Anyone make their gate a lift-off?

[NevadaDVX]

I posted this in the body/paint section of this forum, but got limited responses. I am working on a 71 fleetside and am installing a Sir Michaels rollpan and skin. The rollpan makes it really difficult to get the gate on and off and will be extremely tough once everything is painted.

I am thinking of making the gate so it can lift off like the later model tailgates. Anyone do this, if so how did it come out? Pics would be great! Thanks in advance.

[cdowns]

read rules about posting in more than one place

[NevadaDVX]

If you're a mod, then feel free to delete my other post.

[IvelDesigns]

geez cdowns...

anyways, yeah, i did this for the exact same reason you described. In fact, i didn't realize i was going to need to do this until i had my roll pan tacked in place. I assumed these trucks had the notch, but i was wrong...

But yeah, check my build thread for the '69 (link is in my sig) some where around page 8 or 9 you should see it. I took some close up shots of the cuts i needed to make.

[NevadaDVX]

IvelDesigns, thanks a bunch for the link! I saved the pics to my pc. Did you just cut the left side hinge and gate, or both sides?

Also, is that a Sir Michaels roll pan? The one I have overlaps the ends of each bedside by about 1/2" or so. I noticed yours is flush. Mine also has about a 1/4" gap to the rear sill and looks like it would be a bear to weld it completely across. Not a big deal, just curious if you did weld all the way or not.

Thanks again for the help!

Don

[IvelDesigns]

i just did one side. it's important to do it at the right spot so that the gate doesn't fall when closed, or when opened up.

i don't remember where i got my roll pan, but that names doesn't ring a bell. you may find some specifics on it in the build thread.

my roll pan went right up against the sill, and i was able to tack it in. I didn't feel the need to weld across the whole thing since the gate hid it.

do a search in the FAQ section. someone did a pretty long write up on these roll pans and i think they had similar issues to what you described.

[IvelDesigns]

found it on page 5

"i almost forgot. My rear roll pan from Mar-K is on the way. should be here on tax day. "