Posted by Paul Cook on Thursday, February 07, 2002 at 11:32PM :
In Reply to: VIN by engine or frame posted by john foster on Thursday, February 07, 2002 at 7:13PM :
Way back when... Many states used the motor number to ID the vehicle on the title. Then, after it became a common practice to replace the engines with rebuilt blocks, the body/frame number came into use. In Texas, vehicles before about 1949 used the engine number.
Some states used the body/frame number and also listed the motor number - or vice versa. Now it's the securely popriveted VIN tag that is used. Check your DMV for the policy. The typical clerk won't know without checking a statute book since the change probably happened before they were born.