I have a '77 Ramcharger. These have the permanent VIN tag located on the driver's door. I have removed the doors. I've wondered if there could ever be a problem in the future.
On top of that, I have a new ('76) body tub, and planned a winter project to swap the tubs, still with no doors. So now there would be no VIN left on the truck (there is a decal on the driver's b-piller that has the VIN printed on it).
I asked my local DMV today what I should do. I asked if I could move my original VIN plate from the old doors, to the new body tub. They said no, but I could get a "reconstructed" title and VIN.
It was completely painless! I was given the paper work to fill out, a new state issued, VIN tag and a couple new rivets. Whenever I get the body swap completed, I need to have an officer inspect the truck, verify the location of the VIN tag (where ever I want) and provide a picture of the vehicle. Turn in the paper work, any reciepts I might have showing that I am really reconstructing the vehicle, and $6 for a new title, and I'm done!
The title will display the year of whatever the vehicle looks like, the model name will be "Reconstructed". So the new title will say "1976 Dodge Reconstructed" in my case.
This is for Utah, your state may differ.
