‘67-72 tailgate

[rockyrivermark]

When buying a used tailgate how can you tell if it’s oem or aftermarket. I hear the repops are much lighter but is there any stamping etc I can refer to?
Thanks.

[xs-cash]

Reproduction are much lighter

[rockyrivermark]

Originally Posted by xs-cash

Reproduction are much lighter

Yes. I heard that but I won’t have a reference to know.
Are the spot welds the same? Maybe I can tell that way?

[dagnabbitt]

What I would say is if you can't tell if it is OEM or repop, that is a good thing.

If you are looking for a fleetside tailgate it really is just the weight like evryone says: and when people say that you can tell, trust me you can tell. OEM ones are heavy.

The stepside repops are easy to spot since yes, the spot welds are often lousy.

But, there are repops and then there are repops. Mar K tailgates to me appear to be better than OEM.

[rockyrivermark]

Got ya. Thanks. I haven’t had my tailgate off since I renovated the truck in 2017 but sounds like the repops are extremely light so I should be able to tell.
Thanks!

[pjmoreland]

Member Gregski installed a reproduction tailgate on his electric conversion truck and it weighed slightly more than the original tailgate he removed.

[57taskforce]

The earlier reproduction fleetside tail gates are pretty flimsy. I’ve seen a few that have bowed in the middle bad just by walking on them over a short time. And they probably weight 1/2 or maybe a little more than what an OE part weighs. I can’t really speak for the more recent stuff (last 8-10 years)

[402Bowtie]

I'm not sure I would trust the weight method. I have some reproduction rocker panels that are heavier than NOS rockers--FWIW.

I would look for the date stamp on the OEM tailgate. I'm guessing the reproduction gates don't have that stamp.

Also, I think the reproduction gates are of the 70-72 style. So if you can identify stampings for 67 or 68-69, then odds are it is an OEM gate.

[leftybass209]

I have both a repop on my 72, and an original for a 69.

There are minor stamping differences for 67-68.... but my 69 tailgate is OE and has the same stamping as the early gates.

The repop is thinner, and has all the stampings consistent with the 69-72 gates, except there is an inside lip that follows the perimeter which is more shallow and not as pronounced as an OE gate.

The inset portion that spans the length of the outside (where the latch handle is located, also has a stepped lip for OE, while the repop doesn't have that lip.

here's a thread on the matter: https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=523850