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Old 05-18-2019, 06:01 PM   #1
HeavyHauler
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Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

All the tailgates that I have looked at for a 1968 Chevy C10 have been bent or curved. Is there a way to straighten a old tailgate or is it even worth it as it may not be as strong afterwards once it has been bent.

Maybe just buy a new one. I like the idea of finding a good original but I dont think that exists or are very rare.
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Old 05-18-2019, 06:17 PM   #2
notsolo
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

Not an easy fix, I think you have to peel off the front. Remove spot welds and straitened out the pieces and put back together. I wasted a lot of time trying to slide flat bars and pull, clamp and reshape. It doesn't work. Clean take offs, from a camper could run... $900.
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Old 05-18-2019, 06:56 PM   #3
HeavyHauler
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

Quote:
Originally Posted by notsolo View Post
Not an easy fix, I think you have to peel off the front. Remove spot welds and straitened out the pieces and put back together. I wasted a lot of time trying to slide flat bars and pull, clamp and reshape. It doesn't work. Clean take offs, from a camper could run... $900.
Yep that is what I thought. Best to just buy a new one.
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Old 05-18-2019, 07:54 PM   #4
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

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You might read through this thread.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=578233

There are a few more if you type straighten tailgate or flatten tailgate into the Google search box at the top of this page, click on the circle in front of 67-72chevytrucks.com, and click on the GOOGLE button.....

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Old 05-18-2019, 08:13 PM   #5
68Gold/white
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

It's not impossible to straighten a tail gate, just not easy. I have friends that can DO anything. I do have one that needs to be split apart and massaged...I'm not scared...

There's still many good used units around. Become a paying member and post a "Want to buy ad".
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Old 05-18-2019, 08:22 PM   #6
Grumpy old man
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

fast and easy ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGVTYpYPz9E
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Old 05-18-2019, 08:29 PM   #7
flashed
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

What a waste .
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Old 05-19-2019, 01:36 PM   #8
RTHarvey
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

That is odd. I'm pretty sure that a running Chevy pickup of that vintage will bring at least a thousand dollars around here, no matter how bad it is.
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Old 05-19-2019, 03:07 PM   #9
rjs53
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

Nothing bringing that truck back. Back to the subject at hand, could you tack allthread to it then run a piece of Chanel along those to draw it back straight.
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Old 05-20-2019, 09:28 PM   #10
KY_GMC
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

I've fixed a tailgate that was pushed in from the outside, but not fixed a bent one.

The tailgate looked like it was hit from the outside and pushed where the letter M is.

I drilled out the spot welds on the sides and across the bottom and cut across where a bend was. This made it easier to hide the weld seam. Then it was easier to straightened out the bend area. Then just welded it back together, one spot at a time.

It was a lot easier than trying to bend it back while it was still in one piece or trying to pull the panel out with a stud puller.

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I think it turned out pretty good. I liked the idea of using and original tailgate instead of a repop.

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Old 05-21-2019, 12:41 AM   #11
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

Looks great! Guess a guy could do the same on the inside.
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Old 05-21-2019, 07:12 AM   #12
A1971Blazer
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Re: Anybody try to straighten a bent tailgate?

I was never able to straighten a bent one.....but I have bent a lot of straight ones...
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