lift gate/hatch - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rust hole · 02-19-2017, 04:59 PM

Ok, so does anybody know if we are any closer to a reproduction of these things? Mine is killing me!!! I have 2 and thought that i might be able to meld them together but it seem they all start rusting in the same spots. If a repo was coming I could wait and justify spending the $$ on one.

Any advice???

Bigdav160 · 02-19-2017, 07:20 PM

In hindsight, if anyone knew the interior was bare steel, certainly someone would have rust proofed the interior.

I am determined to fix mine.

Why The General spot welded the two pieces under the flange I'll never know. It made it harder to get the thing apart.

As soon as I am done patching mine, I am sure a repo will show up on the market.

**LockDoc** · 02-20-2017, 04:06 AM

-
There was a guy in AZ that was making fiberglass ones at one time. He was selling them on here but he wouldn't become a paying member to sell them on the board so his account was suspended. He thought since he was doing the members on here a favor that he didn't have to follow the rules. He found out different....I don't know if he is still making them or not.

LockDoc

Bigdav160 · 02-20-2017, 07:01 AM

He did have his prototype on craigslist shortly after his departure from here.

LuckyScott · 02-20-2017, 10:19 PM

I talked to the guy and he had the molds for sale but no hatches. I told him I would buy one but no deal.
I needed one so I had to hunt the junkyards to find a decent one. I stripped it down and put rust inhibitor inside.
Hard to find.

**Hart_Rod** · 02-20-2017, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyScott

I talked to the guy and he had the molds for sale but no hatches. I told him I would buy one but no deal.
I needed one so I had to hunt the junkyards to find a decent one. I stripped it down and put rust inhibitor inside.
Hard to find.

how much were the molds?

LuckyScott · 02-21-2017, 12:24 AM

how much were the molds?"

I think he wanted $1100.00 or $1200.00 for them. Without a finished product I could not be sure if the molds were creating a quality product or not.

**Hart_Rod** · 02-21-2017, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyScott

how much were the molds?"

I think he wanted $1100.00 or $1200.00 for them. Without a finished product I could not be sure if the molds were creating a quality product or not.

Truth! It's a good idea, but due to the limited demand, I bet the price per unit would be pretty high for a quality piece.

Rust hole · 02-21-2017, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Truth! It's a good idea, but due to the limited demand, I bet the price per unit would be pretty high for a quality piece.

Maybe but with all most of us needing this part I think the cost could be justified instead of waiting for a good one to come available. how many projects are on hold waiting? I'd rather just pay for one and move on. Not to mention the time and aggravation trying to rebuild a bad design. just my .02

MP&C · 02-21-2017, 12:50 PM

If you have some fabrication skills, here is a sample of what was done for a wagon lift gate, and documents the dominoes action.. I have this info here in the alternate tinkerings forum, but it's broken up a bit amongst other repairs, so this link shows the lift gate repair/fabrication in it's commercial free entirety. Hope it helps..

http://www.trifivechevys.com/showthr...te-Rust-Repair

.

Bigdav160 · 02-21-2017, 01:30 PM

Robert, that hatch looks mint compared to most of the Suburban one's I've seen.

BTW, nice set of metal fab tools

Rust hole · 02-22-2017, 04:34 PM

Wow that is some real fab work and way beyond my skill level! I guess I'll have to keep looking on the parts board 3-4 times a day till I hit jackpot.

logansdad · 02-22-2017, 07:44 PM

Just an idea it's a lot of work but you can do it with barn doors

MP&C · 02-23-2017, 09:09 AM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Looks nice! Gas struts?

logansdad · 02-23-2017, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MP&C

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Looks nice! Gas struts?

Gas struts with a Lokar prop rod. I was going to go with a minivan style electric assist but I just thought that I won't be hauling stuff in here as this one is more of a show vehicle.

Orangetwk · 05-20-2017, 01:07 PM

Can you get the phone number or email for the guy that had the liftgate molds?

MP&C · 11-14-2017, 11:21 AM

Just to add an update to this thread, I saw some pictures on Instagram by Untouchable Metal Works in Colton, CA. They were doing some rust repairs on a Suburban lift gate, even strengthened the hinge area while they had it apart. Nice work.

untouchablemetalworks on IG if you want to see pictures..

