original tailgate
 

does any one know how to tell if a tailgate is aftermarket or gm its on a 71 fleetside

Re: original tailgate
 

The oe tailgate weighs about 2 times as much as an aftermarket I can tell you that much.

Re: original tailgate
 

this one is heavy i want to make 100% sure before i sell it i scratched some paint off it it was original black if it had any other color under there i wouldn't doubt it was gm

Re: original tailgate
 

I think the original tailgates produced in 67-72 were very thin at the top with very crisp angles at the top. When I was buying them from GM in the 1990's the gates were not as crisply stamped at the top. I haven't really looked at the aftermarket gates yet.

Re: original tailgate
 

That is normally correct Randy, the aftermarket parts don't have as well defined lines as the originals and they are much heavier :chevy:

Re: original tailgate
 

Is there more than one aftermarket gate, like one is better than another?

Re: original tailgate
 

I am not actually sure how many different after market gates are available. I have one without the lettering on it and it is thin

Re: original tailgate
 

I was thinking about buying one of those without lettering too, its a Cheyenne so no need for the lettering. Is the gate so thin that it's not worth buying? I have been toying with the idea of splitting my gate across the top and the cut the spot welds to separate it so I can straighten out the dents. Then weld it back together.

Re: original tailgate
 

i have had some aftermarket tailgates made from goodmark that were heavy like the original gm but most are light and look cheap this 71 tailgate i have is very nice rust free and stright i just want to make sure its a real gm so i can sell it i was hoping ther was a sure way to tell but the more i look at it i would say it a gm

Re: original tailgate
 

Post a pic of the top rail...if it is thin and crisp its absolutely originally installed GM

i will take a picture of it tomorrow
Thanks
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Re: original tailgate
 

heres some pictures of the tailgate