Tips for restoring rear hatch?

[Aarons72]

Im going to start the restoration of my hatch...Its solid on the outside but I can hear lots of rust etc...on the inside. How have you gone about making your hatch nice? Are the rubber gaskets on the hinges available to buy? How complicated is replacing the old stand up arm things with a gas shock type of set up etc...Let me know what you've done other than buying a really nice replacement. Thanks!

[vectorit]

There was a member that started a post about cleaning, and then moving a rust inhibitor through the interior of the hatch.
There is also another member that has a thread on gas shocked hatches.

I do not have the threads handy, but I am sure a few minutes of searching will dig them up.

[LuckyScott]

I just talked to a guy that is going to make fiberglass hatches for the suburbans brand new.
Here is his contact info.
John Washington

480.229.1831

john@reactionresearch.com

He is in Flagstaff Arizona, and I am going to get one for my truck.

[Burb]

I found the best way to refresh my rusted hatch was ... ebay

... had to buy another ... if my hatch had been dipped to stop the rust, all that would have been left was the hook, and someone would have to dive in for the glass

Rubber, hinges, and glass can still be found new and used, but the internals are a bit harder just a heads up

... and I did the shock upgrade as well 2 weeks ago, used a different shock then noted in other post though, but love the outcome, working on remote open now

[Aarons72]

sweet, thanks guys.

[Aarons72]

Originally Posted by Burb

I found the best way to refresh my rusted hatch was ... ebay

... had to buy another ... if my hatch had been dipped to stop the rust, all that would have been left was the hook, and someone would have to dive in for the glass

Rubber, hinges, and glass can still be found new and used, but the internals are a bit harder just a heads up

... and I did the shock upgrade as well 2 weeks ago, used a different shock then noted in other post though, but love the outcome, working on remote open now

Any pics of your shock install?