Opinion on what to do with engine

[underwel]

So I have a half rebuilt 47 Knucklehead engine with no title. The background is, I took a risk and bought a barn find off the estate of a friends father. I live in Ohio so they are pretty strict with titles and getting titles are obviously hard. I started the court ordered title process. The judge in my county requested some information and the attorney for the estate refuses to help for some reason. So with that said, I'm pretty close to giving up on my gamble. I'm going to try my attorney next. Now if I give up, I'm trying to decide what to do with an engine without a title. One thought was to finish it and put it on the shelf to look at. My other is to sell the engine, cut my losses and look for a decent titled early panhead engine. But, is there really a market for an untitled knucklehead engine, or would I be better off parting it out? Thanks for your opinion.

[joe fxs fxr]

Have you looked into Vermont? They will let you register bikes from out of state.

[T. Cotten]

Beware of out-of-state "title-mills", Underwel!

In my State of Illlinois, any such attempt will invalidate that vehicle's VIN permanently, as it is deemed mail fraud.

Your first step to do it legally is to ascertain that the VIN is un-altered.

Many states then require an inspection to be certain the machine is complete and running, an appraisal by a licensed dealer, and often a title bond. Although Illinois shut the lid on lost titles several years back, they began to relax a bit, and Ohio may as well. Patience, and Good Luck!

....Cotten

[underwel]

Thanks Cotten,
I think Ohio is well aware of the Vermont thing, I didn't have to mention it, the title office warned me about them. VIN looks good in my opinion. I have been trying the legal approach in Ohio. I began the case in our Common Pleas Court. There is no guarantee but the lawyer for the estate refuses to help for some reason. Would have been a cool old project that's been in the barn since the sixties, an old bobber. When I picked it up, it looks like a 48 frame, 49 front end and a 47 engine. That's why I'm thinking if this doesn't work, sell the engine and pick up a titled 48 or 49 panhead

[jorrow]

Check to see if Ohio allows for a bonded title through a title company. You might check with your local car clubs as they are constantly dealing with untitled antiques. If all else fails there are numerous buyers for knucklehead anything...!

[underwel]

Thanks,
I'll look into it

[Rubone]

There is definitely a market for an untitled engine as many states will work with you to title it. Some not so much. Keep me in mind if you decide to sell.

[BigLakeBob]

What about Saints Title Service listed on page 37 in our current magazine. https://www.saintsengine.com/services/title-service/
Disclaimer. I have no first hand experience with them, just saw their ad in our magazine.

[underwel]

I've never heard of them

[Steve Swan]

As has been pointed out, every state has different laws, so what can be done in one state may very well probably not be done in another. I live in Colorado, so using the Vermont option is a matter of getting the vin verified by a dealer and following directions for filling out the required paperwork to complete the process. My last build from parts that needed a title, I initiated and followed through with the entire process myself. Ohio, Illinois and California sound brutal.

[Steve Swan]

What about Saints Title Service listed on page 37 in our current magazine. https://www.saintsengine.com/services/title-service/
Disclaimer. I have no first hand experience with them, just saw their ad in our magazine.

Yes, i saw that also. I have used title services in the past and what i have got back is a Vermont plate and Vermont registration. Alabama used to be a no title state back in the day, i don't know if that has changed. The first time i got back Vermont plate and registration, you can imagine my surprise when I realized i still had no title. So it would be good to know if this Saints outfit can/will produce an actual title to meet a particular state's requirements or if they just provide plate and registration, because as has been noted in another post in this thread, if one lives in a states such as Illinois, producing Vermont paperwork to an Illinois DMV office screws ya.

[tfburke3]

No direct experience but someone who inquired said at the end of the process Saints gets you a Tennessee title.
A letter from the lawyer,especially if you have no notarized or just signed bill of sale would be something I would tried to purse.
Did you offer to pay him?If not maybe ask what his fee would be to help you with paperwork to get title.
Tom

[chuckthebeatertruck]

In my member bike rebuild thread on the 1964 XLCH I go over the entire vermont process and linked the forms.

https://forum.antiquemotorcycle.org/...dson-sportster

The forms are still valid.

There is a LOT of hearsay and fear over this issue.

I tend to buy one bike a year on average without paperwork . . .and do not have issue getting title.

For the record, I am from Ohio and recently did the vermont dodge for a cousin who lives in Cleveland. He got clean title to his no paperwork scoot in autumn 2020 without any difficulty. Just showed up with the VT registration and the basket case in the truck bed. Not even an assembeled bike. Just the frame sticking out so the number could be read.


I currently live in Chicago, Illinois and have done the no title dodge within the year on a bike now wearing IL tags and sitting in my shop. That was flipped at the Bradley, IL DMV in September 2020. No VIN inspection took place -- the paper work was filled out and viola an Illinois title issued.


I also just did a badly screwed up Indiana title on my wife's 1967 XLH the first week of January 2021. Did that one all by MAIL in Illinois after filling out the forms online and cutting checks for the title and for the tax -- and not a problem at all.


I have bought quite a few untitled machines over the past 20 to 25 years and have never had an issue getting clear title despite living in some "tough" states like Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, and DC.

[Steve Swan]

In my member bike rebuild thread on the 1964 XLCH I go over the entire vermont process and linked the forms.

https://forum.antiquemotorcycle.org/...dson-sportster

The forms are still valid.

There is a LOT of hearsay and fear over this issue.

I tend to buy one bike a year on average without paperwork . . .and do not have issue getting title.

For the record, I am from Ohio and recently did the vermont dodge for a cousin who lives in Cleveland. He got clean title to his no paperwork scoot in autumn 2020 without any difficulty. Just showed up with the VT registration and the basket case in the truck bed. Not even an assembeled bike. Just the frame sticking out so the number could be read.


I currently live in Chicago, Illinois and have done the no title dodge within the year on a bike now wearing IL tags and sitting in my shop. That was flipped at the Bradley, IL DMV in September 2020. No VIN inspection took place -- the paper work was filled out and viola an Illinois title issued.


I also just did a badly screwed up Indiana title on my wife's 1967 XLH the first week of January 2021. Did that one all by MAIL in Illinois after filling out the forms online and cutting checks for the title and for the tax -- and not a problem at all.


I have bought quite a few untitled machines over the past 20 to 25 years and have never had an issue getting clear title despite living in some "tough" states like Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, and DC.

Excellent share of your experience, Chuck!

[underwel]

Thanks for the info!