If LMC is selling it, more than likely it's made in China and it most certainly is not Ford authorized.

If it was authorized by FoMoCo, LMC would be using actual Ford part numbers describing the parts they sell in their catalogs.

 

If you look on this page:

LMC Truck Parts - Page 27

It shows a tailgate with the ford logo. Item #6 for $500.

 

$499.95 plus
$20 (oversize charge) plus
$34.75 (approx. shipping)
= $554.70

I think it might be cheaper to take a road trip. The one that I just found is 100 miles from me, almost 2 hours. The price is $250. I think that makes it worth it. I don't know how far you are from the closest one, but I would seriously consider it.

 

Does it say authorized by FoMoCo? No.

Is their a Ford part number describing the tailgate? No.

Does is say where it is made? Yes. Read the fine print above, it says made overseas. IMO...most likely in China.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, in post #7 I listed 13 Genuine Ford NOS tailgates, the sources that have them, and their last MSRP/Dealer cost prices.

There's an old saying: "Buy the best and cry only once."

 

The closest one to me is over 6 hours away just south of Des Moines. In my van I could almost make it there in one tank. Then food and sundry other items... 85*2 + 30 = $200 plus the cost of the tailgate. And my time sitting in the car. I think the $550 would be worth it if it was a quality tailgate. Still not sure. Seems kind of expensive for cheap Chinese...

 

I guess I could always contact them and find out the details...

 

Did'ja call the Ford Dealer in Albia IA and ask what their price is?

Prolly not.

It's OBSOLETE, no longer returnable to FoMoCo for credit, so the dealers are STUCK with it.

So, you might be able to buy it for dealer net cost ($308.68), or somewhere between dealer net cost and the last MSRP ($514-47).

Be aware that once I list obsolete parts and the sources that have them, anyone can read the post, including non members, which means that anyone could buy them.

There's another old saying: "Obsolete parts are hard to find, if you snooze, you lose."

btw: Did'ja read the fine print in LMC's catalog, where they say their sheetmetal will most likely have scratches, small dents?

Did'ja read the fine print inre to what their shipping charges are?

 

I agree with Bill here, 100%. I'm just adding more observations to it.





The only people that I know of that has a licence from Ford, and that can make Ford Letter 1980-1986 type tailgates is Dennis Carpenter.



For the time being DC only makes 1980-1982 gates...



LMC only has listed 1980-1982 OE style gates...



So it makes you wonder who LMC's Supplier is doesn't it?



This buying from one retailer to sell at another happens all the time in retail.



For example, my local Ma and Pa store buys from Sam's Club to stock their store. They mark up the price to make a profit too.





I wonder what DC does with their tailgate rejects?

 

The trip is more in the territory of 4 hours, about 250 miles. Might consider shipping, or post in the Iowa forum to see if someone is heading that way. Rob runs mostly east-west last I knew, but never know when someone is heading out there. I won't be until June now, was just through there just after Christmas. I used to make that run once a month, all the way to Huron. I know right where Rock Valley is. Just east of Canton, SD.

 

How much different are the 1980-82 gates from the later 83-86 gates? I realize that the earlier gates used steel straps vs. cables and there's differences in the hinge area, but could an earlier tailgate be used on a newer truck with the right combo of parts?

 

fellro, well, southeast actually. LOL Directly east is Inwood. Anyway, as far as compatibility goes, I don't think anyone ever answered freeisforme's question. I am also curious. Up to what year can we use tailgates? Did anything significantly change in the newer models as far as hinges and latches go?

 

Bump. Wondering if anyone can answer the previous questions...

 

You can make any of them work.

However there is significant differences 1987 and later that requires significant modification.

The differences between 1980-1982 tailgates and 1983-1986 tailgates is in the hardware and the slots and holes in the sheetmetal. The 1983-1986 gate is missing the holes and the slots for the 1980-1982 hardware, (straps).

 

So I am fine getting one that is a year newer than my truck... Good to know.

 

I've got an 85 model F150 with tailgate straps, the straps attach to one of the latch bolts on the tailgate. If the early tailgate uses the same latch, then I see no reason why an early tailgate wouldn't bolt right up to an 83-86 truck bed, other than the differences in the right hinge. On mine, after having the first tailgate stolen, I bought and installed a left side tailgate hinge on the right side and made the tailgate non-removable. Now neither side has a bushing of any kind, just some grease.
If I remember right, I just bolted a left side hinge in place of the slotted hinge pin and bolted it up with the gate in place. Not much different than bolting on an older model gate.

Back when I redid my 1985, somewhere around 1994 or so, I was able to buy a new gate and hinges, all new cab mounts, two fenders, and one door shell all for under $800 from one local dealer. The parts were cheap, far cheaper than what I had expected. I'm not sure what happened to the cost of sheetmetal over the years, but apparently they raised the price with inflation or something. The invoice I have lists a front fender at $90, the tailgate at $110, the door was $187, and the hood was $122. All were Ford parts in Ford boxes sold to me at wholesale prices.
I can't fathom why a tailgate now would be so much money, let alone be discontinued.
Back in 1997 I did a quick restoration on a 1965 F Series Wrecker, at that time, I was still able to buy a new grill, fenders, turn signal lenses, and other various parts it either needed or were missing. They weren't parts in stock, they were ordered and came in newer Ford packages. A few were old stock in vintage boxes but most were in newer style packaging. Ford was always the one company that kept up parts availability on their older trucks simply because so many were still in use around the country. Up until cash for clunkers, it wasn't uncommon to see a 50 year old truck on the road still being used. Now it's a rare sight.
The guy that services my heater here still runs a 1959 Ford truck, and a mid 60's tank truck. He's got newer trucks over the years but never replaces the old models. I guess a guy like that is SOL now?

With as many of those trucks and parts that were built, I'd venture to guess that if LMC is selling FORD lettered gates, they most likely bought up a huge stock of them somewhere. I can't imagine that all the old stock on an item as common and overproduced as a tailgate would ever be gone from original inventory unless they've began scrapping obsolete stock?