Tailgate alignment / adjustment help please

[Luke87gt]

Hi guys,

The tailgate on my ‘69 looks to be a bit misaligned.

If you notice, the left side needs to come up about 1/4” and the entire tailgate needs to be rotated clockwise by a degree or two, if that makes sense.

You can see there are larger gaps on the bottom left and upper right that need to be corrected.

Having the never done this, I’m wondering what built in adjustment exists for addressing the problem. Thank you.

[Richard]

If you open the tailgate you will see the trunnion (pivot point) at the bottom edge. There are two bolts on the body side, one above and one below the tailgate. Loosen the bolts on the left side enough so tailgate can move. Lift up maybe 3/16"-1/4" and tighten bolts. I like to mark where the bracket was using masking tape at edges so I know where the bracket was originally. Tape at bottom and back of bracket would be appropriate. Hope this helps.

[Luke87gt]

Thank you! I will give it a try and report back.

[1970cstblazer]

The reverse lenses have been replaced over the years. The original 1969 lenses had the bullseye pattern that match the taillamp lenses.

[Luke87gt]

Thank you for letting me know!

That’s an example of why this site is great, would have probably never known that otherwise.

[1970cstblazer]

To help with your search, the original GM part numbers for the 1967-70 reverse lamp lenses are:

5959461 LH

5959462 RH

Also, they have been recently reproduced.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11606015880...Bk9SR5iOiLeAZA

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

To help with your search, the original GM part numbers for the 1967-70 reverse lamp lenses are:

5959461 LH

5959462 RH

Also, they have been recently reproduced.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11606015880...Bk9SR5iOiLeAZA

Sadly, no Bull's Eye Back Up Lenses for Stepsides.

[1970cstblazer]

I wasn't aware that the reverse lenses differed on the Stepsides too. Good to know.

[HalfBrit]

Here's another vendor for the trunions.
https://www.tdtrunniondesign.com/products

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

I wasn't aware that the reverse lenses differed on the Stepsides too. Good to know.

Yep. Mine originally had the bullseye [or Fresnel] concentric ringed reverse lenses. Half a Century in the AZ Sun crystalized them. The aftermarket ones are ridged, but don't work well on my right hand side. Since it didn't matter at the time, my passenger side back-up was installed diagonally [ 2 o'clock/ 7 o'clock] screw holes. Probably on a Friday.

I could query the eBay seller if he has any Stepside lenses.

[67-72C10]

It is just out of square. Put a stake about 3 feet long in the rear bed pocket. Starting on the drivers side standing in the bed push out on the stake, have a buddy watch the gap go just a little past what you want and check it until you get the gap you want. (If you go to far pull it back.)
On the right side do the same except pull the stake just a little and keep checking it until you get your gap the way you want it. ( If you go to far push it back. )
The tailgate should slide over to where it needs to be. I hope this helps you...

[howzzzit]

Might want to consider this type of trunion roller before you align the tailgate. Not necessarily this brand. Various vendors carry them. Your tailgate will open very smoothly instead of grinding metal against metal. You can enlarge/elongate the holes if you need a little more adjustment. Worked great for me.

https://www.amazon.com/SEBLAFF-Feets.../dp/B0CW9N92DS

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

Originally Posted by 67-72C10

It is just out of square. Put a stake about 3 feet long in the rear bed pocket. Starting on the drivers side standing in the bed push out on the stake, have a buddy watch the gap go just a little past what you want and check it until you get the gap you want. (If you go to far pull it back.)
On the right side do the same except pull the stake just a little and keep checking it until you get your gap the way you want it. ( If you go to far push it back. )
The tailgate should slide over to where it needs to be. I hope this helps you...

Great idea.

I just used a heavy duty ratchet strap to pull in the bedside until a nice gap was present, but the stake method is a real good idea.

[Luke87gt]

Originally Posted by 67-72C10

It is just out of square. Put a stake about 3 feet long in the rear bed pocket. Starting on the drivers side standing in the bed push out on the stake, have a buddy watch the gap go just a little past what you want and check it until you get the gap you want. (If you go to far pull it back.)
On the right side do the same except pull the stake just a little and keep checking it until you get your gap the way you want it. ( If you go to far push it back. )
The tailgate should slide over to where it needs to be. I hope this helps you...

