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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 96
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Tailgate
Apparently they are different in some way, what is the difference between a 73-80 and a 81-87 fleetside tailgate?
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Keith ------------- 1980 C-10 1981 C-30 |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 7,461
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Re: Tailgate
I'm not aware of differences in the gate itself. The trim panel that goes across the middle may be a little different, and then if you have the body trim along the bottom it would be different.
I don't know 100% though so maybe someone that has more knowledge will chime in. |
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#3 |
Gettin It One Pice At A Time
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: everett, washington
Posts: 2,688
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Re: Tailgate
well according to LMC catalog, it says one has a bolt and the other has a pin that the gate sits on.
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RIP ELJAY ![]() ![]() Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby |
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#4 |
Slots go on anything!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 5,957
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Re: Tailgate
The design of the indention in the gate is completely different. There are some differences in the gates between 73-80 also, with the break somewhere around 75 or 75. I believe it has something to do with a tab.
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 96
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Re: Tailgate
What I can gather is there were 2 designs for the 73 to 80, changed in 76 and that is where the "bolt and stud" thing comes into play, but then they show a completely different number for the 81 to 87. Is it just a "indentation" thing so it wouldn't be correct for say a restoration, or is there a reason the older tailgate won't physically fit on the newer truck or vice versa?
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Keith ------------- 1980 C-10 1981 C-30 |
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#6 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville
Posts: 2,079
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Re: Tailgate
They have different hinge hardware. I wouldn't try to use 76-back tailgates but the 77-80 and 81-87 have different hinge hardware, but have the same hardware up top where the latch is.
Whichever tailgate you use, you will need the hinge parts that bolt to the bed, to go with the gate but the upper parts will be ok. Last edited by 78 Chevyrado; 06-19-2009 at 06:14 PM. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,194
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Re: Tailgate
Aesthetically, the lettering is different, too.
The CHEVROLET is centered and evenly spaced on the early versions ('73 - '80) and "scrunched" to the right side on the later versions ('81 - '87). I was not aware of the attachment differences so I am learning as I go. K
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Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ Last edited by Keith Seymore; 06-19-2009 at 08:47 PM. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 96
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Re: Tailgate
In looking at the parts breakdown on LMC, I kinda see the difference, it's kinda a in-e, out-e thing, for lack of a better description.
Thanks for all your input.
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Keith ------------- 1980 C-10 1981 C-30 Last edited by wydomkr; 06-19-2009 at 10:32 PM. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 7,461
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Re: Tailgate
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