Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.

[shrunken66stroker]

If you start messing with strippers you will get burned. You definitely need to cover up.

[shrunken66stroker]

Ok, I started back to work on the truck a little in the garage. I'm still a bit sore from the accident- physical therapy three times a week for six weeks. It's a PITA but my back should be fine after it's all through.

I hooked up the Mar-k tailgate hinges and the stealth latches this weekend. I did my best to do a step by step with the pictures since there are some deviations from the vague directions in both kits. I started with the hinges and immediately the directions went out the window. Step 1 is to unbolt the tailgate chain mount from the bedside facing the tailgate. Well mine weren't bolted in, they were plug welded. I drilled them out, lined up the new ones and plug welded them in. I did the relief cuts on the gate so they would tuck in and they were done.

[shrunken66stroker]

I screwed that last post up so here's some more pics and the rest of the install.

I realized when I was measuring out the stealth latches that they weren't going to be long enough to reach where they were supposed to. I had to hammer out a plate and weld up so the latch would have a housing. I welded a stud to it so I could hold it in place while I tack welded it. Repeated on the other side. The instructions showed a step side bed and it wasn't even close to the same install. After I got the latches into the tailgate I closed it and pulled them and let go a few times. It made enough of a mark to where I could use it as a punch and know where to drill. I drilled the holes out, ground the welds down and put the rubber grommet on. I plugged the holes where the chains mounted on and I was done. Quite a bit of finagling for a straight forward conversion.

[daverod]

Nice work. I've seen those before did'nt know it was a kit. You missed a little paint.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by daverod

Nice work. I've seen those before did'nt know it was a kit. You missed a little paint.

They're two separate kits but you need both to replace the chain functions. Ok so it's not 100% bare metal but damn close. There might be one or two other spots with paint on them too. Don't tell anybody else.

[daverod]

Ya I did'nt think about the piece that holds the gate up.

[aerotruk63]

I used a Industrial Chemical stripper to remove the paint from a buddy's car. Even though I had Industrial rubber gloves on, I lost two layers of skin on the palms of my hands. Second degree chemical burns. My hands do not callus anymore and are sensitive to heat and cold. Please be careful when using this stuff.

[jason65]

Trucks lookin good. I agree on the mar-k instructions. It's easier to figure it out than to fallow those things. I know you feel good about seeing it roll out of the garage like that. The only thing better is to drive it out.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

I used a Industrial Chemical stripper to remove the paint from a buddy's car. Even though I had Industrial rubber gloves on, I lost two layers of skin on the palms of my hands. Second degree chemical burns. My hands do not callus anymore and are sensitive to heat and cold. Please be careful when using this stuff.

Wow, what stripper was it that you used? It sounds like some toxic stuff. I used Aircraft stripper and had some hazardous waste gloves on. They were probably 1/16 thick rubber coating and I would still have to stop once in a while and wash up good. There's never any question if you have some on you. It starts burning instantly and don't even think about trying to wear regular rubber gloves. They just disintegrate. I don't know if I'll ever strip a car that way again.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by jason65

Trucks lookin good. I agree on the mar-k instructions. It's easier to figure it out than to fallow those things. I know you feel good about seeing it roll out of the garage like that. The only thing better is to drive it out.

Soon the day will come when the shorty will exit the garage under it's own power. Congrats on that TOTM deal. You got my vote.

[BIGMAC68]

On those kits for the tailgate links and hidden latches, what was the problem with the instructions? I'd like to know because I wrote them. If I'm not getting the message across then I need to do it differently. I have only seen a couple of trucks with those chain attaching pieces welded in from the factory instead of bolted. Can not explain that one. Maybe a specific year or build plant? Anyway, any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

[smbrouss70]

Looks good, Shrunken66Stroker. I haven't ever used any of Mar-K's stuff yet, but that's customer service right there.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

I haven't ever used any of Mar-K's stuff yet, but that's customer service right there.

[jason65]

Originally Posted by BIGMAC68

On those kits for the tailgate links and hidden latches, what was the problem with the instructions? I'd like to know because I wrote them. If I'm not getting the message across then I need to do it differently. I have only seen a couple of trucks with those chain attaching pieces welded in from the factory instead of bolted. Can not explain that one. Maybe a specific year or build plant? Anyway, any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

Wright it for dummies.

