I have a tailgate off a 71 Ranger XLT and it had the large 12" tall woodgrain finish panel mounted on it with 12 screws from the rear. My question is this: how do the thinner panels mount to the gate, do they have the same 12 fasteners?
I've been looking at this one...
Ford Pickup Truck Tailgate Finish Panel - F100 & F250 Styleside Bed - Sport Custom Only

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<TABLE class=fillwidth cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2><TBODY><TR><TD class=bold>Year</TD><TD class=bold>Part Number</TD><TD class=bold>Required Number</TD><TD class=bold>Unit Of Measure</TD></TR><TR><TD>1971-1972</TD><TD>D1TZ-99425A34-A</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>EACH</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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Bright anodized outer border with argent (silver) background & black letter (detailing).



Anyone know for sure how these mount to the gate? I need to figure out if I need to weld up these holes before I paint...
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Russ


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Just installed one, they pop rivet on from the inside of the tailgate. Everyone has different taste but the 1970 one is reverse in color and in my opinion looks much better.

 

How many rivets are holding it on? Do you have a pic showing the rivets on the back of the gate? Thanks for the response!

 

There are 12 rivets, I added mine so there were no holes to start with and no pattern comes with the panel. It takes a lot of measuring and marking before you drill the first hole to make sure it's in the right spot. take your time and it will look great. Measuring from the left side the holes are placed at 4 3/16,
16 5/16, 27 5/16, 38 5/16, 49 5/16 and 61 5/16

Here is a picture, they are hard to see because I rhino lined after putting them in

 

Thank you very much for your time and effort! Just the info I was looking for! Your bed looks amazing!
Russ

 

Well as my luck goes, hole spacing on the gate I have is different. Mr Daniels, can you tell me if the flange on back of the trim panel continuous? Could I change the spacing on the inner 8 rivets on the trim panel? The first 2 holes on each side start at 4-3/16", the rest are way off from the spacing you posted. Also, hard for me to tell from the pics, the trim ring pressed in the gate around the letters, the one the rivets are in, is it pronounced on the front or rear? It looks rased on the back...
Thanks again!

 

My panel was a reproduction from Dennis Carpenter in Concord NC, it was made from the original mold but I do not remember if the flange was continuously the same width or larger where the rivets go, I think it was all the same but to be sure someone else will have to answer that. If it is you could just drill new holes in the panel to match your holes.,

The groove where the rivets go is not raised, it is recessed on the back side, and raised on the outside.

 

375203-S .. Pop Rivet / 1/8" x .31 blind / All 1968/72 F100/250 Styleside Tailgate Finish Panels / Obsolete

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 29 = 800-543-4959.

JAYSON JONES FORD in Heber Springs AR has 94 = 501-362-8211.
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D1TZ-99425A34-A .. Tailgate Finish Panel / 1971/72 F100/250 except Ranger & Ranger XLT.

DOTZ-99425A34-B .. Tailgate Finish Panel-Wood Grained / 1970/72 F100/250 Ranger XLT only.

DOTZ-99425A34-A .. Tailgate Finish Panel-Black / 1970/72 F100/250 Ranger only (same size as XLT panel).

C8TZ-99425A34-A .. Tailgate Finish Panel / 1968/69 F100/250, 1970 F100/250 except Ranger & Ranger XLT.

C8TZ & D1TZ are the same size, but the colors are reversed.

 

The flange is the same width all around the panel, here is a link to one on E-Bay that has pictures that show the back side

1970 Ford Truck Tail Gate Emblem, 1967-1972 General Interchange | eBay

 

Interesting the 71~2 has a continuous flange, top photo. The earlier bright finished one doesn't, lower photo..

 

The bolt pattern for the 71~2 XLT trim panel is different yet,

 

OK. I have figured out that I will need to drill out the rivets to remove the "FORD" overlay panel and have the tailgate painted. The question I have is how to reattach the panel. Not familiar with "pop rivet". Is it pretty simple to figure out after destroying the existing rivets? Thanks.

 

Very simple. A $10 tool and $2 box of aluminum rivets and you're golden.. it'll be self evident how it all goes together after ya take it off.

 

Make sure you use long enough rivets the first time, If not sometime it a little hard to drill them out when your trying to be careful everything,

I like the Sear swivel head multi-position hand unit as it's more useful.

Orich