12-29-2008, 02:21 PM | #1 |
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Tailgate Question
I was wondering if any tailgate from 73-87 will fit my truck, it is a 1986 1/2 ton Custom Deluxe? Are they all interchangeable?
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12-29-2008, 03:21 PM | #2 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
better off to get one from in the 81-87 range.
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12-29-2008, 03:32 PM | #3 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
So, does that mean the the earlier ones are different and will not bolt up to the newer trucks? Because I like the way the earlier ones look better... Thanks for your help
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12-30-2008, 04:44 PM | #4 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
Has no one really ever wanted to put one of the earlier tailgates on the later truck?
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12-30-2008, 04:55 PM | #5 |
Damn Yankee
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Re: Tailgate Question
I think that if you just measure the mounts for the trunions, latches, hinges and guides that if they're in the same locations you'd be OK. You'd definately need to change some things to use a '73-'76 but the '77-'80 might be good.
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12-30-2008, 05:01 PM | #6 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
yea they it will work, u just need to change the hinges from the new to the old, ive had all kinds on my 79, it all lines up the way it would and latches the way it should
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12-30-2008, 05:17 PM | #7 |
Another Day, Another Dollar
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Re: Tailgate Question
the pivot on older gates are different than on the newer ones.
i tried slapping a post '78 on my '78 and no dice man i don't know what year the other gate was though
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12-30-2008, 05:49 PM | #8 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
73-74, 75-76, and then 77+newer i beleive, i dont have many 80s trucks, but ive got quite a few 73-80s. 73-74 didnt have the quick release i beleive, the 75-76 did have a quick release, but similar hatch, then 77+newer are a different ball game. My father knows more about the years, ill confirm them with him when he gets off work, but i know 73-74 and 75-76.
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12-30-2008, 06:48 PM | #9 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
Thanks for all the input guys
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12-31-2008, 02:10 AM | #10 |
thinair
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Re: Tailgate Question
older tailgates have "posts" that stick out of them and go into the boxside for support I guess,newer sides don't have the holes for them
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12-31-2008, 04:23 PM | #11 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
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12-31-2008, 05:50 PM | #12 |
yeller
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Re: Tailgate Question
thinair is correct, the earlier gates can only be used on earlier beds because of the "post" at the top. I believe when it comes to mounting tailgates, there are 3 variations. 73-76, 77-80, and 81+. There are other differences style-wise, but I won't go into those as that is not the question being posted. Below is a pic of two 73-80 tailgates. The white one is a 73-76 and the teal one is a 77-80. You can see the post on the white one at the top of the gate, there are rectangular holes in the top of the bed for these TG's, that the "post" protrude into. I also included a pic of a 73-76 bed to show tose rectangular openings I referred to.
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12-31-2008, 06:08 PM | #13 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
what is the difference between the '77-'80 and the '81-up
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12-31-2008, 06:29 PM | #14 |
yeller
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Re: Tailgate Question
They look completely different on the outside (recessed portion and "chevrolet" or "GMC" location changed), and the mounting hardware (mainly the trunions) is also different. Here is a pic of an 81+ gate for comparison.
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01-01-2009, 03:08 PM | #15 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
Ahhh ok, so if the 73-76 ones have that thing at the top that prevents you from using it on the later trucks, Would it be possible to take the 77-80 and bolt it to a 81+ if you use the original hardware from the 77-80? This would pretty much accomplish what i wanted. I wanted the tailgate with the large chevrolet letters centered on the gate instead of off to the side. Also I don't mean to back track but, could you grind off that thing on the top of the 73-76 gate and use the hardware from the 77-80 to make it then fit the later trucks?
Thanks for all the help By the way dude, you are the god of tailgate knowledge |
01-01-2009, 03:12 PM | #16 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
Pretty much my problem was the fact that i bought my truck and it had no tailgate or hardware, so i had nothing to compare, all the pics really help mang... could you post pics if it is not too much trouble of the sides of the 80+ tailgates
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01-01-2009, 05:46 PM | #17 |
yeller
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Re: Tailgate Question
You should be able to bolt a 77-80 gate on your 81+ truck if you use all the 77-80 hardware.
Here is a side shot of an 81+ gate.
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01-01-2009, 11:07 PM | #18 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
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01-01-2009, 11:32 PM | #19 |
yeller
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Re: Tailgate Question
No sweat. Welcome to the site by the way.
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01-02-2009, 02:19 AM | #20 |
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Re: Tailgate Question
thanks Jeff!!
EXCELLENT INFO!
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