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I'm creeping up to the time of getting my M38 legal for the road. I have a current title, in my name, with the MC# on it.
My dilema is, the rig came to me with no data plates. When the time comes, I imagine there will need to be something to show to the inspection person that the title matches the vehicle. The only # that matches is that someone had at one time stamped the top of frame with the MC# number just behind the front bumper on the driver side. I don't think this is official or why it was done.
What I want to know is, in your opinion, will a patent plate behind pass seat be enough? I dont have the funds flowing enough to buy the dash set yet. And with that, is it kosher to stamp your own with your own stamp set?
Brett

I dont know about Utah but you have a current legal title in your
name with the MC# on it. I believe that to be the biggest thing
in your favor. When i plated my truck here in ID i walked into
DMV with my title and told em i was done with my resto and
ready for plates. They took my check, handed me the plates
and out the door i went. No one ever looked at the truck.

Before you "tip your hand" or show any paperwork be sure
to call the DMV in your jurisdiction and find out just what they
need from you.. Good Luck!!

I am talking about the inspection gent at the sevice station. I talked to the DMV folks and they dont look at vehicles, they just move paper.

Bretto wrote:I am talking about the inspection gent at the sevice station. I talked to the DMV folks and they dont look at vehicles, they just move paper.

Service Station?? Inspection?? Whats up Bro??

In Utah, we have to have annual safety and emission inspections. No emissions on anyting older that '67. Local garages do this work. Maybe they dont do this in Idaho. Sorry I was under the assumption everyone knows UT rules
Brett

apparently, i'm doing things backwards. the first thing i bought was the data plates. i haven't turned a wrench on the jeep yet! oh well.

Up here in Ontario Canada we have to have a saftey inspection done as well, the emissions are once every 2 years the saftey is just when you buy or plate it for the first time though. and again old vehicles get an exemption from the emissions.

I guess I'll just plate it with the one behind the pass seat and see how it goes. I dread having to have someone poking around my Jeep.

yeah, you have just spent years building this thing and now some other guy has to get his greasy hands on your fresh OD and tell you wether it is good enough or not... feh. but at least you have that second tag, the canadian ones have the dash and thats it. Of course I can't wait to have that for a problem, just spent an hour digging 6 inches of crap off the skid plate.

In MASS we have annual inspections - you get a sticker. There are licensed shops that do that work - everything run through a computer. On my jeep my guy said that he only inspects what it came with originally and it pre-dates emissions inspection. So, pretty much a breeze, just have to pay the $29 fee. But each state is a bit different.

In RI - No inspections if you plate your vehicle as an antique (it has to be over 25years old). No service station, no extra $29 or $40 a year. No emission proctologist.
Regarding the serial number plate behind the seat - I would bet it will satisify the service station.

Since the serial and data plates are only held on by sheet metal screws, they can be easily removed and switched over to another vehicle. It makes sense to have both the Serial and Data Plates and the chassis-stamped number as well. It is to your advantage (I'd steal your jeep in a minute) and doesn't detract from the Jeep's appearance or value at all. When I lived in Virginia, I had no problems, but when I went to register my M38A1 over here in Italy, they required a permanent number and stamped my serial number (without the MD prefix) on right behind the bumper on the driver's side. That must be an international standard position. By the way, in Italy, since it is registered as an antique auto, an inspection is required every 2 years. For those occasions, I prepare by scuffing the paint off the serial number on the frame and cover the area with clear enamel to prevent rust. Later, I just rattle can the area. Finally, I really enjoy checking out the photo diary of your build. Great job! David

Bretto,

The number stamped on your frame is it 52-3XXXX? or is it and MC or MD number?

Reason I ask is the only entity that stamped numbers behind the bumper was the Canadians, unless a PO or some other entity did it after the vehicle was released from the military...

just curious...

The stamping was done at the Motor Vehicle Department Inspection Garage right in front of my eyes. They also did my M100 trailer when I registered it. My 1953 M38A1 (undergoing restoration as we speak) had previously been registered in Italy and so it came to me with the serial number already stamped onto the frame in the same place as they did to the 1953 M38A1. In all cases, they stamp the digits of the serial number without the letter prefix. So my '52, which is MD26784 was stamped 26784. The '53 which is MD58270 is stamped 58270. The M100 trailer which is serial n. 01216274 was stamped 1216274. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. David

Here are some pics from earlier in my build.
The story I got from the prev owner, who had it for 30 years, said he bought it from a veteran that ran it in Germany. Then that vet bought it from surplus and had it shipped back to the States.
That's all I was told and know.
I had asked the question about the stamping early into my build but I recall no one really could relate or say why.