I recently bought an eg hatch with a gsr through eBay. When I got it, the engine code and serial number stamp were ground off by a previous owner. I think the safe assumption is that the motor is stolen. Even if it is, I don't want to try to claim it on eBay because I took delivery and I don't want them calling the popos. The rumor is that lately they have been going around confiscating anything that looks suspicious. Anyway, I have been told that you can buy the stamp and replace it (re-weld, maybe). Has anyone ever heard of this or have any other ideas?

 

You haven't done anything illegal yet but if you restamp it than thats illegal. If its stolen, that block will never belong to you and if you get caught with it your going to get fucked

 

i would just go to the local state police and tell them the situation. might be a headache. but also they might not even want to investigate it and just stamp the block with a new number.

 

Yeah, or it could backfire.

That was my plan, but a very reputable guy with a huge shop here told me that he bought a block from the police auction. They showed up one day to check his shop and the customers cars for hot items and they told him he had to give them the block. He showed them the receipt from their auction and they took it anyway.

I know a couple cops so I'll probably just ask one that I trust. Best case scenario though, I still don't see them like giving me written approval. Another guy might pull me over and tow it.

As for re-stamping it afterward, how would I go about doing that? I'm talking the whole face of the little square is trashed.

 

VIN swaps and questions like this come up every once in a while, just a warning, you won't find help here because alot of honda owners are caught off gaurd by thieves and don't want this kind of information floating around.
Contact the seller, get his info, talk to the cops, or you could get burned even worse later. my .02

 

just say its a dart block (j/k). they dont come stamp do they ?

 

Lol. I wish I could show a pic. The little square is TRASHED. Someone wasn't kidding around. The only reason I'm not convinced that it was someone hiding evidence is because I think it is a jdm motor (hard to tell without a code) and it may have been done in Japan.

The point is that the locals don't care what it is. If you can't prove you own it, then they take it.