Tailgate questions!
FTE Legend
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From: Northeast, OK
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: NJ
What's teh deal with the early/late strap/cable tailgates? I have tow '86 trucks and I believe both have original beds. One has metal straps the other has cables. The one with cables has a China tailgate but I believe the bed is original.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
As documented here on the Bullnose Bible (1980 - 86 Ford Trucks - ???Gary's Garagemahal 
) the 1980-82 trucks had straps and the 1983-86's had cables.
) the 1980-82 trucks had straps and the 1983-86's had cables.
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I just did... and I feel the same way. This is what makes our forum an awesome community.
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New User
Joined: Jul 2017
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I am new here and hoping this is a good place to ask. I have an 80 F250 that I just swapped out the bed on to an 86. I want to keep the strap hinges and just learned I can't just pull out the bolts and put them on a later model bed without modifications only I am not certain how to handle it
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
I'm not sure you can easily do that. But all I know is here: Tailgates - ???Gary's Garagemahal.
New User
Joined: Jul 2017
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Thanks for the reply I had seen that. I am thinking if I drilled out the threads on the bed I might be able to get the larger bolt into that fitting. Hoping someone here has done this before me. I have seen the cables break, never seen it with the straps
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
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From: Northeast, OK
I think you can do that. The hole in the early bed was D-shaped and your new hole will be round, so you will have to hold the bolt from turning while you tighten it, but it should work. Let's us know how it goes.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by Bob10
I have a 1980 F250 that I just swapped out the bed onto an 86. I want to keep the strap hinges. 
E2TZ-99431D76-A (replaced EOTZ-99431D76-A) Right & E2TZ-99431D77-A (replaced EOTZ-99431D77-A) Left .. Tail Gate Latches/Supports / Obsolete
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983 F100; 1983/86 F150/350:
E3TZ-99431D76-D .. Right & Left Tailgate Latch / Obsolete
E3TZ-9943052-B Right & E3TZ-9923053-B .. Tailgate Check (support) Cables / Obsolete
New User
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 22
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well I broke one of the bolts to the bed. I didn't have the exact bit size had got the bolt started and thought tightening would get it in the rest of the way right up until it snapped. So tomorrow getting the correct size and installing the one remaining and then canvassing wrecking yards in the hope sof finding one. I couldn't figure out a way to find one online. Diagram shows it as #44474. The right size bit and it would be done cutting corners caught me