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Wish I could comply compadres; but at this point I just want to get the truck finished and get it on the road. I even contemplated not messing with the tailgate at all and put it on stock. Only reason I didn't is because I am in between painters and waiting on a transmission to be built. The idea seems simple enough though and it definitely would be cool to incorporate into an old bump.
The way lift gate are commonly sprung is a square bar that is anchored on one end and keyed to the pivot pin on the other. When the gate is lowered, the bar is twisted acting like a spring. Last one I rebuilt had a 6' long 5/8" square bar for a four foot gate. A 3/8" bar the length of the gate would probably be quite sufficient for one of these trucks. Anchors would be the only real trick.
Tailgate can be done with a torsion type spring. If you had the right spring it doesn't look like it would be all that hard. Here is a drawing of how they did the spring, and a link to the patent write up on it. Patent US7500706 - Tailgate spring assist assembly - Google Patents
We shall see. I was thinking of a spring on each side, but most people would see that. Hope it works for Randal or another genius and the details are figured out.
The way lift gate are commonly sprung is a square bar that is anchored on one end and keyed to the pivot pin on the other. When the gate is lowered, the bar is twisted acting like a spring. Last one I rebuilt had a 6' long 5/8" square bar for a four foot gate. A 3/8" bar the length of the gate would probably be quite sufficient for one of these trucks. Anchors would be the only real trick.
Yep. That's the reason I posted the pic of a Super Duty tailgate. Note the 402A68.
I am thinking that #70 & #80 are springs.. right? Maybe I need to have the parts in my hand, before my brain can wrap around the engineering. Being over 2400 miles from my truck makes the inventing a challenge. I accept the reasoning that NASA did not choose me for Apollo 13, and am OK with it. I am pretty slow with puzzles.
Got some goodies on Friday. Just need to get the brake brackets and spring perches welded on then paint the rear end for final mount. Worked on the tailgate a little more Saturday but didn't get much done with all the kids activities this weekend. One thing I have realized in regards to removing paint; either paint stripper sucks these days or the paint they used from the factory on these trucks was bad a$$.
Don't feel bad F100. I just pushed away a girlfriend who's house took all my extra time the past 2 1/2 years. Your kids are a LOT better reason. I've been dyeing to see your rig done also. You took on quite a few things that are different than main stream. I gotta lot of respect for that. And I'm sure there are a lot of others here. But you know something? I respect you more for putting your kids as TOP priority. This may be the wrong place for me to say these words, but for some reason I felt they needed to be said. So I did.
Been a while but I finally got the tailgate fabbed up. Well, the outside at least. I'm not the first person to do this; got the idea from Kirk Johnsons silver 68. But I might be the second, I've never seen it on any other truck. Regardless, all the rough body work is finished, just need to hammer on a few small dents before I weld the inside panel back in and make a handle. I will pretty much make something like Randle did.
Bonding the ford script on. Had to find some heavy stuff.....
Been a while but I finally got the tailgate fabbed up. Well, the outside at least. I'm not the first person to do this; got the idea from Kirk Johnsons silver 68. But I might be the second, I've never seen it on any other truck. Regardless, all the rough body work is finished, just need to hammer on a few small dents before I weld the inside panel back in and make a handle. I will pretty much make something like Randle did.
Bonding the ford script on. Had to find some heavy stuff.....
And the finished product
Tailgate looks bad *** man. I love how you are using some new techniques with bonding and such. I am learning from you than you for sharing.
Might have picked up my next project. Buddy of mine is giving it to me for super cheap. 66 Fairlane. I have always loved the 67 Boss Fairlane Bobby Allow built a few years ago. I pretty much have the rear end, wheels and tires, a/c, seats, and some other stuff. It will also be wimbledon white but with a red interior. Instead of a big block I will go with a 5.0 Coyote with a 6 speed. I will probably go more traditional and simple with my 65 comet.
Tailgate looks bad *** man. I love how you are using some new techniques with bonding and such. I am learning from you than you for sharing.
Keep up the awesome work.
Sean
Thanks man. Congrats on the race track thing. If you are going to SEMA I will see you there; I plan on going this year. Also, expect a PM from me in the future, I need some info from you on the coyote thing as well as some of the CV brake stuff. Believe it or not, I might use some CV stuff in my fairlane build. Minus the crossmember and rack that is
02-14-2016, 08:52 PM
And I'm sure there are a 
lot of others here. But you know something? I respect you more for putting your kids as TOP priority. This may be the wrong place for me to say these words, but for some reason I felt they needed to be said. So I did.
