OK, my brother just picked up a 4runner, 22re, auto, 4x4 the works. its in great shape and has 3000 miles on the motor, tranny, xcase and rear end. the problem is the vin and reg says its a 1985 model, but the door tag says '84, but it is IFS which says '86+. whats the deal. all numbers match on the body frame and motor.

 

Sounds like an 85 body on an 86+ chassis with an 84 door. It is possible to body/frame swap and get it registered. CA will reassign the VIN from the body to a frame rather than deal with changing the VIN tag to represent the chassis since that is stamped by the OEM. You should be able to get a history on the VIN from the DMV.
You can also try looking up the chassis code- it's stamped on the frame by the front, right wheel.

 

id go with what the registration says. that goes all the way back to the 4runners roots, but the rest of the stuff could have been swapped out over time. i have no idea why someone would want to swap out the straight axle for ifs though

 

Maybe they didn't swap the straight out but instead rolled their IFS and found a body off of a straight axle rig to put on their chassis?

 

all numbers match, clean title. DMV says frame, motor and chasis all are '85. and the door plate is on the cab, not actually on the door, so a replaced door is not a likely reason for the door plate to read '84.

 

DMV can re-issue a title with matching VIN, chassis, etc on it. This is done to reduce issues in the future with registrations, inspections, emissions tests, etc.
However, if you research the chassis number, you'll probably find it reflects something different.

 

Post the VIN and we can decode it..

 

I think Abe pretty much already covered it..

But sounds like someone swapped an 85 body onto an 86 Chassis. There is no VIN on the frame, so you can't say its numbers matching in that sense.

And just because it was built in 84 doesn't mean its not an 85 model year vehicle. For example, my 93 MR2 was built 2/93 meaning its a February produced 92, but Toyota calls it a 93 model year car. What is the production date on the info tag?

 

Does the date on the door indicate a manufacturing date? The 1985 models were produced starting in 1984. That part could line up. What is strange to me is the IFS. I would guess that the cab (which has the VIN, and is registered with DMV, and to which license plates are assigned) is from a 1985 model year vehicle which was manufactured in late 1984, and which has more recently been transplanted to a 1986-later frame.

California DMV will generally go by the VIN in the cab. The frame will also have VINs, partial VINs, and other identification numbers and manufacturing marks stamped on it in various places. I don't know offhand where the actual VIN locations on the frame are. If you find them, I bet you will find a different number than is on the cab.

MC

 

And Deathcouger beat me to it. There are probably VINs hidden on the frame. Ask an auto theft cop to find them if you are really interested.

MC

 

There are no VINs hidden on the frame. I have been up and down Toyotas for many years. The only place they put any sort of identification is the pass side front behind the suspension, where they stamp the model code. Its not the VIN, but it will basically tell you that its an 86 IFS frame.

 

did the vin check, comes back as '85 4runner manufactured in '84. explanes the door plate and reg. and the frames do have referance codes on them, had DMV look at them. frame matches vin. even the DMV inspector couldnt tell me why and now they are giving us trouble with transfering names.

maybe a over sea's model? 85 with IFS? wierd.. ill let you know.

 

just paid to have a complete history report, vin came back as a 1985 P/U dlx ext. cab, 4x4 22re manufactured in '84. frame # are NOT vin matching but dmv says they are... so why is this truck not a truck? and what kinda am i into? so far ive got an '86 frame and an 85 truck vin with a 85 4runner body...... wow.

 

No offense to the minority of DMV employees who are actually competent- but I wouldn't trust them to find the VIN on a VW bug on a good day with a manual, and with the rear seat already removed. The actual vehicle VIN is stamped on that frame. It may be inside a frame tube, and it may be separated into a couple of pieces, but it is there. If you are seriously interested, find an old Highway Patrolman who worked a stolen car detail and ask him. I bet he could ID that frame for you.

On a legalities note- unless the frame is currently reported stolen (unlikely), then you are still good to go with the cab registration.

fwiw-MC

 

OT, but what is the cut off for that? I ask because my 4Runner was made 10/94 but its a '95.

 

 

yea, dmv doesnt ever look at the actual truck.dmv has it as a 85 4runner though,so we will just stop talking to them about not matching #'s and try to avoid the hassle. but the insurence co. has the vin as a truck, the lady said no big deal until you get in an accident and they want to know why your truck isnt a truck..

 

thanks for the replies..

 

anybody want to buy a one of a kind 4runner dlx extra cab with state of the art (for '85) IFS!! hahaha,

 

so wait... it's a 4Runner body, but has a truck VIN number?