Tailgate Bands Pics/options/diy

[staggerd86c-10]

Whats up guys i'm finally getting my truck back from the body shop and i was wondering what is involved in using a tailgate band from a blazer i have one but it doesnt look like the one i have on my truck now because the back bracket is different. any help on this and some pics would help a whole lot. Is there a place i can buy a band that will just bolt up to my truck? I have seen a few guys on here with some plain ones with no logo are those aftermarket ones?

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by staggerd86c-10

Whats up guys i'm finally getting my truck back from the body shop and i was wondering what is involved in using a tailgate band from a blazer i have one but it doesnt look like the one i have on my truck now because the back bracket is different. any help on this and some pics would help a whole lot. Is there a place i can buy a band that will just bolt up to my truck? I have seen a few guys on here with some plain ones with no logo are those aftermarket ones?

I'm pretty sure I read here that you can remove the bracket and put it on the new band.

[72 CustomCamper]

The blazer band is different. It doesn't have the cut out for the release handle like a pickup needs...

[N2TRUX]

The Blazer band does not come with holes for emblems. You have to add holes if you want the emblems. This is the best pic I have.

[texasfunk]

will the tailgate from a blaze fit a truck? i want the "shaved" look, or wil i just have to shave my handle and use just a bazer band?

[N2TRUX]

You will have to use a handle flip kit. The Blazer gate will not work.

[cadpwrd]

You can use a blazer panel. You just have to take the mouting cage of the back and swap it with a pickup mounting cage. You also have to tweak the edges a little bit to match the curve of the tailgate. The corners of a pickup panel have a slight curve in the to fit the recessed area of the tailgate. The blazer tailgate is flat. I just ground down the inside of the corners until I was happy with the fit. I scored my panel at a swap meet for $40. I liked the look of the panel with my clear taillights but I wanted a "shaved" look. I didn't relocate my handle (yet) so I have to jimmy the tailgate open with a screwdriver. I flip it as I get closer to finishing the truck.

[cadpwrd]

Here are some better pics of what I mean:

This is the corner of the truck panel:


Here is where I trimmed the Blazer panel to match:


Here is another pic of the whole thing for S&G's:


Also be very careful and have patients with changin out the mounting cages. You have to pry them out without bending the panel. Its challenging but it can be done. If I can do it, anyone can.

[boatpuller]

this isn't a very good pic,but.it shows another option.the small band which is what i like.

[Rollinsqrbdy]

Im with boat puller I also like the smaller band. cadpwrd's truck is nice to though

[N2TRUX]

The "small" band is a Cheyenne insert. Mine is brushed, but they do look nice polished.

[JohnC]

Has anyone put the small band like on Boatpuller's and N2Trux's trucks on a 81-87 truck? I'm on the fence between the small one, or the blazer band. They both look sweet, and give it just something different, but looks like it's supposed to be there too.

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by JohnC

Has anyone put the small band like on Boatpuller's and N2Trux's trucks on a 81-87 truck? I'm on the fence between the small one, or the blazer band. They both look sweet, and give it just something different, but looks like it's supposed to be there too.

You would have to do some massaging to the ends of the band to get it to sit right. On the 81-up gate where the end of the band would go is flat, whereas on the band itself, it's rounded to fit the older tailgates.

Here's mine. Man the skinny bands seem popular.

[pcmcobra]

I've been sitting on this "driver" blazer band for awhile now...a couple dings, but for a few $ at jy, I had to get it.
One of these days I'll get a handle relocation kit.
I like the blazer bands, but the small bands look good too.

[truckfan]

i have the narrow. anyone know how to polish? i have tried, it just doesn't look any better.

[truckfan]

Originally Posted by JohnC

Has anyone put the small band like on Boatpuller's and N2Trux's trucks on a 81-87 truck? I'm on the fence between the small one, or the blazer band. They both look sweet, and give it just something different, but looks like it's supposed to be there too.

i also have an 81 up w/ narrow band. it has to be trimmed. mine was done when i got. it does not look good up close.

[staggerd86c-10]

yeah i have a blazer band that i got off ebay for 20 bucks it had a few small dings but im glad i got that one to try it first once i get it done i will either try to clean that one up or just shell out the 300 bucks for a new one and attempt not to completely mess that one up. That small band is pretty cool looking and it gave me an idea to have a custom billet one made that might look pretty resto/mod.

[sangermike]

this is the same problem that im going thru right now. i have a narrow band that a friend gave me but wont look good on the ends. the price range i keep finding for a new 87 tailgate band is 500.00 to 650.00 if i could find a new one for 300.00 i would be all over it. does anyone know where you can find these tailgate bands new in the 300/350 range.

[glock35ipsc]

This is the truck that made up my mind to do a Blazer band/handle flip on my truck this winter.

[blazn79]

Little off topic but does anyone know were to get these clear tailights?

[JohnC]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

This is the truck that made up my mind to do a Blazer band/handle flip on my truck this winter.

Yeah ojoe's truck is inspiration for a lot of things!

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by truckfan

i have the narrow. anyone know how to polish? i have tried, it just doesn't look any better.

My band was pretty bad when I got it. all dull etc. Polish did nothing for me so I had to strip the whole thing down and put a coat of clear on it. The main problem is that the anodizing has gone away on a lot of them.

Here's a thread where I tell what I did to mine. It came out looking like new.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342419

[cadpwrd]

As far as finding the clear taillights, good luck. I started looking for these on ebay back in '05. Months later I had 'em on my 91 burb. I made sure I kept them (and the matching fender lenses) when I sold it. I've been looking for a backup set ever since with no luck. I know they aren't as cool as they used to be, but I always liked them on silver or white trucks. I never planned on putting them in my black truck until I realized that they would look good if I used them with the tailgate band. They seem to flow together pretty well. I use LED light bulbs to keep 'em clear and legal (sort of). I never had any trouble from the law when they were on my burb.

[JohnC]

I wish they would come out with some clear/red lenses. When I say clear I mean like the newer trucks. They are a red lens, but they are clear so you can see inside where the bulb is. I always thought those looked good, especially with the euro clear side markers, and headlights

[Driveway Dreams]

Just fit some modern lights to your truck.
Is there anyone with a band that is a high mirror like polish? I think that would look great!