Scored a GMC tailgate for free!

[Fbks_Cruiser]

My neighbor gave me this tailgate today. It’s not perfect but still way better than mine. GMC tailgates are hard to find up here especially in good condition. It has a dent in the bottom left and a few other small dents - stuff that can be fixed. No significant rust. It has about 1/4 inch of bow. Were they dead straight when new?

[68bowtie]

Awesome!

[FleetsidePaul]

I'll give you twice what you paid for it!

Great score. I wouldn't sweat the bow if you plan on using it. I have two really straight tailgates on my trucks and beat the hell out of them. That's how it is if you use the truck as intended.

[Fbks_Cruiser]

I just gave it a level 1 tidy so I could tell more closely what I got. It isn’t quite as straight as I hoped. It’s gonna take some work to get it to where I want. But, I can run the old beater gate I have while repairing this one. That’s the work plan I’ve been going with: I’ve got fenders, bed-sides, hood, etc. that I can work on as time permits and still get to drive and enjoy the truck. I don’t wanna rip into it only to have it sit in parts in the garage for years.

[hugger6933]

Thats a good plan. I have like six fenders and several hoods and and all sorts of parts primed ready to go when I get a little time in the shop and am bored I'll work on some old truck parts. That is a great deal on the gate hope you can get it like you want.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice score! I recently got a 71 GMC gate the same color as yours that is really nice. Yes, they are straight when original.

[Fbks_Cruiser]

Thanks. I wasn't sure about them being perfectly flat. This one has about 1/4 of bow on the outside and it is consistent - along the bottom edge, along the body line just above the handle and along the top. I suppose I should check the inside as well. I know that auto body panels aren't ever actually purely flat, they always have some crown and I thought that maybe the 1/4 inch is about normal.