02-19-2017, 04:59 PM	#1
Rust hole Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: St. Augustine, Fl Posts: 59	lift gate/hatch Ok, so does anybody know if we are any closer to a reproduction of these things? Mine is killing me!!! I have 2 and thought that i might be able to meld them together but it seem they all start rusting in the same spots. If a repo was coming I could wait and justify spending the $$ on one. Any advice???

02-19-2017, 07:20 PM	#2
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: lift gate/hatch In hindsight, if anyone knew the interior was bare steel, certainly someone would have rust proofed the interior. I am determined to fix mine. Why The General spot welded the two pieces under the flange I'll never know. It made it harder to get the thing apart. As soon as I am done patching mine, I am sure a repo will show up on the market. __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

02-20-2017, 04:06 AM	#3
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 26,066	Re: lift gate/hatch - There was a guy in AZ that was making fiberglass ones at one time. He was selling them on here but he wouldn't become a paying member to sell them on the board so his account was suspended. He thought since he was doing the members on here a favor that he didn't have to follow the rules. He found out different....I don't know if he is still making them or not. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

02-20-2017, 07:01 AM	#4
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: lift gate/hatch He did have his prototype on craigslist shortly after his departure from here. __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

02-20-2017, 10:19 PM	#5
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: lift gate/hatch I talked to the guy and he had the molds for sale but no hatches. I told him I would buy one but no deal. I needed one so I had to hunt the junkyards to find a decent one. I stripped it down and put rust inhibitor inside. Hard to find.

02-21-2017, 12:24 AM	#7
LuckyScott Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Anaheim, Calif. Posts: 361	Re: lift gate/hatch how much were the molds?" I think he wanted $1100.00 or $1200.00 for them. Without a finished product I could not be sure if the molds were creating a quality product or not.

02-21-2017, 12:50 PM	#10
MP&C Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,651	Re: lift gate/hatch If you have some fabrication skills, here is a sample of what was done for a wagon lift gate, and documents the dominoes action.. I have this info here in the alternate tinkerings forum, but it's broken up a bit amongst other repairs, so this link shows the lift gate repair/fabrication in it's commercial free entirety. Hope it helps.. http://www.trifivechevys.com/showthr...te-Rust-Repair . __________________ Robert Last edited by MP&C; 02-21-2017 at 12:56 PM.

02-21-2017, 01:30 PM	#11
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: lift gate/hatch Robert, that hatch looks mint compared to most of the Suburban one's I've seen. BTW, nice set of metal fab tools __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

02-22-2017, 04:34 PM	#12
Rust hole Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: St. Augustine, Fl Posts: 59	Re: lift gate/hatch Wow that is some real fab work and way beyond my skill level! I guess I'll have to keep looking on the parts board 3-4 times a day till I hit jackpot.

02-22-2017, 07:44 PM	#13
logansdad Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: new smyrna beach FL Posts: 107	Re: lift gate/hatch Just an idea it's a lot of work but you can do it with barn doors Attached Images __________________ 1972 chevy sububan----frame off restoration now for sale😟 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=560803 1968 GMC Suburban- turned 67 air ride, streched and shaved everything, 22" detroit steelies, lt1 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=668574 suburban 4x4 1 ton zz454 daily kid hauler 1991 gmc syclone 1987 c10 silverado "Hey lifted 4x4 guy does your truck know what mud is" "Every inch you go up is an inch you don't have"

02-23-2017, 09:09 AM	#14
MP&C Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,651	Re: lift gate/hatch ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Looks nice! Gas struts? __________________ Robert

05-20-2017, 01:07 PM	#16
Orangetwk Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Springfield virginia Posts: 16	Re: lift gate/hatch Can you get the phone number or email for the guy that had the liftgate molds?

11-14-2017, 11:21 AM	#17
MP&C Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,651	Re: lift gate/hatch Just to add an update to this thread, I saw some pictures on Instagram by Untouchable Metal Works in Colton, CA. They were doing some rust repairs on a Suburban lift gate, even strengthened the hinge area while they had it apart. Nice work. untouchablemetalworks on IG if you want to see pictures.. __________________ Robert



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