texas title issues revisited

[Tim Brewer]

Well, I know what I would do. I would buy a nice stamp set and stamp a # on the frame myself. I would then go to a different tag office and bent the truth any way possible and tell them whatever they want to hear to get my tags. You have to title it as the year the car was completed. Just sayin.........

[MRGEORGE077]

Originally Posted by Tim Brewer

Well, I know what I would do. I would buy a nice stamp set and stamp a # on the frame myself. I would then go to a different tag office and bent the truth any way possible and tell them whatever they want to hear to get my tags. You have to title it as the year the car was completed. Just sayin.........

You got that right, otherwise it will make a good hay trailer. Just a thought.

[paul cass]

Hey guys
I thought I would be further along with info on my FIA. Unfortunatley that is not the case. I can't repeat everything that has gone on yet, but hopefully I'll tell the whole story before to long. I will say this that just like all of our goverment programs dealing with the DMV is no different. Suffice it to say that from the local DMV to the State you will get a different answer to the same question and then someone will change their story to suit their means.
Paul

[G-Pete]

Little update on my case.

Now yesterday, I went to the DMV and talked to the supervisor and we had later a phone call to Austin (with the substitute of the chief of titling division).

He stated since 1971 all vehicles have the VIN number stamped in the body, therefore I need to stamp the new TX assigned VIN in my door post. I tried to explain to him my "door post" is a part of the frame and it is just impossible to stamp there a number on a 5/8 inch tube without damage. Again, it is a part of frame and chassis (it has a number already).

Then he repeated, I need to stamp the re assigned TX VIN into the body.


Well, by this time I was fed up with this *^^*) guy and said politely goodby.
(Note: at this time the call went on for 25 min - before that, I had to wait one hour until he reviewed my file)

I might understand a re-assigned VIN to the frame, OK, but to title a Cobra body?

Next week his (moron substitute) boss is back. The supervisor at the DMV in Plano talked to him before and she said, he has more common sense. I will submit pictures of the car without the body and try to get as many pictures of Cobra VIN's as possible stamped on the frame.

Let's see what happens...

[paul cass]

G-Pete
Your DMV people are just as misinformed as most. I'm still dealing with the State DMV people and believe me I've talked to everyone from local registration people, local DMV, State DMV, the DMV State Board in Austin, the Attorney General's office and my local State Representative. The short version of all of this is that the State DMV admits that they "may have made some mistakes" but that doesn't matter. They have put a hold on my registration saying that I must do basically two things. One send in my current title so that they can re issue me another title. If I do this it will be the 4th time they have changed the title. And secondly that I have to have the FIA re inspected by an ASE master tech. Currently I'm trying to get a legal opinion from my attorney as to what to do next. For what it is worth I've done an awful lot of investigating on this issue and I think I know more than the people I'm dealing with. I think you said that you paid over $200 for your inspection. The inspection form has 10 things to check and nothing else and the fee should be the same as any other inspection. Here in Corpus Christi it is $14.50. As for as I understand the DMV will stamp an ID number on a plate and attach it to the vehicle. Mine is on the edge of the door, like 60's Mustangs. For me to list everything that I've been through would end up taking a week and no telling how many pages on this blog. If you want to talk send me a private message and a phone or email to contact you. In the meantime, good luck.
Paul

[G-Pete]

Paul,

good luck to find a ASE master mechanic certified A1 trough A8 for $14.50. The requirement is not a "normal" state inspection. The car goes on the lift and every bolt, connections, lines, welds, mechanical, electrical and fluids will be checked.

All that took 1 1/2 hrs including test drive. I had to pay the shop where the mechanic works - I think for all that work and someone check my work and I get thumps up from someone who knows what they doing, it is $280 worth.

Just on a side note: Not ONE dealer ship here in the DFW area (Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, Maserati, Nissan...called them all) has a master mechanic with a current certification ASE A1-A8 on staff. Took me 2 days to find one. Some these guys on the inspection stations have, if you are lucky, an A1-A4 - most have no ASE certification.


I feel you pain to speak to these guys after reading their manual, following every step and presenting all required paperwork and still having no registration.

I'm very inclined just to go to a judge and issue a court order. The title is a proof of ownership nothing else. The VIN reflects the number on the MCO (birth certificate of a vehicle) ---- but before that, I will give one more try next week and talk to the chief...

[paul cass]

G-Pete
Since I started this quest almost a year ago, there are several things that the DMV has changed because of the problems that I went through. The original forms that were given to me had conflicting information. I followed both the directions given to me by DMV personel and the forms. Becaues of the inconsistancies after I would complete one form then I would have to do something else, and so on and so on. Finally I got fed up and said enough is enough and that is where I am currently. The inspection form to be filled out by the ASE Master tech is vtr-852. I'm looking at the latest version and it is not anything like the first one that I sent in. However the check list is almost the same, except that they have added several new items. Since this is a one time safety inspection it still should not cost what you paid. I can't find anywhere that says what if anything the inspector can charge but since they are doing basically the same thing as when they inspect a regular car I can't see how they could charge more than the inspecion fee of $14.50 or whatever it is in your area. And you are right about the difficulty in finding an ASE master tech. There are none here in CC. The DMV said that I would have to take my car to San Antonio or wherever I could find a master tech. Someting is wrong with this picture. If anyone can do the typical saftey inspection on all other cars then why do we need the master tech for our specialty cars. The story from the DMV to me is that all replica's, etc. will all be flagged and forced to re register and go through this idiotic process. As I mentioned earlier, I did everything I was asked only to end up being asked to start over agian and agian. So now I'm trying to contact an attorney to see what my rights are. Good luck on your end and I'll update once I know more.
Paul

[Grey 65]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

Paul,

good luck to find a ASE master mechanic certified A1 trough A8 for $14.50. The requirement is not a "normal" state inspection. The car goes on the lift and every bolt, connections, lines, welds, mechanical, electrical and fluids will be checked.

All that took 1 1/2 hrs including test drive. I had to pay the shop where the mechanic works - I think for all that work and someone check my work and I get thumps up from someone who knows what they doing, it is $280 worth.

Pete,

I know of a place that has three (3) ASE Master Techs (A1-A8) and they charge $14.95.

Firestone Complete Auto Care
5758 Rufe Snow Drive
North Richland Hills, Tx 76180

Kevin.....