It seems the bottom of the bed sides would need to be adjusted more than the top. Any tips there?

[Richard]

Tweaking and bending is sometimes necessary. Do not think that is the case here. OP said left side is low and I can see it in the picture. When the left side is raised not only will the top edge align, the out of square condition will be addressed as well.

[Luke87gt]

I got in the garage today and noticed that the existing trunion bushings have a ton of play in the tailgate (as expected since those bushings are likely originals)

I loosened all the bracket bolts to allow me to play with the gaps. Although I was able to improve the gaps slightly, I don’t think there is enough adjustability in the brackets alone without needing to flex the bed side slightly to get the right gaps.

As a side note, I did order the Holley delrin trunions and will swap those in before doing anything else.

This stake technique described above, can someone show a pic of where the stake would go in to get the bottom of the bedsides flexed slightly in (not out)?

Trunion kit I ordered:
https://www.holley.com/products/exte.../parts/TGH72FD

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by Luke87gt

Hi guys,

The tailgate on my ‘69 looks to be a bit misaligned.

If you notice, the left side needs to come up about 1/4” and the entire tailgate needs to be rotated clockwise by a degree or two, if that makes sense.

You can see there are larger gaps on the bottom left and upper right that need to be corrected.

Having the never done this, I’m wondering what built in adjustment exists for addressing the problem. Thank you.

As Richard says, adjust the trunion mount.
If you’ll notice in your picture, the gap on the right side is greater that the left.
Adjust the left side and the issue will be fixed.

[howzzzit]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

As Richard says, adjust the trunion mount.
If you’ll notice in your picture, the gap on the right side is greater that the left.
Adjust the left side and the issue will be fixed.

Don't know about 69s, but my 72 is tack welded at the side bottoms. No movement there. Like others stated it just needs adjustment.

[Luke87gt]

My trunion kit from Holley is on back order until October, ugh

[Richard]

Originally Posted by howzzzit

Don't know about 69s, but my 72 is tack welded at the side bottoms. No movement there. Like others stated it just needs adjustment.

Unsure why your trunions were tacked as they are bolt in. Neither of the 72's i had/have were tacked, maybe a PO did it because he put to much weight on the gate? The mounting holes in trunions are slotted for adjustment. If they were welded I would have cut or ground the tacks loose to allow the adjustment. No amount of bending or tweeking of the bed sides will get the left top edge of bed side to align with the top of the tailgate. Just move the trunion up on left side and at a minimum everything will be closer. I would bet a dollar that all would be fixed. The delrin trunions are a great upgrade. No more grinding when opening and closing gate!
Edit- A quick search turned up this https://lsfab.com/67-72-gmc-chevy-c1...c-chevy-truck/ I am sure there are others. Holley is a big corp maybe look elsewhere.

[howzzzit]

Originally Posted by Richard

Unsure why your trunions were tacked as they are bolt in. Neither of the 72's i had/have were tacked, maybe a PO did it because he put to much weight on the gate? The mounting holes in trunions are slotted for adjustment. If they were welded I would have cut or ground the tacks loose to allow the adjustment. No amount of bending or tweeking of the bed sides will get the left top edge of bed side to align with the top of the tailgate. Just move the trunion up on left side and at a minimum everything will be closer. I would bet a dollar that all would be fixed. The delrin trunions are a great upgrade. No more grinding when opening and closing gate!
Edit- A quick search turned up this https://lsfab.com/67-72-gmc-chevy-c1...c-chevy-truck/ I am sure there are others. Holley is a big corp maybe look elsewhere.

Sorry, attached wrong post. He stated it looked like it had to come out more on the bottom. I was referring to the bed sides being tack welded to the bed floor and bed frame.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by howzzzit

Sorry, attached wrong post. He stated it looked like it had to come out more on the bottom. I was referring to the bed sides being tack welded to the bed floor and bed frame.

No worries, makes sense now.

[Luke87gt]

Im still waiting on my Holley trunion bushings. If they arent available soon, I’ll cancel and may go with LSFab.

Been holding off on doing this job until those bushings come in ugh