Bought a tailgate a couple weeks ago.....

[MailManX2]

Could hear something sliding back and forth inside so I decided to investigate


Not too scary looking


Not too scary looking here either


Rust holes made by my thumb when picking it up.. Not a good sign


Ugh.. why me... The rust pile on the left is 2" + high.

I'm wondering if it'll survive abrasive blasting..

[aerotruk63]

Aw common a little brake work with some sheet metal. You were going to have to weld the side piece back on anyways!

[donthekawguy]

If anything it will be a cool piece of wall art.

[chevyrestoguy]

Your situation is not that uncommon. Water likes to rest in the area where the trunions are, and rust will eventually form because it has nowhere to drain. I bought a cherry tailgate down in L.A. a few years back, and although it was solid and rust-free on the exterior, both of the trunions was rusted and frozen up. I Had to soak one of the ends in Kroil for a few days, and after a bit of work, it got it free. The other side would not budge, so I had to get a long (4') pipe and slide it into the bottom of the tailgate and drive the frozen trunion out.

Your picture of your rust pile looks exactly like what I got out of mine!! It was a lot.

Do everything you can to save your existing tailgate. The aftermarket tailgates are nowhere close to the thickness and quality of a factory original piece.

[ljackson]

You might want to get a different one. Make a bench with this one. Cool examples here. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...ch&FORM=HDRSC2

[MailManX2]

I'll fix it, just need some 16 gauge sheet-metal and a length of pipe that's the correct diameter to wrap the sheet-metal around. Heck, after replacing the roof, cowl, floor, cab corners, rocker panels, etc. this should be easy..