Another Travis Victim

[Tango68SS]

WOW! This situation has me very perplexed, nervous, and worried (just like the rest of you)... so, like any good "detective" would, I wanted to check my engine/ tranny combo that I bought from Travis... Since I could not find the VIN number on the block (engine installed, car is on-the-road), I did the next best thing.. plug-in the OBDII... The computer gave me the "VIN number" of the engine from it's internal memory... I ran that number against the National Insurance Crime Bureau database to see if the "car" the computer and engine came out of were indeed stolen... Luck would have it, they were not... in fact the system told me that the vehicle was an insurance "totalled" vehicle and was destroyed (code for busted up for parts)...



Now I know what you are thinking... "Maybe the computer is out of something different from the engine?" Well, the VIN was from the vehicle that Travis said it was from ('07 TBSS)... it stands to reason that it was an insurance "wreck". I am good...

It needs to be stated that my dealings with Travis were back in Fall of 2011, when this was still a "hobby" of his. I feel for those of you that are in the current situation with him. I hope that he has NOT turned to nefarious dealings (i.e. "Frank") and is just "recovering" from some hard times...

Bottom line: If you are worried that your engine/tranny combo might be tied to a theft ring, please get the VIN from your block or PCM and run it through the NICB
https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

I hope this info will help those of you that have "pull -out" engines (whether from Travis or anyone else). I know it has put my mind at ease,

TC