Tailgate Band Placement

[402Bowtie]

I would like to document the placement of the woodgrain tailgate band that were found on the CST, Cheyenne, Cheyenne Super, Sierra, or Sierra Grande trim packages.

I am curious to determine if there are any patterns that might explain the variation in the band's placement such as build factory, build date, etc. Maybe there is no pattern at some plants and more of a pattern at other plants.

At first glance, it appears that some bands were mounted flush with the "stamping line" and other were mounted up to an inch or more below.

Feel free to post any pictures, but I would like to see the following included:
1) original paint tailgate--restored examples aren't as definitive, as they could be aftermarket tailgates.
2) a partial VIN number showing at least the plant letter code plus the three following digits, ie. CCE242S138xxx. A SPID is most desirable, as it would also confirm the trim and paint options.

Summary List:

Baltimore Chevy
9B835860 - Offset (post 3) Truck

Flint Chevy
1F654299 - Offset (post 2) Blazer

Janesville Chevy
1J633548 - flush (post 4) Truck

St. Louis Chevy
1S649xxx - Offset (post 6, 8) Blazer
1S659169 - Offset (post 3) Blazer
1S661995 - Offset (post 5) Blazer
2S102300 - Offset (post 5) Blazer
2S103440 - Offset (post 4) Truck
2S115357 - Flush (post 4) Truck
2S123430 - Offset (post 3) Blazer
2S157442 - Flush (post 1) Truck

St. Louis GMC
2S513868 - Flush (post 3) Jimmy
2S516309 - offset (post 5) Jimmy

Fremont Chevy
9Z833XXX - Flush (post 7) Truck
9Z835876 - Flush (post 4) Truck
0Z126935 - Offset (post 3) Truck
1Z630470 - Flush (post 20) Truck
2Z108075 - Offset (post 19) Truck
2Z131XXX - Flush (post 15) Truck
2Z175621 - Flush (post 4) Truck

Fremont GMC
ZZ59890 - Offset (post 2) Truck

[402Bowtie]

71 Flint Blazer - Offset mount. The ad states they think it is original paint, and the band looks to be OEM. However, the disc brakes sticker placement seems lower than most.

70 Fremont GMC - (significant) offset mount.

[402Bowtie]

69 Baltimore chevy - Offset

70 Fremont chevy - offset

72 STL Blazer - offset

72 STL Jimmy - flush

71 STL Blazer - offset

[402Bowtie]

69 Fremont chevy - flush

71 Janesville chevy - flush

72 STL chevy - Offset

72 Fremont chevy - flush

72 STL chevy - flush

[402Bowtie]

Appears to be original paint 72 STL blazer - offset

71 Blazer 1S661995 - offset

72 Jimmy 2S516309 - offset

[lolife99]

My ‘71 2wd blazer is original paint.
This is the only tailgate band pictures I have.
It’s offset.
Also the “disc brake” decal placement.

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by lolife99

My ‘71 2wd blazer is original paint.
This is the only tailgate band picture I have.
It’s offset.
Also the “disc brake” decal placement.

Thanks! Would you be willing to provide the next 4 digits after "181" in your VIN? Or at least the plant letter code?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

Thanks! Would you be willing to provide the next 4 digits after "181" in your VIN? Or at least the plant letter code?

It’s S649 after the 181

[FirstOwner69]

My '69.
VIN CE249Z833XXX. Original tailgate, band, trim and holes. First picture is also original paint.

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by lolife99

It’s S649 after the 181

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

My '69.
VIN CE249Z833XXX. Original tailgate, band, trim and holes. First first picture is also original paint.

Thank you both!

[DeadheadNM]

Interesting. I'll follow.

Will mention that 72 Blazers made use of bright trim below the band: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=699985

[A1971Blazer]

My guess is that as long as it was in the general area that it was acceptable...It probably depends on whether it was Joe Blow or John Doe that was installing them that day....

trying to find rhyme or reason from 50+ years ago may be the proverbial "needle in a hay stack"

here is the factory dimension as shown on the drawing....

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Interesting. I'll follow.

