I bought a Raider a few months ago from a guy who was leaving the country. Figured I'd transfer the title when I got it on the road and passed the emissions test, etc. Well, somewhere in the past two months I managed to lose the title. Been looking everywhere for the past week - every box of truck parts in the storage unit, every drawer in every toolbox, under the seat of every vehicle I've been in. No go.

I've got about $2000 into the truck, it's a V6 manual transmission with 197k miles on it. The body is in awesome shape, every panel is clean except the driver's side front fender. Even the bumpers are straight. Engine & transmission feel strong, oil pressure is good.

Here's a list of the work I did:

• 
  GL-4 in transmission
  GL-5 in transfer case and front & rear diff
  rear brake shoes
  cleaned & greased front brake calipers
  flushed brake fluid
  flushed clutch fluid
  KYB Gas-a-just on all 4 corners
  3 new tie rod ends
  1 new lower ball joint
  Gen2 idler arm
  timing belt
  fuel filter
  cleaned VLAs, replaced one rocker arm
  water pump (although I have to redo the work, the gasket is leaking a little)
  wires, cap & rotor
  electric fan conversion
  swapped in a newer radiator
  new coolant hoses to firewall
  new thermostat
  air filter
  Replaced interior rugs with black, rubber-backed utility carpet
  boxed in the rear wheel wells
  two mini fire extinguishers
  catalytic converter
  greased the suspension

Still needs:

• 
  new windshield (current one is cracked, but usable)
  driver's side front fender
  greased speedometer cable
  new check valve for headlight washers
  new latches for sliding windows (they've been ordered)
  stereo (still has the original head unit in 100% working condition)

If I don't find the title in the next week, I'll either be taking best offer or I'll pull the engine and put it in my other truck. What an idiot!

There must be a procedure for dealing with missing titles out there.
Most of there states out east no longer use titles after 15 years. Varies per state.
Do you have a Bill of sale?

Ya, my 91 V6 MM I didnt get a title with 5months later I finally got one with some paperwork. its doable just a hassle <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Now that I think of it, when I bought my first SR from a dealer in New York I ended up loosing the title.
Being that the title had been transfered to my name I found I could go online, enter the Vin# pay a $20 and NYDMV sends a new title to the address they have on file. I had the title in 3 days.

Its not to much of a pain filing for a lost title here in CO. Do you have any contact with the previous owner? If so file for lost title with the DMV. It will go to him. Have him sign it over to you.

If you cant get ahold of him any longer than its just a little harder but not impossible.

Z

When I got mine there was no title w/ it either.It sat on my father-in-law's property for 6 yrs after a guy moved out of a rental unit & stiffed him for 6 months rent. I took the VIN to a bud that ran a garage & after a couple months he was able to get me 1 thru some kind of mechanic's lien. I payed him an extra "fee" & was on the road . Good luck w/ your search.

The problem in CO with a mechanics lien or Tow lien is most vehicles require a surety bond to get a title. Last time I checked it was 3+ times an appraised value (blue book??). When I bought my fastback it was without a title. The bond for it was going to be 4 or 5k. I didnt spend anywhere near that on the entire car! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> But I could skip the whole bond process since it was old enough. I just had to show I tried to find the last registered owners. Had to do a Title/VIN search, send out registerd letters and then take all documentation into the DMV. It wasnt hard.

If you dont want to go that route I know a few who have done the Broadway Title or ITS Title thing. Pay a fee, send them a "bill of sale" and you get a out of state title and plates for a year in your name. Then you can register it locally. Again its more money though.

Z

Interesting suggestions, maybe I won't give up on it just yet. Before I lost the title I used it to get a temp plate in my name, so I should be in the computer system. The DMV refused to actually transfer the title at that time because I hadn't had the vin verification or emissions test yet. I'll run by the DMV tomorrow to see what they say.