In California, once a car has been reported "salvaged", that blemish stays on it's title forever, as long as it remains titled in California. I have heard that some states do not use this system, so if you could find a friend in such a state, you could have him title it there, then bring it back into California after the DMV archives it records (reported to be 5 years) and you would get a clean title. I have not done this, I am merely passing on what another person told me. A salvage title does not necessarily mean the car was wrecked and junked. In the case of my 69 Newport Convertible, the car had been stolen and not recovered until after the insurance had paid off. Thus when it was recovered, it got in the system as a salvaged vehicle, and thus had a salvage title. In actual fact, the car was an undamaged, close to mint original car with low mileage. I've since sold the car after enjoying it for almost 10 years, and the new owner understands the history of the car. If you see a near new looking one in the San Jose area, and its license plate is 1MCH964, that's my car! I do recall a very clean looking Tan 57 4 door up in Eastern Washington state with no engine or transmission running on ebaY about a year ago, I don't know what happened to it, but I recall it sold for around $900. If it was from that area, it should have been totally rust free. Dick Benjamin ----- Original Message ----- From: <PiscesM21@xxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 3:46 AM Subject: IML: Information on pulling Hemi > After several years of trying to replace parts to save my 57 Imperial, > the rust demon has finally gotten too good of a hold of my 57 Imperial. I > find the only way to save the majority of it, is to find another, more rust > free body. What is the easiest way to pull the engine and transmission? Is > it easiest to pull engine/trans together? Or separate? How much wiring is > there connecting the transmission to the push button dash? The engine only > has 62,000+ miles and runs very strong, a little blow by at the valve guides, > but nothing major. The 392 is good and the trans. has just been rebuilt. Is > there any real difference between a 57 to 59 Imperial? I'm just looking for a > rust free (or as much as possible) body and those 3 years use the 392. I > figure I can use most of the parts off my 57 on any year. > Most important does anyone have any info on a salvage title in > California? I guess that's about the only way I'll find a good body. > I appreciate any info and ideas..... especially if they know of a good bod > y for those years. > Thanks, > Charles in Calif., (northern Calif.) > >