almost complete.....................

[badboy]

i cant figure out how to get the tailgate on.........any advise?????? ive tried
taking 1 trunnion out and putting it in ..ive tried sliding it down from the top

[donthekawguy]

I had to put one end in and lift up the other and slide it down. It was a bear to do by myself but I didn't have to worry about scratching paint.

[65truckowner]

Put one trunnion in the tailgate and the other one bolt to the bed. Put the tailgate on the one bolted to the bed at an angle with the other one in the tailgate slide it down the inside of the bed. Hopes this helps

[badboy]

i have tried that...i have put a few scratches in the bed side from trying..its just super tight..

[65truckowner]

Was the bed taken apart for painting?

[badboy]

yes it was...and i was wondering if the paint shop measured wrong..

[65truckowner]

That is what I was thinking. Measure the tailgate then the bed and see. I hope this is not the problem but it sounds like it to me.

[61K10]

If the bed was apart they had to cut the welds at the bottom cross piece. did they weld it back? probably not. there are 3 bolts on each side, loosen the bolts which will allow the bed sides to lean out a little at the top. maybe just loosen one side? good luck.

[badboy]

yes they welded it...i have to take the truck back in in a few weeks
for them to cut and buff, so i will let them deal with the tailgate..i appreciate
all the info though

[NEWFISHER]

I had to cut welds, porta-power and push the bed back to square to get mine to fit. Share the above method with the body shop and remind them to use lots of wasking tape to protect the new paint.

[1963c-10]

just put the tailgate back on my fleetside....my rear bumper is off. i bolted in the pass side trunion, slide the driver side in the gate and slid the whole assembly up from the bottom. took about 5minutes start to finish....dont know if it'l help any.

[badboy]

awesome .. i never thought of that..im going to try that it make total since..
come up from the bottom

[65 C20]

Another option if you want a tail gate that comes on or off in seconds.
The way mine came you have to cut a small piece if the flange that goes over 1 of the trunions.
Mine was cut on the passenger side.
If you look at the passenger side of gate in the upright or closed position the flange that goes over the trunion was trimmed at approx. the 6 o'clock and the 9'oclock position then that part was trimmed approx. 3/4 inch into the gate and removed.
This takes approx. 1/4 of the flange away from the part that goes around the trunion.
This way you put the drivers side over the trunion then the gate fits over the other trunion.
Like I said this is the way mine came and works good.
If I was to do it I would start a little smaller, say 6:30 and 8:30 position and 5/8 into gate and then go a little bigger if needed so it just slips over the trunion.
Of coarse if you let the gate down to far it will fall off, so keep the chains handy.
With your paint job I am sure your gate won't be hitting the bumper anyway.
In your case you will have to make sure your gate fits in the opening first.
May not be what your after but is an option.
Cal.