willysmjeeps.com

I haven't done anything as of yet, to cold up here in an unheated garage to really start a new project. So it is time to ask questions. when I picked it up. I could make out the serial number on the tag behind the seat. MC 62214
this is the same on the dash tag. he had the title for another m38, I think that he used to pull parts for this project. anyway he said it might be easier just to title it under this title. Now I have been told that it is much better to use the original plates, also for value down the road.
Thoughts and ideas on this. it is solid. tub, frame, a few light rust areas in the battery box area, it has some holes where I think they took the rear seat bracket out. One cut hole in the tail gate and 2 cut holes on the passenger side..
As I get into this project I will post photos of the progress I'm still researching everything the best that I can to start with.
Any help ideas tip or tricks would be greatly appreciated
Steve

Steve,

Yes, it is best for the title serial to match the jeep's serial plates. Keep in mind that vehicle serial numbers were used from the beginning of the horseless carriage period till the advent of the federal VIN system in the 70's. Try to avoid addressing jeep serials as VIN's. Vin's they are not. They are serial numbers.

A quick question: What serial is on your title? What state and what year was your title issued? Some states use to use the engine serial before 1970's to register vehicles. This number was often carried forward to newer titles creating your situation.

Start by checking on the rules at your State DMV office.

Many DMV's will actually help you out and some will make life miserable for you. Find out ahead of time what you can expect for treatment from your DMV office before you spill your beans to them. Ask them if they can run a serial for you to see if it is in use anywhere in the US.

To second what Wes is saying. In Kansas my three jeeps are all titled according to the engine serial number stamped behind the water pump. Check out that number and compare to the title.
Kendall

the old title has vin rmc10837324440. that is a Minnesota title.
the number right behind the water pump is c106804
and as before serial number is MC 62214 this one matches the plate behind the seat and on the dash
looks like issued 7/11/14

just speculating but the rmc at the front of the first number suggests it WAS an engine number with some added bits to fit the computer system, then someone changed the engine.
The engine number should be MC or RMC might be very very faint though.

Xamon is correct. Both numbers are too high to be an MCXXXXX engine serial originally placed in the jeep at Willys. The 106804 and the 108373 are both late (1952) RMC engines (factory new replacement engines sold to the military under contract in 1952). Also it is not uncommon for state DMV's to add digits or zeros to fulfill the 7 and 10 digit requirement for modern Vins. If your Minn title is truly as the seller told you from another M38 then my guess is that M38's chassis/body serial was MC24440 and the engine & body serial were combined for the modern Vin digit count.

I would cautiously ask the DMV how difficult it will be to correct the serial on a title that was based on the old engine ID system and to update it to the chassis/body serial. Mention that the original engine in place when the serial was originally recorded for the title has been replaced over the years without thought to it's relevance to the title. If they feel this is not a great problem then ask them to run the chassis/body serial you have MC62214 to see if it is in use anywhere in the US. This will raise eyebrows I am sure. On the other hand if you have your engine block decked and then with no visible serial re-stamp it RMC10837324440 then your title will now match the jeep.

I had the same title issue with my GPW in MN. It took 6 years and finally a very thorough site inspection to get a correct title. The most frustrating issue I had with this jeep. Bureaucracy in the MN DMV runs rampant! They simply don't have the early vehicle knowledge to understand the very things Wes describes. Also, don't tell them that the vehicle is not road worthy or they will not even talk about it. Good luck, you will need it!

Dan