[daverod]

Sounds like a good guy. Maybe if your nice to him he'll come over and help you. Now that would be service.

[BIGMAC68]

Originally Posted by jason65

Wright it for dummies.

Thanks for the kind words guys. I do find it difficult to write these instructions because I am part of the design team for these products. This includes initial design, prototyping, finished goods and the final, instruction writing. Knowing so much about the items, maybe I take some things for granted when writing the instructions. I will try to look at those a different way in the future.

[daverod]

Originally Posted by BIGMAC68

Thanks for the kind words guys. I do find it difficult to write these instructions because I am part of the design team for these products. This includes initial design, prototyping, finished goods and the final, instruction writing. Knowing so much about the items, maybe I take some things for granted when writing the instructions. I will try to look at those a different way in the future.

Pretend like you have an IQ of 50, ten thumbs, one eye and just slammed down a 6 pac. You'll do fine. I never read the instructions any way. That is until I totally screw things up. Where were you when then put my step notch kit together?

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by daverod

Pretend like you have an IQ of 50, ten thumbs, one eye and just slammed down a 6 pac. You'll do fine. I never read the instructions any way. That is until I totally screw things up. Where were you when then put my step notch kit together?

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by BIGMAC68

Thanks for the kind words guys. I do find it difficult to write these instructions because I am part of the design team for these products. This includes initial design, prototyping, finished goods and the final, instruction writing. Knowing so much about the items, maybe I take some things for granted when writing the instructions. I will try to look at those a different way in the future.

Actually your instructions were fine if the bracket was bolted on instead of plug welded. When step 1 of a job is screwed up it tends to set the tone for the whole project. This could be extremely frustrating for someone who plans on doing a bolt on installation and doesn't have a welder. My venting was more directed toward the latch kit that came from CPP and the lack of a receiving hole for the latch. That's what took me a few hours of fab to make look half way decent. Thanks for the follow up.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by jason65

Wright it for dummies.

I have just enough sense to cut my bed down.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by daverod

Sounds like a good guy. Maybe if your nice to him he'll come over and help you. Now that would be service.

It's only a 15hr drive from OK. I'm done anyway I just wish it didn't take the better part of a whole day for the hinge and latch.

[jason65]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

I hooked up the Mar-k tailgate hinges and the stealth latches this weekend. I did my best to do a step by step with the pictures since there are some deviations from the vague directions in both kits. I started with the hinges and immediately the directions went out the window. Step 1 is to unbolt the tailgate chain mount from the bedside facing the tailgate. Well mine weren't bolted in, they were plug welded. I drilled them out, lined up the new ones and plug welded them in. I did the relief cuts on the gate so they would tuck in and they were done.

I see. The way this read it seemed it all came from mar-k. But really it was just the trunions. Sorry James.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by jason65

I see. The way this read it seemed it all came from mar-k. But really it was just the trunions. Sorry James.

I'll try to be more clear about this one. It actually wasn't the trunions. It was the arms that hold the tailgate level when you let it down, what ever the hell those are called. But now that you mention trunions... I had to offset them in the middle about a 1/16 to get them the tailgate to line up with the bedsides at the top. There was no adjustment left in them so I had no choice and the mounting holes are so close to the edge there's no material on them to ream out. I had to lock the round part down, take it out and offset it to one side. These are from Mar-k. I'd like a little more material on both sides of the mounting hole if you're still listening James.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

I'll try to be more clear about this one. It actually wasn't the trunions. It was the arms that hold the tailgate level when you let it down, what ever the hell those are called. But now that you mention trunions... I had to offset them in the middle about a 1/16 to get them the tailgate to line up with the bedsides at the top. There was no adjustment left in them so I had no choice and the mounting holes are so close to the edge there's no material on them to ream out. I had to lock the round part down, take it out and offset it to one side. These are from Mar-k. I'd like a little more material on both sides of the mounting hole if you're still listening James.

Yeah it looks like someone didn't measure twice.

[BIGMAC68]

This part has been recently re-designed to match the original bracket.