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-   -   Wait, how do I (legally) swap a dashboard? (https://www.miataturbo.net/general-miata-chat-9/wait-how-do-i-legally-swap-dashboard-87950/)

Onyxyth 02-27-2016 05:28 PM

Wait, how do I (legally) swap a dashboard?
 
So, this came across my mind today while looking at the black/tan dash that I have in my basement. I plan on selling the black/tan interior from my new chassis and swapping in my all back interior from my wrecked car.

But the dash obviously has the VIN attached to it. How do I go about swapping that?
I googled around a bit since obviously people have done this before, but hardly anyone mentions how they handled VIN & registration. A few people mention just drilling out and riveting the correct VIN plate in but that seems pretty grey area/probably illegal without proper paperwork, yah? The DMV site was no help, either.

This is in Pennsylvania. Anyone have experience with this?

gooflophaze 02-27-2016 05:43 PM

You're overcomplicating it. Vin is on the chassis, oil pan, door jamb, and dash. Drill and rerivet.

Erat 02-27-2016 05:53 PM

Drill out the old and rivet in the new is what i did. Took like 30 seconds.

Onyxyth 02-27-2016 06:06 PM


Originally Posted by gooflophaze (Post 1311631)
You're overcomplicating it. Vin is on the chassis, oil pan, door jamb, and dash. Drill and rerivet.

Yeah, I think I am. I'll just rivet it then. Seems to be the most common solution.

shuiend 02-27-2016 06:38 PM

I've just never swapped the vin plate. If anyone asks I'll show them one of the other vin stickers on the car, or the one on the body behind the engine.

SchmoozerJoe 02-27-2016 08:52 PM


Originally Posted by shuiend (Post 1311639)
I've just never swapped the vin plate. If anyone asks I'll show them one of the other vin stickers on the car, or the one on the body behind the engine.

This.

x_25 02-28-2016 01:07 PM

I NJ at least, tampering with those rivets is technically tampering with the VIN.

shuiend 02-29-2016 10:46 AM

Then drill out old one and rivet in the new one. Or just say the dash was swapped before you got the car. I mean if a cop really started looking at my car they would see 4 or 5 different vins on various parts that do not match.

fooger03 02-29-2016 11:37 AM

Or just permanently get rid of the dash vin plate without replacing it - then you will not have swapped vins...

But seriously, vins are tied specifically to "vehicles", and a dash board does not constitute a "vehicle". The "spirit of the law" was to prevent disguising a vehicle as another, and you don't seem to be in a predicament which violates this.

If you're that nervous about it, then just take a grinding wheel and grind off the underside of the rivets so that all of the aesthetic qualities of the rivets/plate remain intact, then glue them in place of the old one.

rwyatt365 02-29-2016 12:06 PM


Originally Posted by shuiend (Post 1311973)
Then drill out old one and rivet in the new one. Or just say the dash was swapped before you got the car. I mean if a cop really started looking at my car they would see 4 or 5 different vins on various parts that do not match.

^^ This - that's why my car is called "FrankenMiata"


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