Anybody out there know where to get a nice red plastic reflector for my 1986
F-150 Lariat styleside (wide bed) tailgate?
They are not available at Ford nor aftermarket that I can find. Saw one on
EBAY and guy wanted $200. It was not very nice!
After looking at several 80's Lariats, it appears that the 86 is unique to the 86 model only as it has horizontal grooves the length of the reflector. Others don't. I had a complete restoration of my truck body and the reflector was in perfect condition but loose.
Body shop had special glue they said would hold it tight. Well, soon it fell in the street and self destructed. The rest of tailgate is very nice. The plastic clips that hold the trim get brittle and break when slamming the tailgate causing the reflector to bang against the tailgate causing the glue that holds it to break loose. Then it eventually falls off. I have seen many 86's missing the reflector and also 87 and 88's.
Any tips will be appreciated as I love my truck and need this piece to complete the restoration!
Gamuman

 

1985 and 1986 "Lariat" trim levels used the same aluminum tailgate panel with the ribbed red reflector. These red reflectors were never separately; you had to purchase the whole aluminum panel to get it.

These are not reproduced, either. Your only hope is to find one in a junkyard or Ebay.

 

My red trim reflector is two pieces, there is a 20 inch piece on the drivers side, not sure why it is two part.

The short part of the trim reflector was coming loose on my truck, I was able to reattach it to the aluminum with long 3/32 counter sunk pop rivets.

Jim

 

Thanks! I have never seen an '85 model reflector but I have seen 87 and 88's and they are smooth not ribbed and looks like the letters FORD are different also!
Yep, I'm checking junkyards!
Gamuman

 

There was a NOS one on Craigslist about 2 months ago. I believe it was in Wisconsin. There was a thread about it here.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ate-panel.html


Looks like it's gone.

 

Thanks anyway!
Gamuman

 

Here is a nice one for sale on Ebay. These are getting harder to find in good, used shape:

1983 1986 Ford Truck Pickup F150 Tailgate Trim Panel Moulding Red Nice | eBay

Here is another in NOS (New Old Stock) condition. These have been going up in price quite a bit in the last few years:

Ford 1985 1986 Truck Pickup F150 Tailgate Trim Panel Moulding 1984 1983 | eBay

 

$229.00 sounds like a deal.

 

Thanks!
Gamuman

 

Have any of you found that the 1985 XLT models have a 1987 designed Tailgate on your trucks. Cable support -vs- the flat bar hinge support ?

 

Those flat-bar hinge things - the ones I'm thinking of, anyway - were 1980-82 only, the cables came after that. Plenty of threads out here on converting from one system to the other.

1987 began slightly different aesthetics changes (body lines) and the placement of the tailgate release handle is different than in 80-86. The 1987+ setup can be made to work, people have done it quite a bit.

 

I have an 87 tailgate on my 84 right now. The latches are also different. The 87 takes a door style striker, while the 84 had a different style. Easy enough to change over.

 

If someone wishes to use the later 1987 - 1996 tailgates on a 1980 -1986 truck, keep in mind you will also have to use the later 1987 - 1996 tailgate finish panel as well.

The reason is because the 1980 - 1986 trucks located the handle further down, and so the 1985/1986 finish panel had a cut-out section for the handle. The later 1987 - 1996 tailgates located the handle much further up, so the tailgate finish panels do not have a section cut out in the tailgate finish panel.

 

Hey, my 86 XLT has the cables!
Gamuman

 

I had a 73 F100 and a 71 F100 and they both had the flat bar hinges!
Gamuman