Junkyard needs a VIN to sell me an engine?

I'm getting ready to do a 2.4 swap in my Neon. Been shopping around looking for an engine. The first yard that has gotten back to me requires a VIN number of the car I'm putting the engine into to sell me the engine. Is this like the dealer parts dept wanting a VIN in order to confirm the part matches the vehicle, or is there somethign more to it? I guess I can go up on Ebay and find a car with a matching engine/year, because I assume if I give them the Neon's VIN they won't sell to me.

This is already annoying enough in that it looks like I'm going to pay as much for an engine as I would have for an entire donor car 4-5 years ago...

Just thinking that it could be the case of a wreck rebuild. But I think I would ask why and then explain it is a motor upgrade swap.

Really? I've done motor swaps on all of my current vehicles and never been asked that. Weird.

You can find VINs in any parking lot.

914Driver wrote: You can find VINs in any parking lot.

Or the online catalogs of many scrap yards.

Or ebay listings

I have gone to yards that "require" your vin to verify that the engine is correct. They have a huge parts exchange software. Its right most of the time. lol

I'd bet they just want to confirm your application. Just tell them what you are doing.

Streetwiseguy wrote: I'd bet they just want to confirm your application. Just tell them what you are doing.

I'm a little concerned the 60 day warranty will disappear when I tell them its not going into a stock application.

As long as theirs not some nationwide database they need to enter "this engine is now in this car", I have no problem tracking down a VIN from the internet and using it.

Could be your state requires the VIN to ensure emissions compliance. Just tell 'em the car is for off-road use or something. Or hit the parking lot on Black Friday and pull a VIN from the same make and model as the donor car.

yeah thats probably not a bad idea...

Making sure you're not building a chop car. If they were the final owners for a specific engine (maybe they report it for tax reasons), and that engine its found in a drifters stolen/chop job S13, they'll have the FBI or state police looking into their business. they don't want that.

Or is it cause a 2.4 will pull a premium a week before Race Wars?

Just give them the vin of your car. I don't really see the big deal, I kinda doubt the junkyard is going to say "Oh no, we can't sell you this motor you want because it wont fit in your car."

It's money, they like money, they'll sell you the engine.

Appleseed wrote: Or is it cause a 2.4 will pull a premium a week before Race Wars?

[smirk]

Confuse them....say it is for a locost.

Grizz wrote: Just give them the vin of your car. I don't really see the big deal, I kinda doubt the junkyard is going to say "Oh no, we can't sell you this motor you want because it wont fit in your car." It's money, they like money, they'll sell you the engine.

Let me tell you, from the other side - customers might say that, but they'll still blame you if they can't figure it out.

Keith Tanner wrote: Let me tell you, from the other side - customers might say that, but they'll still blame you if they can't figure it out.

All you did was sell them an engine, not your fault they can't do what they wanted.

When I looked into doing a Locost, I discovered Colorado would want a VIN for every car that donor parts came from to verify they weren't stolen. That was my first thought, but can't imagine why the junk yard would care.

In reply to fast_eddie_72:

Like Sperlo said, parts from their junkyard being found in a stolen car gets the feebs and the 5oh all up in their ass, and no business wants that because it's a waste of time and money.

I really don't think the "stolen car" thing is why they want the VIN. There are plenty of self-service junk yards that let you pull anything you want without giving them a vin. I think they're just doing a fit check.

fast_eddie_72 wrote: Colorado would want a VIN for every car that donor parts came from to verify they weren't stolen. That was my first thought, but can't imagine why the junk yard would care.

I have a solution for that.

Seriously, though, that's the case in many states. As Johnny Cash, would tell you, the title often has to document EVERY piece of the car.

Johnny Cash said: Up there at the court house, they didn't laugh 'Cause to type it all up too the whole staff When they got through, the title weighed sixty pounds.

I'm wondering how difficult this will be for me to deal with when the datsun is roadworthy. I don't have receipts for discarded appliances, but I did start photographing/document the appliances I was scavanging.

I suspect it is more of the "parts bot" thing, in which case, I'll just use one of the many cloud car VINs out there on the internet, assuming I go through this place. But, seeing as they are the only one that has replied to inquiries so far, I'm thinking they'll be the one to go for.

Grizz wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: Let me tell you, from the other side - customers might say that, but they'll still blame you if they can't figure it out.

All you did was sell them an engine, not your fault they can't do what they wanted.

Next time we get that phone call, I'll forward it to you

Keith Tanner wrote:

Grizz wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: Let me tell you, from the other side - customers might say that, but they'll still blame you if they can't figure it out.

All you did was sell them an engine, not your fault they can't do what they wanted.

Next time we get that phone call, I'll forward it to you

Go ahead. I have no problem calling stupid people stupid.

Are the affiliated with Car-Part.com? I think the truth is they don't want the Parts back if the Customer changes his mind after purchase.....They don't want to hear "Well, It does not fit".

Car-Part.com said: SmartVin SmartVin is technology exclusive to Car-Part.com products, and it has the power to make your searches faster, easier, and more accurate. A vehicle's model and year often don't offer enough information to figure out exactly which part you need. If you instead enter a VIN during your Car-Part Pro search, SmartVin decodes that VIN and can usually determine exactly which part your vehicle needs, bringing you right to the search results.

http://pro.car-part.com/smartvin.html