cassis numbers
 

During international travel, particularly in Africa, are chassis numbers ever checked at border crossings?

I ask b/c I'm currently working on replacing the frame of my TLC 60-series with a good-condition used frame. I would expect that the number most checked would be the VIN over the dash.

Thanks in advance.

Our chassis number was checked at the Morocco - Mauretania border, Mali - Burkina border, and Burkina - Ivory coast border.

I think ours was only checked once - going into ghana. But you should be prepared for it at any crossing, and at the port when you ship out of canada.
Frame numbers are often very hard to read because of rust, old undercoating, etc. But you don't want it to have a non matching number.
While you are reconditioning the chassis you could be heavy handed with striping the area of the serial number. Then get a die set and stamp the correct numbers. Put a couple coats of paint over the top and you'll be fine.
-ed


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Ed Messenger
VRAA Expedition Society
www.drivetheglobe.com
www.gpsaccessories.com

Chassis numbers can be checked anywhere, not just at borders. If you try to sell the car it will almost definitly be checked either bythe buyer or customs. It often happens that they are checked at police checkpoints as part of a "big control" which is usually an attempt to get money off you. A dodgy VIN number will be greeted with much shaking of heads, much "this is very very serious" comments and a lot of cash being forked out on your side.

Ed´s suggestion is good, the better it is done then more so. Try to get your hands on a blank "type plate" (I´m mot sure what they are called), theyre the small plates at the front of the bonnet with chassis number, chassis weight etc. Brush your teeth regularly, wear a clean shirt, change your undewear regularly and you shouldn´t have too many problems.

Thanks for the responses. At first, when I realized that non-matching numbers could have important implications at the border, I became a bit discouraged. (Doing this frame swap is a lot cheaper, tho' definitely not easier, than buying another 60-series). There still has to be a bit of a risk to altering the chassis number. Aren't there any smart police out there? What are the risks? Detenion? Confiscation of vehicle? Increase in cost of cadeau?

Assuming the chassis is legally acquired, the Canadian Motor Vehicle Branch will happily correct the registration. Then there isn't a problem...

If it's not legal, i.e. stolen, you're on your own.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi Taylor

I would agree with Grant - if its legal get your docs changed. You could get into really deep water with mismatching numbers.

cheers

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ChrisC

It would be legal. The frame is available from a reputable Land Cruiser dismantler, and I would have all the correct receipts. No title with the new frame, but that's surely OK, right? Surely the old VIN would be preserved, the new frame numbers documented or changed?

I'm not reccomending using stolen parts or breaking any laws. Merely an easy way to avoid trouble if the frame is ever checked.
I'm not familiar with the rules in Canada, but I know in some U.S. states it can be a lot of hassle to swap old frames, or even install a factory fresh frame without bending the rules a little bit.
Where I live they want the frame number, and 2 other numbers on the body to all match when you register the car. If you have mismatched numbers and can prove ownership of all parts, they treat it like a salvage car. That means an extremely tough inspection where the whole car must be up to factory specs, and results in a salvage tittle which makes the car harder to insure and less valuable when sold. If you show up with a car that has a brand new frame with no numbers on it they usually call it a kit car and issue a kitcar vin # again that causes insurance hassles.
This comes from knowing several people who've gone through the red tape after putting new and used frames under old rovers.

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Ed Messenger
VRAA Expedition Society
www.drivetheglobe.com
www.gpsaccessories.com

I eagerly read the reply about the motor vehicle department correcting the registration. Thanks. Other questions I have are:
1. Do they therefore change the V.I. number on the dash to match that of the chassis?
2. I'll be legally obtaining the chassis from a reputable dismantler, but won't be able to obtain the chassis number ahead of time. Therefore before reception, I won't be able to confirm the past history of that VIN. Theoretically, that chassis could have come from a stolen vehicle somewhere down the line. Any thoughts?