Thinking about finding a totaled duramax w/ a good motor and trans, then bobbing it, putting air ride in, fabbing up a really light bed, and making it a one of a kind driver/ 10,000lb street stock diesel truck. Its fun to dream. lol.
Find a good half-ton (cheaper than 2500/3500 series) with a clear title, do the body swap, and title it as a 1999+ Silverado/Sierra. If confronted, you upgraded the suspension on the newer Chevy/GMC, not the other way around
. My 2000 Silverado (aka "Tiny") started life as a half ton 4x4. I blew out a rear end a year and a half ago. I found SRW 3500HD suspension for less than the cost to rebuild the stock 1/2 T 10 bolt open rear end... springs, axles and all. I now have full floating Corp 14 rear end sitting on 3500HD springs. I mentioned this to the insurance agent, and he said the cost of insurance is based on the VIN of the titled/registered vehicle, so I am paying for full coverage on a 1/2 T truck with one-ton abilities (I boxed and reinforced the frame, too while she was down for the upgrades).
My dad has a similar story with his mid-90's c1500. The VIN says it can with a 4.3L V-6, but he has a 7.4L (454) under the hood. His insurance costs are based on having the V-6 because that's what the vehicle title/registration reflects. I am in Ohio, my dad is in Illinois. I know that in Illinois, so long as you have a title for EITHER the body OR chassis, the entire combined vehicle can be either or. In Ohio, the VIN needs to match the vehicle it "looks" like, but they prefer you to have a title for both the body and the chassis, as I have seen some titled with two separate VIN's and descriptions, one mentioning it is for the body, the other mentioning it is for the chassis, but usually as long as the body matches the VIN, they don't get to p!ssy about it (at least that I have heard of yet).
I have put 1937 Terrapane's (Hudson Motor Company) on S-10 chassis, they are titled/registered as Terraplanes. I have put El Caminos, and Chevy Monzas, and Corvettes on 4x4 K-5 and Suburban chassis... the title/registration followed the body. I have put 60's pickups and Suburbans on modern chassis and had the title/registration follow the chassis with an endorsement that indicates the vehicle is a "kit car." I have put Lambos and Ferrari kit cars on Fiero chassis and kept the VIN from the Fiero, again with the kit car endorsement.
Check with your DMV about kit cars and body swaps. Don't even mention the prior Military Vehicle, 6x6, deuce, or anything of the sort. Tell them you are building a hot rod and are looking for procedural information (Call the DMV in your State Capitol, not your local one). You may get further if you generalize. Just my
. Hope it helps.
