Smog ? - Newer Cab, Old Chassis

[sac34051]

I was hoping to get the input of someone who may have swapped a newer cab onto a pre-smog chassis. I would like to take an early 70s chevy truck and mount a newer crew cab body on it . I plan to get the cab from the wrecker, so it would require the approval of the CHP in case I ever get pulled over and the officer notices the build year and cab body style don't match.

I previously spoke with a CHP officer about this in refrence to a swapping an OBDII tacoma double cab body onto an extended cab OBD1 Toyota chassis and was told that as long as the chassis and drivetrain are complete the swap would be legal. Otherwise it would be a custom vehicle and quite a bit more involved.

I know it sounds a bit off and too good to be true, but has anyone tried something like this? I searched online but haven't come up with anything too useful.

Any thoughts or info would be greatly appreciated.

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[Ramsey_ElWardani]

It is done all the time, correctly and incorrectly. The correct method is called a Cab Change. You need to legally own both vehicles, and both have to have VINs. You will work through your local CHP VIN Officer and each will have little quirks about how they want it done. Start with the VIN Officer; make an appointment and ask him what steps he wants you to do. In the long run, he will remove both VINs and issue you a new VIN for your Cab Change. Smog laws will be based on the chassis and motor combination – keep it pre 1976 and you will have no Smog Inspection requirements.

[sac34051]

Cool, that is good information to have about the CHP. I will call and make an appt to talk wit them about it.

If I get the cab from a wrecker, it will come with the VIN plate on the dash but I will only have a bill of sale for the parts, not a pink. Do you think that this would be enough, or would I need to get something additional from the wrecker?