Blazer VIN switch?

[trev1981]

I have a 84 blazer(gas), in really good condition. But the smog laws in CA are killing my HP plans for the future. I was thinking of finding a diesel blazer that's in bad shape for cheap. So I can switch the plates and dash VIN, so it will be registered as a diesel(no more smog).

Will this work? The reason I want to keep this truck is because it is 100% rust free.

 

[jt512]

No, it is actually a federal offense. Just a heads up, the mods really frown on any discussion about doing that sort of thing. Not trying to be a d , just letting you know what's up

 

[cheyennek20]

Nowadays, every major component manufacturer that makes performance parts has options for building poer that's emmissions legal.

Heck, call Summit and ask for any Ideas, they'll let you know whats legal.

Many of the people here could even help out.

Don't be the guy that gets arrested for doing something 'tarded.

Even Hot Rod has done big power build-ups while retaining the legal equipment. We're just looking out for you.

 

[dyeager535]

And even if you consider it beyond what you've already been told, IF the dash VIN ever comes into question, the partial VIN is stamped into the frame, and you'd have some real problems trying to explain why they don't match.

BTDT, I did mine "legit" and still had issues when the State Patrol did their inspection.

 

[pauly383]

I know for a fact that a little bitty 305 in a 83 , with all the smog stuff working , can chirp the tires shifting second if you have everything working right and keep it in well maintained tune ( always new plugs , wires , cap and rootor , etc every year ) . I also went through the hassle of regearing twice as I got new tire sizes .

Don't be scared of the emissions . Some guys put their kids through college designing that stuff to work right and let you merge onto the freeway

And modern dual pattern camshafts , and things with E.O numbers are your friends , use them in Cali .

 

[jonathon]

What did WSP do for an inspection?

I've bought 3 vehicles from OR now and never had any inspected..

 

[73redblaze]

to answer your question, yes it will work even though it is illegal. i sold my 73 the other day and the only reason i got what i did for it is because it had the Vin on the door and plates.

 

[dyeager535]

Crawled under the truck with a dentists mirror, and made me produce receipts for everything I bought and installed on the truck (doors, tailgate, body, frame, engine, trans, transfercase).

This was because the truck was built from a wrecking yard body, so had no VIN. Out of state inspections went away a few years ago.

They "got" me because I knew the title went with the body, which has the VIN. Since a frame does not get titled, when I bought it (the frame) from some guy in the classifieds 5 years earlier, I didn't get a receipt or anything. Hard to explain that I legally acquired the parts/frame with no receipt listing the titled owner of the vehicle that was the donor.

Moral of the story is, if your frame and body VIN don't match, and you can't prove why not, you are in trouble...IF anyone ever checks.

GM has done this since at least the 70's (partial VIN stamping on the frame) so it's not like the authorities don't know where it will be.

 

[toomany]

It's called "title jumping." I've done it on one car and one truck. But that was because I bought the vehicles without title (one junkyard, one private sale). To do it correctly you'd need the vin plate, door sticker and I believe it's on an emissions lable under the hood (atleast there is on F-bodys). There are a few other spots that it is stamped/stickered.

You would be better off in the long run by sticking with what you have. If you swapped, what would happen if they (CA) found out it had a gas motor in it? Get in an accident? Towed? All these things could get the VIN checked.

If you want more performance and have a 305....swaping in a 350 shouldn't be to hard. They are identical from the outside. Smog go-fast parts have come a long way since the late 80's/early 90's....they actually work now.

 

[rjpastor]

If you have my kind of luck, you'll run into someone who gives a s**t and end up with it being impounded and a great big fine. You'll have to double check, but I believe you can swap in another motor as long as it's the same make and newer with all the smog stuff. My '76, which is not a hot rod by any stretch, smogs without any problem. Or you can ask around and find someone who will pass anything you bring them, but expect to pay 3-5 times what they usually charge. (Those guys are getting to be few and far between, the Bureau of Auto Repair has been checking them and fining the crap out of the cheaters.

 

[lectric80]

The guys on Extreme 4x4 showed how to do it 50 state legal, by adding a motor that was available in a later generation. They did it with a J**p, but it can be done the same with any vehicle. You must use all smog devices that would have been on the newer engine, and it must be a similiar vehicle. You would have to do some checking, as I am not certain that they would accept the Tahoe/Yukon as being the same vehicle as a Blazer, but it should be the same.

 

[blazin_blazer]

thats what i was just thinking about, extreme 4x4...they put a 5.7 hemi dodge in a jeep(since jeep is owned by chrysler) it was supossedly a 50 state legal swap.

 

[oatsk5]

huh i just read in a mag il have to find it but jeep is now owned by iH for give me if i miss read it but thats is what the article title said

 

[lectric80]

huh i just read in a mag il have to find it but jeep is now owned by iH for give me if i miss read it but thats is what the article title said

Not as far as I know, it is one of the few that Chrysler is planning on keeping, although with fewer vehicles. It is about their only profit making operation, even though it isn't currently making profit.

 

[rjpastor]

"huh i just read in a mag il have to find it but jeep is now owned by iH for give me if i miss read it but thats is what the article title said"

I read it too, BUT, it's their April (as in Fool's day) issue and was positioned just after an article on a couple of their stories that were placed as jokes, such as reduction boxes for D60s (yes, I know they're available now, but weren't when the article was written). It would be a good move, but I'm waiting to see the IH purchase in another source.