NOS tailgate vs aftermarket

[djgebert]

Got a question guys/gals. I have a perfect NOS fleetside tailgate for my resto job. How good/bad are the aftermarket stamped gates? I am doing a streetrod type resto so I am not really concerned with the fact that the NOS is more "correct". I am considering selling the NOS gate because I can buy an aftermarket gate and a cowl hood and some misc. with the $ they are going for and thus would have more to spend elsewhere. My main concern is do the better quality aftermarket gates fit well? I looked at one that Harmons has and see they don't have the small spot weld marks, but other than that they looked pretty much the same. Thanks!!!

[nds1968]

Here is my experience with an aftermarket gate. I went ahead and bought a NOS gate but I still need to paint and install it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=287302

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I would keep the nos gate the aftermarket ones are not very sturdy..

[djgebert]

Thanks guys, thats why I asked. I've restored a couple cars in the past and I have never used any of the aftermarket stuff and I wasn't sure on the fit with these, etc. I'm not gonna sacrifice the quality for a few hundred bucks. (not at this point at least). Anybody know where I can get a GOOD/new driver side fleetside bedside for a swb?

[VA72C10]

I'll chime in on the other side of the equation. I've had two NOS gates, several nice takeoff gates, and have a Tri plus repro gate. The triplus gate weighs the same as my NOS gate did. The only difference is a slight difference in the top edge and the fact that the welds are better on the Triplus gate. For 450 shipped or less if you can pick it up locally or at a show, I'd do the tri-plus gate and be able to buy it and your cowl hood plus some other stuff when you sell the NOS gate (normally sell for 900-1200)

[ChevyCrazy67]

i've also used the after market gates, (triplus) they've been good for me so far.

[VA72C10]

just wanted to make sure there are brands of reproduction gates out there that are REALLY bad. Mostly the ones w/out the chevrolet lettering stamped in them. I have seen those bend from a guy stepping on it to get out of the bed.

[djgebert]

Thanks for the info guys. I have been trying to make up my mind which way to go. I will check on one of the triplus gates. Every thing I can save in one place I can spend somewhere else. I did just steal me a 383 short block off of ebay this past weekend, so that made me smile. I paid $201 for it, taking a chance, guy wouldn' take the pan off and didn't know anything about it. I drove 3 1/2 hrs expecting to see a parts block that I could get a few things off of and the darn thing was pristine. 6" rods, internally balanced, new alum water pump, 4 bolt block. He tells me it has 5k miles on it and the guy he bought the car off told him he paid almost $4k for the motor, he just didn't want it because "it was a small block and Chevelles should have a big block". So I saved enough there to buy me something else. Now one of these days I am gonna have to start putting this thing together.

[67/72junkie]

All the aftermarket no name gates I have handled over the years have been junk.I have helped assemble 2 swb beds in the last year completely from aftermarket parts.both had tri plus gates and the beds look fantastic.the gates lined up well and are very solid.I love gm parts and if building a perfect restoration I would want the nos with the weld spots.I would sale the nos if I were you and get the aftermarket"tri-plus" and cowl hood with the same funds.Same with rockers ,all the after market I got were junk until I got tri-plus and then I stocked up on 5 or 6 sets.

[LEEVON]

I've heard good things about the tri-plus gate, but my experience with a cheapo is that a load will taco it. I put a crease in one by stepping off it back when I was 200 lbs, wouldn't dream of doing that now it would probably snap.

[oldblue1968chevy]

I have some kinda aftermarket gate and its crappy, i can sit on it and bow it...

anyone wanna buy a beat up aftermarket rust free gate?