how good are repop tailgates ?

[tom71]

how do they fit? would you buy another ?

[1LoC10]

I got mine from Wes at http://www.classicheartbeat.com and it fit fine, no probs at all... I have heard some are made of thinner material, but these are supposed to be correct gauge, so I assume it is

[Tom Vogel]

Whether it is a repop or NOS, you will have to do some work to it if you want it to fit correctly. (unless your awfuleasy to please)
It will probably have some twist to take out and the gaps wont be perfect. All that can be overcome... with a little work. Im talking goodmark, it is the right gauge, but you will have to massage it or a nos one.

[special-K]

Stepside or Fleetside?All Stepside gatesa flimsy,IMO,and want to bow real easy.Like they were never intended to stay that nice,

[junkyardjohn]

EVERY AFTERMARKET TAILGATE I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN... WELL... NOT SO PRETTY GOOD. BUT I'VE ONLY SEEN ABOUT A DOZEN & A HALF INSTALLED THOUGH. PEOPLE CAN SWEAR THEY ARE THE SAME GAUGE, EVERY BIT AS THICK & HEAVY AS A G.M. T/GATE, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE THAT WOULDN'T BEND IN THE MIDDLE IF A HEFTY CHICK SAT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. I HAVE SAT FULLY LOADED SMALL BLOCKS ON THE ORIGINAL T/GATE ON MY BLAZER WHILE LOADING ONE FROM THE BONEYARD, WITHOUT BOWING OR BENDING. NOT JUST ONCE, BUT SEVERAL TIMES. THE ONLY AFTERMARKET PARTS THAT I'VE USED THAT WERE AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINALS IS A INST. PANEL, A DOOR LATCH & ROCKERS. TO EACH HIS OWN BUT SOME PEOPLE SWORE PACERS ,VEGAS & GREMLINS WERE GOOD CARS TOO. JOHN

[Green Machine]

JYJ - maybe you need one of these - I have heard that the gates with the letters weigh only about five pounds less than the originals and are pretty good, the gates without letters are much lighter than the originals, depends on supplier, but I have been told this by several vendors when looking for mine. Talk to Mother Truckers, or call Manes Truck Parts for some good info.

[speedracer]

I bought one without letters it fit with no problems but I stepped on it getting in the bed and it bowed I weigh 145lbs??? 6 months later the welds holding the outer skin broke I will not buy another

[1LoC10]

well i cant debate on the strength side, because im not going to test it...lol, i wont let anyone touch it, let alone sit on it..... but lining up wise, it fits great the lines all line up the handle sits in it right and the gaps to the bedsides are even... so looks wise its good. (so far)

[1LoC10]

and it looks beter than before...lol

[Billla]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

I have heard that the gates with the letter weigh only about five pounds less than the originals and are pretty good, the gates without letters are much lighter than the originals, depend on supplier, but I have been told this by 2 vendors when looking for mine.

I wonder if this is because of the GM Reproduction Parts licensing - if the CHEVROLET letters are on it, GM needs to approve it...and it would likely be made to GM specs and using their tooling drawings. The no-logo repops could be made any way they wanted to.

I'm sticking with my originals. Does anyone have a better idea for getting the dents out other than cutting an access panel in the back and then welding it back in? I think they're just too deep and sharp for a stud or screw puller.

[dennislbrooks]

Not saying I would never buy another aftermarket but do not leave me alone with oem fleet tailgates.. My aftermarket has mis-alignments before spot welding. I think the molds are worn out and they need more quality control in Taiwan on them. I have no fear of standing on it tho.

Mine has the Chevrolet lettering embossed in it.

[Green Machine]

Just remembered, I was also told that it would be a good idea on any repop tailgate to re-weld all of the spot welds to avoid seperation there. More work up front, but better than later after its painted.

[gringoloco]

There is a new generation of repop gates now. Supposed to be much better.

