Thanks guys. Number Dumby thanks for all the information!!
The information you guys provide is always very impressive.

I travel alot so I may see if I can find another yard that has one. Since the OEM is a little pricey and LMC sounds like it may not hold up.
Or I may try to pull off the aluminum trim piece, fill in the holes, paint it up and put the oval on. That looked really sharp on the '97.

Thanks again guys!!

 

These guys have the panel itself for 200 red, $350 black...

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000024y~Z5Z5Z5ABDFA~ P350.00~~~~S3DW01873I72197287350G~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z5000 0024Y

 

Oh yeah, I think it'll look great and it'll get rid of that crap aluminum/plastic piece. It will be something different too, something not everyone has. Lol

 

Carpenters repro truck parts catalogs have been saying: Coming soon...for the past EIGHT years!

Guess they finally showed up.

Post #15: See the sources I listed for the Genuine Ford NOS black panel. Call around, might be able to buy it cheaper than $350.00

 

I bought one a few years back. I went to U Pull It junk yard, got it and payed like $15. If you have a junk yard where you can go get it, you should just get one and save money.

 

One of the hardest parts to find in junkyards are tailgates. Not only are they easily damaged, but are also EZ to steal.

Here in LA LA Land, you'd prolly have to hit 50 junkyards and/or pick-a-parts before you found one in decent condition.

 

Well that sucks. I have 4 pick a part places 3 blocks from my shop, and they always have everything I need.

But omaha nebraska is slightly slower than LA LA Land.

Move out of the big city if you want a nice used tailgate.....and in your color too.

 

I'm surprised you can't find a decent one on ebay. Also, there are "for sale" sections on FTE.

One thing you can do is ask your local junkyard to "list" your request with their parts locator service, then some junkyard in who-knows-where may find one for you and ship it to your junkyard.

Not as cheap as pulling it off a truck in the yard yourself, but certainly cheaper than a new one.

 

I've had very good luck over the years finding new/nearly new "take-off" tailgates from sources most peeps don't think of...or are aware of.

RV dealers and/or dealers that sell camper shells.

Dealers/private individuals install slide-in-the-bed campers, or shells that have a back door that's hinged on one side. The tailgate will no longer close, so...some peeps just leave them there.

There's an RV dealer in Ontario CA that has dozens of tailgates, but most are from Rangers. I haven't been there recently, so I dunno what else they may have.

There are...at least 300 of these sources here in LA, Orange, San Berdoo & Riverside Counties. How many are located in Omaha?

 

Probably due to the cost of shipping. Im sure a tailgate could ship UPS/FedEx but it would have oversize/overweight charges. That takes a significant amount out of what you can sell it for. Better off to sell it locally on Craigslist.