help me with my VIN dilemma

I bought my z31 about 9 months now. The dashboard had been changed and the VIN on the dash does not match the VIN on the firewall or door jam that is the acutal VIN for the car. When registering out of state vehicles in Indiana they have to do a VIN check. I told them the dash wouldnt match the title but the plaque's on the firewall and door jam did match, they said that wasn't good enough and that I would have to have the police check both VIN's and fill out a form. I went to the police station, they verified both VIN's were fine but that having the wrong VIN on the dash would cause issues if it ever got check for any reason. They signed the form (regardless of them saying it needs fixed) and I was able to get the car registered, with the wrong VIN still on the dash. So I have been driving the car up until a month or so ago when I started my LS swap. I am still worried about what might happen though if I ever get pulled over for any reason and they check the dash VIN and see the mismatch.

The original dashboard is long gone, so getting the original VIN and changing it to the new dash is not an option. I do though have the title for the car (which was a parts car for the previous owner and is also long gone) that matches the dash VIN that is currently in the car. So at this point i can only think of 2 options of what to do.

1 - Somehow get a VIN tag made that matches the door jam plaque, firewall plaque, and the title it's registered under. Getting a legit looking dash VIN tag might be somewhat hard to do.

2 - Register the car with the title that I have from the parts car the dash came out of. This would mean if the VIN was ever checked it would match the registered title for the vehicle but would not match the door jam/firewall plaques which might throw up red flags if those ever got check (not sure why the would though).

I think there is a way to apply for a new VIN but it seems like a terrible process that could be a real headache trying to get one for a vehicle that did previously have a VIN, it's more for custom made vehicles and watercraft. No matter which way I go I will probably atleast get the other title (matching the dash VIN) put in my name so that worse case scenario both VIN's come back to my name. But at the end of the day I would like to get it all done in a way that I wont ever have to worry about any kind of VIN mismatch for any reason.

TL;DR - bought car that dash had been changed by pervious owner. Dash VIN does not match the actual VIN that is on the door jam/firewall. No way to get old VIN tag off of original dash as it is gone. Have titles for both VIN's, currently registered under the actual vehicles VIN. Not sure best solution.

Make the wrong VIN go missing.

Fill your dash so full of crap that they cannot read the VIN up there!  I've seen a few like this.   Disgusting.  

Your 2 options both sound like a form of forgery. 

I would get the incorrect VIN tag off the dash. There is no law that says it must be displayed there. It's just a convenience. 

Then, if you get pulled over, the police will simply have to check the door jamb or firewall. 

SVreX said:

 

I would get the incorrect VIN tag off the dash. There is no law that says it must be displayed there. It's just a convenience. 

Then, if you get pulled over, the police will simply have to check the door jamb or firewall. 

sometimes it's the simplest things that get overlooked lol that sounds like a good option and I would be more then willing to show any LEO the door jam or firewall plaque to satisfy a VIN check if/when necessary.

As I understand it, and I'm not a lawyer, the official VIN is stamped on the metal frame of a vehicle.  Seems to me that the dashboard is not the metal frame of a vehicle.  I think that tag might go missing.  Read the laws for your state (available on line) and go from there.

SVreX said:

Your 2 options both sound like a form of forgery. 

Also, this is a purely hypothetical scenario that I would never do myself and advise nobody to every do this either.

*professional driver on a closed course*

*this has been known to cause cancer in the state of California*

*do not take with alcohol*

bases covered

I agree to remove the VIN plate on the dash or would simply obscure the VIN on the dash.  

A parking garage stub or business card could easily get lodged low on the dash covering the VIN plate.  In that case they would second check elsewhere on the car.  If I remember correctly, the stamping on the firewall trumps all other stickers or plates.   

Dr. Hess said:

As I understand it, and I'm not a lawyer, the official VIN is stamped on the metal frame of a vehicle.  Seems to me that the dashboard is not the metal frame of a vehicle.  I think that tag might go missing.  Read the laws for your state (available on line) and go from there.

I tried to tell that to they lady at the BMV. I was told it was "too easy to change that VIN and that they only go off of the dash #". yea.... since the dashboard is a permanent part of a vehicle........

Actually, it wouldn't shock me if there was an obscure law somewhere that said what you currently have is illegal. 

Something about 2 VINs, or changing the original VIN to another, or installing a dash with the incorrect VIN or something. 

