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Old 12-07-2003, 09:11 PM   #1
super72bb
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Aftermarket or Original Tailgate???

I am looking a buying a nice original tailgate for my 1972 SWB Fleetside. However, it looks like it is going to be quite expensive. I have no problem paying the money on original parts if the quality is that much better.

So my question is. Can anyone tell me about the aftermarket tailgates out there like from Goodmark. I was just interested to know... Is the guage of steel the same as original and is there any visable differences with the aftermarket gates from the original ones. I saw a NOS Chevrolet a while back and it looked very solid. I am hoping the aftermarket ones are as heavy.

Thanks any info would be great.
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Old 12-07-2003, 09:59 PM   #2
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I don't know from experience but everything I've heard about aftermarket ones is bad.They say they're too flimsy,if you sit on them with the gate down they fold up.But then again I have no experience with them and I could be totally wrong.
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Old 12-07-2003, 10:17 PM   #3
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Here is a pic of my tailgate- it is the aftermarket without the CHEVROLET stamped in it. I got it from Frank (Pickmup) for about $100. I think it is great! Not flimsy at all. I love it, but it is also not going to be seeing alot of use. Blazer's are different than trucks in that aspect- no loads to haul here!
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Old 12-07-2003, 10:55 PM   #4
1970 CST Short Wide
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I bought a whole truck just to get an original tailgate. I had an aftermarket and when I sat an EMPTY 454 block on it, it bent. If you just want looks, go for it, If you plan on useing it now and then, go orginal. Ask Jerry Moss how bad my old aftermarket gate is, I gave it to him for his junk trailer.

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Old 12-07-2003, 11:02 PM   #5
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I too spent money for an entire truck, the one I am parting out on this board and ebay, simply for the orginal tailgate that was in excelllent shape.

I've heard too many unhappy stories about aftermarket ones not fitting correctly, being weak and such, plus...I was able to get all the original hardware which I needed.

Hard to find old ones though in good shape. Good luck with whatever choice you make.
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Old 12-08-2003, 12:52 AM   #6
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Every piece of sheet metal on the truck with the exception of the cab and bed bottom is aftermarket steel. The tailgate is not on it here, but believe me it is aftermarket also. The fit is great! You guys forget that GM's own spec. range on these trucks are +or- 1/4" on all body lines... Origanal GM parts have problems with fit..... Do you see any fitting problems with this truck. Bad lines? The old aftermarket parts are not near the quality of the new ones. I also remember the thin aftermarket tailgates that you could buy from companies like J.C. Whitney and there are lots of those parts out there, however all aftermarket parts are not like that.

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Old 12-08-2003, 12:55 AM   #7
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Here is another one that both front fenders are reproductions.
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Old 12-08-2003, 12:58 AM   #8
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Here is a picture of the first truck with all of it's origanal steel. It looks like to me that the reproduction stuff fits better than the origanal.
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Old 12-08-2003, 03:09 AM   #9
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Wes, it sounds as if the repros are quite good now. Which company do you recommend. I noticed on Goodmarks website that there is a Genuine Gm stamp on some of their parts. What does that mean exactly? How about Guage of steel who has the thickest?

Thanks again
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Old 12-08-2003, 10:19 AM   #10
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Goodmark is a good soarce as are some others. I try to keep on top of the best suppliers so that we can offer the best quality available on the market. We are not always the cheapest vender, although we are among the cheapest, however we do buy from the highest quality suppliers. Goodmark is a supplier, not a manufacturer, and we do use them for some stuff, but on some parts we have found better suppliers. What you have seen on Goodmark's site is licensed "GM Restoration Parts". This is not to be confused with "Genuine GM Parts". Licenced GM Restoration Parts are not manufactured by GM, they just have GM's stamp of approval and the companies that offer that pay GM for that abillity. Check out our website, compare our prices with Goodmark's. Can't hurt. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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Old 12-08-2003, 10:31 AM   #11
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I bought a CHEVROLET stamped gate and it did not fit nice at all.The lines were out alot. I took it back and happned to find a N.O. S gate at a flea market. I would say buy N.O.S.