-Chris

[CUSTOM/10]

I looked at the lettered and non-lettered gates side by side at the Carlisle PA swap meet, and the lettered gate was much thicker and heavier. I was told they both came from the same MFG. in Taiwan. I was tempted to buy the lettered gate, but it was raining Saturday and I didn't feel carrying it around.

[Bob B.]

I bought a 'G.M. Restoration Parts' GMC lettered tailgate from Jim Carter. Just as heavy as the original. I, too, have been told that the smooth tailgates are considerably lighter than the good quality lettered repops.

[chevyboy55]

My son & I talked to a guy from the truck shop at the Portland swap meet & asked him about the plain gates being thinner than the lettered gates. He said Counterpart(which is owned by the truck shop) uses the same tooling & materials for both gates.

[qksilver]

does the lettering like putting a bead in flat sheet metal give it more strength?
Just a thought?

[Daubs]

Roaming around my uncle's machine shop about 15 years ago (he's a rancher in Nebraska), and I see two beautiful tailgates. I'm talking spotless. One from 67-72 Chevy, another from 70's vintage Chevy (also had a ford...but who cares).

I was high school at the time and told him he was sitting on a gold mine. He just laughed at me. Never know what you might find in an old rancher or farmer's machine shed...Wish I had either of them now!

[rage'nrat638]

heres my unlettered goodmark...a little lighter than stock..but for 200.00

[wibilly]

i recently bought a parts truck {stepside} with a Gorden repro tail gate. it is the lightest most flimsy thing i have ever seen. i'd be afraid to set a beer on that tailgate. i'd to stay away from the gorden sheetmetal , it has a stamp real similar to the goodmark stamp.

[AKChevyman]

This subject has come up before and I have a OEM tailgate and a repro with the lettering I wieghed them both now granted my latch assy. is still in the OEM but it still wiegh's 10 punds more then the repro. This is just my experiance. I hope this helps.

[junkyardjohn]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

JYJ - maybe you need one of these - I have heard that the gates with the letters weigh only about five pounds less than the originals and are pretty good, the gates without letters are much lighter than the originals, depends on supplier, but I have been told this by several vendors when looking for mine. Talk to Mother Truckers, or call Manes Truck Parts for some good info.

GEEZE,,, I WONDER WHAT PEOPLE SELLING THESE T/GATES ARE GOING TO SAY??? MAYBE YOU'D BE BETTER OFF ASKING SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED ONE ON THEIR TRUCK & HAS NOTHING TO GAIN OR LOSE BY TELLING YOU HOW IT FITS. PERSONALLY I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY BUYS, BUT I KNOW WHAT I'LL BE USING. I HAVE 2 VERY GOOD GMC TAILGATES, & IF I USE EM ON A CHEVY I'LL JUST PUT A T/GATE BAND ON IT. JOHN

[Jerry Jones]

Stay away, stay far away... This is what it looked like just days after install.

[Jerry Jones]

I know... it looks better than the rest of the truck... SHUT UP!!!

[MAR-Ktech]

Originally Posted by Billla

I wonder if this is because of the GM Reproduction Parts licensing - if the CHEVROLET letters are on it, GM needs to approve it...and it would likely be made to GM specs and using their tooling drawings. The no-logo repops could be made any way they wanted to.

.

Billa: you are exactly right. Mar-K Manufacturing is a GM licensee on some stepside gates and the licensed parts have to inspected by GM before procuction and if there is any change in the parts later, inspected again. There is no standard of quality for the no-name repro tailgates. We do not sell the no-name repos anymore because of the poor quality of the parts and packaging.

Just take a scales and weigh the repo and compare to the weight of an original. Same gage metal will weigh the same regardless of what the supplier says.

IMO the reason the repo gates are lighter gage and poor quality is the American importer is only interested in getting the cheapest part possible. They import hundreds at a time and save a few cents by using cheaper methods and materials. The result is the buyer gets a good looking part that is not made well and will not be durable. The overseas factory is probably making what was ordered.

Mar-Ktech