I am in need of some pictures of how the tailgate and the tail lights are mounted at the rear of the box. Mine has neither right now and I need to see what else I have to get to set them up stock. I have no holes in anything back there to use as a guide and all the pictures I can find show them from the back of the truck, not the back of the lights or the side of the box. I have seen some light brackets that mount to the stake pockets and some that go under the bed and some that apparently use the bolts for the tailgate hinges to mount the lights that go through the stake pocket. I do plan on using stock lights back there.
If one of you could snap some pictures of either side, I could really use the help. '46 or '47 shouldn't matter, maybe earlier would be the same too.

 

The setup is the same for many years. The tail gate and tail light brackets use the same bolt. I think they are carriage bolt with the heads on the tailgate side. The taillight brackets should curve toward the back of the truck and down a bit when installed correctly.

 

What are your fabrication skills like?

You can either follow the herd or go off the trail and make your own tail light setup. I think using a '58 Chevy DelRay tail light housing makes a beautiful tail light for these trucks. Or putting in a rolled pan under the tailgate and frenching in a license plate holder and a pair of LED tail lights looks great too.

When you go to the next car show look at what others have done or just do your own thing.

The tail gate is mounted to the support stake pocket portion of the fender by two 5/16 bolts. There is a flat flange with a round hollow axle that goes inside the lower rolled edge of the tail gate with a steel bushing inside (3/4 ' diameter). And NO grease fitting!

 

My truck's a 48 and my taillights are mounted as 38 coupe described. Here's a picture but it may not be close enough to help. If you run a rear bumper get the brackets for trucks with a bumper. That's what I used...

 

I'd forgotten that I already asked this question and almost started another thread...
So this is what I'm dealing with on the back of the truck, now in picture form:

<a href="http://s1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/?action=view&amp;current=DSCF0096.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/th_DSCF0096.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/?action=view&amp;current=DSCF0095.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/th_DSCF0095.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/?action=view&amp;current=DSCF0094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/th_DSCF0094.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

<a href="http://s1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/?action=view&amp;current=DSCF0093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/newold46/46%20Ford%20rebuild/th_DSCF0093.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

I have nothing to go on here, no measurements, etc and no one close with a similar setup for me to look at. The re-wiring project starts soon (ish) and I'd like to have some idea of where the lights will hang.

 

Someone filled the holes in where you are supposed to bolt your hinges and tail lights.

 

New stake pockets or some such I think. That's why I was looking for some close ups of other setups.

 

Here's a setup similar to yours...

 

I'd use your tailgate to dictate where the holes go. Mock up the tailgate with the top in position even with the bottom of the slanted parts of the bed. Put your hinges in the tailgate and mark where the hole go. Measure one side against the other to make sure you don't get the tailgate on crooked (this may get interesting if someone replaced the stake pockets and they aren't even). Once placement is good, drill four holes. Touch up paint, and assemble. Sounds so simple doesn't it...

Also, the tailgate and bed floor are supposed to be the same height when the tailgate is held horizontal.

 

I'm afraid I have no tailgate.

 

...and no hinges either.

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Here's how mine are mounted.