Mario

Tri Plus was the company.
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Old 12-08-2003, 10:50 AM   #12
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1970blazin's tailgate is a triplus tailgate. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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Old 12-08-2003, 12:03 PM   #13
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I bought an aftermarket gate for an 81 and it was a flimsy P O C.It bent the first time weight was on it.I,ve also got an aftermarket for a 90.It is about 1/2 inch lower than the bedrails.You can feel it was alot lighter than the original.
The trouble is that most body part suppliers(at least around here)just sell the cheapest part they can get their hands on.I don,t know how many companies actually produce aftermarket body parts.But it is not like the supplier tells you that you can buy a better brand for a bit more.
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Old 12-08-2003, 12:14 PM   #14
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The last time that I heard there are at least 5 different companies that are importing the 67-72 stuff alone. I would imagine there are at least that many for the late model stuff. There are also a few American companies that do patch panels as well as at least 1 Canadian company. We try to sift through the companies that produce the bad stuff in favor of the companies that produce the good. When you start talking about 73 and later stuff, even the Genuine GM parts are thin. I stock rockers and some patch panels for the later stuff that is actually thicker than the origanal. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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Old 12-08-2003, 03:51 PM   #15
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The After market tail gate from Wes, is heaver than the original.
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Old 12-08-2003, 03:56 PM   #16
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What about putting any weight on the aftermarket gates?My 70 with an original gate,I can stand or sit on without bending.My blazer,the first time I stood on its'aftermarket gate to pull my soft top on bent!The inner panel folded and the outter skin wrinkled.Till I can be guaranteed that the aftermarket gate is strong enough to stand or sit on I would buy an OEM.
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Old 12-08-2003, 06:12 PM   #17
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Wes, I need a tailgate for my 72 GMC. I non-stamped one will be fine as I will be installing the GMC trim band on it. Will the tailgate you sell me be as thick, as strong, and as heavy as an original? Seriously, I would like to know as I have been wrestling with the idea for a while now. I would prefer nice original, but that is hard to find and I don't want to wait. Also, how much would a tailgate be and how much to ship to my zip (59106)?

Thanks...
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Old 12-08-2003, 07:20 PM   #18
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WES


There is no problem with the plain gate's. The shop I bought it off of said that he has had no problem with the plain gates.The ones that are stamped CHEVROLET fit like crap.
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Old 12-08-2003, 07:59 PM   #19
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Duffy, i have an original tailgate off of a 69' GMC. A few dents on the inside, but none on the outside. No deep rust, only a little surface rust. It is in really good shape. Email me if you are interested - Mrider42@aol.com
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Old 12-09-2003, 01:48 AM   #20
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I bought a smooth tailgate from a company and when my truck stalled I had to push it off the road and dented in my tailgate. They say the new ones are better well I will have to see. I would have used the original one but it was warped as many of the original are, plus a lot of times they will have internal rust that you can't see.
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Old 12-09-2003, 11:37 AM   #21
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GMC Tailgate

Oborny71, I have sent you PM on the tailgate you have for sale.

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Old 12-10-2003, 01:26 PM   #22
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gate

About two years ago I got a non stamped gate from GMC Pauls and have been very happy with it. I trying to think of the heaviest item I've had in the center of it and that would have to be 455 olds in full dress. 600# +/-. Among other items are a 1000 cc motorcycle. Myself @225 and I would not be afraid to jump on it while standing in the center. Just my experience I have seen the light ones also but I have no idea where they are coming from
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Old 12-10-2003, 01:42 PM   #23
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You get what you pay for.........
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Old 12-10-2003, 03:16 PM   #24
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If you want to see flimsy take a look at most factory stepside tailgates!! I have an aftermarket fleetside tailgate on my '67 GMC an I weigh 280 and have stood on it, bounced on it, jumped up on it, sat down on it, loaded a 450s Honda with me on it, which would be around 800 something pounds, set 350,460 motors on it and other than a few small dents it has survived pretty well, other than the time I had the tailgate down and the truck was on a slight hill, popped out of gear rolled less than the length of the bed and hit a tree, putting a nice dent into it! But as far as the stepside tailgate goes, I'm afraid to even step on it let alone load the 4-wheeler onto it! Are all of them that flimsy??
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Old 12-10-2003, 04:40 PM   #25
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What is the market for original TG's? I have two and need to sell one to raise some cash. It is from a 69 chev straight with no dents or dings and only surface rust. I don't have pictures yet, but will when I am ready to sell.
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