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I'm not understanding the issue entirely, but I can tell you a couple things about the YOM program in CA. One of the problems over the years, particularly with 7-digit plates, was that some of the numbers were reissued after they dropped out of the system. So, if those numbers are registered to another vehicle, you're outta luck.
If not, it's just a matter of taking the plates in for inspection, filling out the YOM registration request, and paying the fees. It takes some time before you find out whether the plates are approved for use and the new registration shows up, but in the meantime, the plates stay in your possession.
There are a lot of rumors and myths about the process...people getting plates confiscated, not being allowed to restore plates, etc...and I can tell you first hand, they're false. I registered a pair of repaired and repainted plates to my '51 and a pair of original paint plates to my '36. In the case of the '51 plates, I was even complimented on my restoration work by the YOM specialist at the main DMV in Sacramento.
Bryan