64' dodge 400 series farm truck

[jackel440]

I got some questions for any of the guys that know anything about the old dodge HD trucks.
I have had this truck for a while and have made a new dump bed for it.I believe I gave some pics to someone on here to post on a web page they have.Well anyways long story short I never did get a title to this truck.I bought it at a used tractor dealer ,and it was his buddies that he was selling on consignment.Well I got the run around ,and then the tractor place went out of business.I can't find either one of the guys now.It's been a couple of years now.I am tired of it sitting behind the barn ,and would like to use it.I was alos told that it came out of an estate sell,but I don't know if the swindler ever titled it himself.
I was trying to figure out if it has any kind of VIN# on it.I only see a serial # listed on the data plate.I thought I would see if I could get the number run by someone to see if I could find the last registered owner.
I heard you can do the mechanics lien deal and get a title for it,also heard talk of using one of these title companies.I don't know if they work in Indiana or not.
Anyone able to got anyadvice to start me in the right direction.
thanks Aaron

[hemigeno]

Most (if not all) of the medium- and heavy-duty Dodge trucks from that era used a string of numbers for the VIN.  Not quite the same setup as passenger cars, and a little trickier to decode.

Can't help much on the title issue.  Going through one of the title companies might be possible, but do you have a Bill Of Sale or some other formal evidence that you did purchase the truck for a certain amount on a certain day?  That'd probably be a requirement even for one of the title co's, but I can't speak from experience.

[jackel440]

So is the serial number on the data plate what I need to refer to ,or do I need to try to locate another plate on the truck?I am at work now so I will have to look some more tomorrow.I did have a reciept somewhere from when i picked it up ,but not sure were it has gone now.This title deal is my fault for going this long,but thats how it goes sometimes.
I was just trying to figure out were I could find the numbers on the truck.

[hemigeno]

Most times, the data plate is rivited to the driver's door jamb not too far below the strike plate.  I think they did call it a Serial Number back then, but '64 might be different than 1960 which is the year of my C500.  It won't tell you much, just the series of truck, weight rating, how many cylinders, and what the sequence number of production.  That's what all the titles go by however, so it's important for that reason if nothing else.

That same number is usually stamped on the frame rail as well, often on the outside of the passenger frame rail about even with the fan blades.  That's about the only "numbers matching" check that can be done on them since the engines were only stamped with what model year it was produced for.

[jackel440]

Yes that is were the plate is at.You are correct it just gives the serial# ,and then all the other info such as the axle capacity,engine and such.I figured you would go by the serial number,but I wanted to make sure before I start trying to get this title deal straightened out.
Can you tell me what letter would be before the "400" is it a D,C, or what?I always have referred to it as a D400 is that correct?
Thanks 

[UFO]

I have a parts catalog that has some serial number info in it.
Yes a 2 wheel drive is a D four wheel is a W model.
This might help as well,
http://www.sweptline.com/hist/vininfo.html

[Daytona R/T SE]

I heard you can do the mechanics lien deal and get a title for it,also heard talk of using one of these title companies.I don't know if they work in Indiana or not.
Anyone able to got anyadvice to start me in the right direction.
thanks Aaron

Sometime back about 1992 I bought a '68 Charger. It didn't have a title. I didn't care.  I was just going to cut it up for parts any way. The '68 sat in my backyard for the next couple of years, then I moved to a different house, where the '68 sat, sinking slowly into the "new" backyard, I kept thinking I'm going to have to get around to cuttin' that old POS up one of these days-ain't worth nuthin' without a title. Finally sometime about 1999 or so, I got sick of mowing around it and hauled it over to a friend's house and shoved it in his barn-where it still sits to this day. A couple of years ago I decided to try to get a title for it, since now it might actually be worth saving.
  I went through a title service, it was easy....FRIGHTENINGLY EASY...no previous paper work, no bill of sale-nothing. I just filled out a paper, had it notarized and sent it and my money off to the wild blue yonder and waited....three weeks later I get a letter from them with some paper work and some instructions to take it to my local DMV...three weeks after that I had the title in my hand...It was almost too easy...Good thing I didn't cut it up, eh?

This is the title service I used:

http://www.its-titles.com/index.htm

[hemigeno]

Can you tell me what letter would be before the "400" is it a D,C, or what?I always have referred to it as a D400 is that correct?

The prefix letter has to do with the body style of the truck.  Mine's a "C" since that's what the Low Cab Forward trucks were called.  Conventional medium-duty trucks with a standard-length hood were still considered "D" series bodies like the light-duty 2wd models.  Tandems and front axle drive units are a different story altogether, but since you don't have that I won't dig up the info on those. 

If your truck looks pretty much like an overgrown pickup cab-n-chassis, then it'd be called a D400 just like you're used to calling it.




P.S.  - Chris, that's scary how easy a title could be obtained.  Wonder how many cars have multiple titles floating out there...

[Todd Wilson]

Call your DMW and ask how you could go about getting a title. Some states didnt issue titles for trucks way back when. Some states have a quite title process you can go through.  Some states are near impossible to get a title for something.  Call and find out. If you got a bill of sale originally that may be all you need.


Todd

[Daytona R/T SE]

P.S.  - Chris, that's scary how easy a title could be obtained.  Wonder how many cars have multiple titles floating out there...

Geno,Yes it is scary how easy it is to get a title. 

Lock your cars up !!!

[jackel440]

thanks for the info guys.I was out and about ,and found some other dodge HD trucks.one was a grain truck the other was a cab and doghouse on a trailer.I will have to post them in the trucks thread sometime.
I sometimes wonder if this title deal might have happened to my 68 coronet that got stolen like 8 years ago.I didn't even know about these companys then.I will have to give the BMV a call and see what they have to say.