The two best options are to either make a "period" correct reproduction plate, to increase the value the car. Or see if you can have a new VIN plate and title issued. I have seen a few from the state of Maryland, not sure how many flaming hoops the owner had to go through but I am sure it took a few weeks.

In SC, just possessing that car could get you some time in the Greybar Inn.  

I have wondered something similar with my Nissan truck.  I've wanted to replace the very cracked dash, but the VIN is attached to the dash pad and not to metal under it.  I could remove it and replace on a new pad, but I think the rivets won't be correct and that is a no no too.  It shows a tampered with VIN plate. 

I think removing the dash plate the the easiest way to go. 

But I do have a car that was made from two, it was front clipped, the VIN tag says something along the lines of reissued by the state of Ohio on it. So I am betting getting a plate is doable. However, is it just the dash? Seems a little silly to re-vin because of just the dash.

I didn’t do this ever:

on backside of dash vin tag, one should be able to cut the back side of the rivets off leaving you factory rivet heads which can be used with a dab of glue to attach your “period correct reproduction vin plate” to your “restoration part dash” to not show evidence of your “dash being not original”

What exactly is a "factory rivet head?"  Is that like one of David's band names or something?  I bet McMaster carries whatever it is.

My advice (a little knowledgable on some side of this)

Do you have ANY documentation on the past remediation you did to get it titled?   copy, laminate, keep in car and do nothing else.  If something arises you can deal then with the car possibly towed away for a short time (possibly impounded temporarily) if the cop is in a bad mood.

Jump through the flaming hoops and have a re-issue done according to your states statues and just get the pain in the behind over with BEFORE anything comes of in (see previous)

Those are the only options I would readily provide. Pretty much anything else is possible to be construed as violating the law and can carry consequences if wrong cop on a bad day were to happen.   faking a VIN tag IIRC is a title 18 violation (federal)...  (side note, if its older than 197x (cant remember exact year) its technically not a VIN in the current legal sense, so not sure, but some laws may apply differently)

*I stayed at a holiday inn express, but its FAR from my bread and butter.  Any advice given is worth less than the price you paid and I refuse any liabilities which may arise from said advice.

John Welsh said:

I agree to remove the VIN plate on the dash or would simply obscure the VIN on the dash.  

A parking garage stub or business card could easily get lodged low on the dash covering the VIN plate.  In that case they would second check elsewhere on the car.  If I remember correctly, the stamping on the firewall trumps all other stickers or plates.   

Had an argument with AAA North Penn about that. They seemed to think the firewall VIN was easier to change than the one on the A Pillar for the RX-3...

I'd just have one reproduced and attach it to the dash the state probably offers that as a service. They're technically in multiple places to insure a match if there's any question.

In reply to Dr. Hess :

So it seems there's a specific type of rivet made to hold VIN tags on that are controlled - meaning it's illegal to have them unless you're an auto manufacturer or a contractor for an auto manufacturer. They look like this:

And of course you can order them on eBay.

The correct VIN is the one one the firewall and door sill. 

The mistake was when the new dash was installed. An incorrect VIN was mistakingly put on the car.  Removing it is only correcting a previous problem. 

If there had been no dash VIN when the police checked it, they would have checked the other locations. Lots of cars do not have dash VINs

Be a shame if electrical tape fell onto that dash vin....

When I switched dashes in a 240sx, I just drilled the old rivets out and swapped the VIN tag.  Factory rivets just looked like normal blind rivets and that's what I used to put it back in.   If I was in your position I'd measure it and get one engraved at the local trophy shop or jewelry store.   If you want one that's embossed you may have to look a little harder.  The only real problem is that it'll be a pain to swap them with the dash still in due to the angle of the windshield.  If someone comments that it doesn't look original, tell them to check the ones on the firewall and doorjamb.  What can they say as long as the numbers match?

Make a new  dash tag, call it a day. Here that would be legal.

The dash VIN fell off of my RX-7.  Fortunately there is a nice stamping on the firewall.  And a data plate on the firewall.  And a doorjamb sticker.

Your dash VIN just needs to be removed.  Technically, it should have been done before the replacement dashboard was installed, so all you are doing is correcting an improper repair.

There is another option.  Get a third car and move everything you want over to it.  Title and register legally with everything matching and be done with the other two problems.  

A z31 is the 80's 300zx yes?  I would just get another one.  They are not rare or expensive.