Will mention that 72 Blazers made use of bright trim below the band: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=699985

Thanks Pete! I grabbed a few pics from that thread and added them in post 5. Side note: I've been seeing a few trucks with both the band and lower trim too.

Originally Posted by A1971Blazer

My guess is that as long as it was in the general area that it was acceptable...It probably depends on whether it was Joe Blow or John Doe that was installing them that day....

trying to find rhyme or reason from 50+ years ago may be the proverbial "needle in a hay stack"

here is the factory dimension as shown on the drawing....
Attachment 2159581

Yes, that's probably right. But I can't help myself sometimes.

That drawing doesn't show what the resulting offset would be between the top edge of the trim and the stamping line. I have an original (Fremont) truck and tailgate at home with the band removed. There are some wear lines that show its band was flush mounted originally. I'll measure the holes to see if matches the assembly manual...and I'll get some pics.

Do we know what the 2.12 dimension references? I can look at my manual...

[FirstOwner69]

There have been some threads about different tailgate stampings.

This one https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=494219 shows that the ends of the recessed area below the tailgate handle varied. Perhaps the horizontal recess below the handle was also a bit wider top to bottom on depending upon the stamping. That would make sense since all dimensions in the assembly manual for the band location are from the bottom of the gate which would make the the band appear to vary in location.

Here's a thread that also discusses stamping differences, but I think all these are on the inside of the tailgate. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=523850

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

There have been some threads about different tailgate stampings.

This one https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=494219 shows that the ends of the recessed area below the tailgate handle varied. Perhaps the horizontal recess below the handle was also a bit wider top to bottom on depending upon the stamping. That would make sense since all dimensions in the assembly manual for the band location are from the bottom of the gate which would make the the band appear to vary in location.

Here's a thread that also discusses stamping differences, but I think all these are on the inside of the tailgate. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=523850

A couple things: I looked through my hard copy manual. The manual shows a "15" that is circled as some kind of reference point for the bottom screw location (bottom left of picture above). I don't know what that refers to. But it seems to be pretty clear that they aren't measuring from the bottom of the gate.

The second link you posted is pretty thorough IMO. From what I have seen, there are three tailgate stampings: 67, 68-69, and 70-72. Since the band was first available in 69, your theory could be true for differences in 69 vs 70+ gates (although I'm skeptical), but the 70-72 gates I think are identical stampings. I don't mean to shoot your thoughts down, but just thinking out loud some too and sharing what I've seen.

Pictured below is a 2Z131 Cheyenne truck. The wear marks show it as a flush mount. And the bottom screw measures 2.75" from the most-bottom edge.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

I don't mean to shoot your thoughts down, but just thinking out loud some...

No problem. That's all I was doing also.

Do we have any idea if the holes were pre-drilled or drilled on the factory floor? I'd assume at the factory. If so, I wonder how. A jig of some sort? A pattern?

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

No problem. That's all I was doing also.

Do we have any idea if the holes were pre-drilled or drilled on the factory floor? I'd assume at the factory. If so, I wonder how. A jig of some sort? A pattern?

It would make sense that a jig of some sort was used, whether provided by GM or fabbed by the installer.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Do we have any idea if the holes were pre-drilled or drilled on the factory floor? I'd assume at the factory. If so, I wonder how. A jig of some sort? A pattern?

Self tapping screws but I bet a jig or some device was used to position the band.

[mr.mud1]

here's the tailgate band on my original paint 1972 cheyenne super,built at the Fremont,Ca plant,Sept 1971

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by mr.mud1

here's the tailgate band on my original paint 1972 cheyenne super,built at the Fremont,Ca plant,Sept 1971

Nice addition - thank you! I added it to the list.

Here's a 71 Fremont
1Z630470 - Flush

[MDFarms]

Have not read all post but my perception and what I feel is the best look is just below the top center stamp line. To me when right online it doesn't give it depth when looking at it dimensionally.

[402Bowtie]

So at this point it appears they just slapped on the band wherever. Any more examples? Here's a St. Louis example that appears to be flush.