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I need one of you guys who has an original Ford tail gate on a 65-66 styleside to measure something for me if you have time. I'm trying to get this Taiwan POS tail gate that came with my truck to close up and work at least good enough to drive it until I come across an good original or decide to drive to Charlotte and give Carpenter $500. It seems to be 1/4 inch too wide to close past the tail gate supports. The pivot welded on the gate for the arms hits the top arms just before it is closed. This is a picture of the measurement I need. These measure 661/8 inches outside to outside.
Thanks
Well **^^%%$$ !
Now I know why there was only one support arm on it when I got it. This thing is like almost all of the Chinese parts, they look right but they don't fit. Guess I'm going on a scenic drive to Charlotte pretty soon.
Thanks for taking the time to measure that for me.
Pictured Styleside tailgate in post #1 is 1967/72 F100/350 (C7TZ-9940700-A), but all the mounting hardware is exactly the same as 1964/66 F100/250 2WD; 1966 F100 4WD (C4TZ-9940700-A).
It's not the mounting hardware that's the problem. The problem is the Chinamen made the tailgate 1/2 inch too wide and the support arms won't clear the pivots welded to the ends. It had some other issues with the latches also but I had two extra strikers so I worked around that. It ended up with all this Taiwan stuff because the PO said he was parked on the street at work and some lady drove into the back of it. I've spent the last two months fixing collision damage that had been covered up, the whole bed was knocked 3/4 inch out of square. It ain't back perfect but I think it's close enough that the casual passerby won't notice.
65 1/2 and 65 9/16 on mine. If you're going to replace it, Why not try cutting the flange back on each side, so the support arms will clear, and setting the pivot ends closer in? Can't hurt to try if your planning on replacing it.
Don't have a bed side that's leaning in too far??
I had a 64 that way. Had to chain it and pull it back out.
It's closer to square now than when it was new. Once I found out how hard it had been hit I drilled it apart until it was as limp as a dishrag and pulled it all back where it belonged. I think I will put a cable support on it to hold it in case I get brain dead and open it with no support. Then find a replacement down the road.
My 65 F250 is 65 1/2" and I don't understand how there can be so many different widths reported here. Wasn't the sheet metal for these parts stamped?
65 1/2", 65 9/16", 65 5/8". I guess an 1/8" variance was within spec? But your aftermarket part is 5/8" wider than mine and 1/2" wider than John Jamieson's widest!
I'm not sure my info adds much more to the thread but, for reference, my old 1966 F250 tailgate comes in right at 65 9/16" FWIW... (The broader picture is to show where I measured from.)
1st picture
I thought I would speak up for Mercury and add my two pics ha ha. I measured the first one at 65 1/2" and the second pic I started the tape measure at the 1" line to eliminate the built in slop of the clip of the tape measure. It measured 66 1/2" - 1" = 65 1/2". Now to be picky about it on the first round I could have called it 65 7/16"
