me right now.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

Agree with Mr dsraven on this one. Never remove vin plates. its stamped so hit it with some paint remover and that way you don't need worry about scraping messing a stamped number. If its not stamped then its not original.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

I was gonna suggest the paper and pencil thing. Maybe tape the paper all around so it cant move. I've thought of carbon paper or some other pressure sensitive medium before but never actually tried that.keep us posted.

Re: My 57 shortbed
 

I will report on the paper and pencil when I can get to it, probably Saturday. If it works, I'll run the VIN and see what I have.

I did a bonded title on my 79 Cherokee Chief, so I can go that route if necessary.

However, thanks to you guys, I have more help now than I did then.