Tailgate issues

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Nov 23, 2018 | 04:04 PM

460fan13

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Joined: Nov 2018

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Tailgate issues

sorry I’m new here and new to this. I’m sure this post has been talked about before but...
i just got a 1976 F250 and it doesn’t have a tailgate on it. I went to the local pick and pull and they had one on a 76 F100. The handle doesn’t work but other than that it’s in good shape. The hinge unit looks custom made and the mounting brackets at the top are behind the latch and I can’t for the life of me figure out what to bring to access these bolts to take this tailgate off. I’m thinking about just cutting it off and making my own or using some chain to hold it. Anyone have any ideas? I didn’t take any pictures of it but the latch hook part I’m talking about looks like it fits a philips but the cross pieces are like an Inch long. I’m pretty good around the house and I’m looking to do little things to my truck but I need a tailgate.

Nov 23, 2018 | 04:46 PM

march

Laughing Gas

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,140

Likes: 13

From: Port Orchard Wa

It should be pretty simple. Do you mean that you can't open the tailgate due to the broken handle?
Truck Parts and Truck Accessories

Nov 23, 2018 | 07:25 PM

blue351

Mountain Pass

Joined: Nov 2018

Posts: 111

Likes: 0

not trying to hijack your topic , but March put a diagram up there that I can reference to address my tailgate issue. what do you do when the bolts that hold the latch to the tailgate have nothing to thread into . is there a nut welded inside the tailgate ? how would you repair that ? I have one missing - see figure 3
thanks and sorry to intrude

Nov 23, 2018 | 07:50 PM

NumberDummy

Ford Parts Specialist

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 88,826

Likes: 783

From: Simi Valley, CA

Styleside tailgate is the same: 1973/79 F100/350:

Nov 24, 2018 | 11:59 AM

crazy96863

Cargo Master

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 2,387

Likes: 138

From: Northern California

Quote:

Originally Posted by 460fan13

a flat screw driver is all you should need to disengage the latches from the striker plate on both sides of the tailgate; then lower the tailgate. The hinges need to be unbolted; I don’t remember the size but probably 1/2” or 9/16”. Might be worth taking the hinges with the gate.

Nov 27, 2018 | 05:47 AM

four-sixty-power

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 1,782

Likes: 15

From: Lower Mainland B.C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 460fan13

You can either unbolt and remove the tailgate handle latch(3 bolts on inside of cargo area of box on back of tailgate, or where you would sit on the tailgate when it is down), or just unclip the actuator rods from latch while leaving the latch in place(2 plastic rotating grabber clips), then you can grab each rod with pliers or vise grips and pull toward center of tailgate to release the latch at the tailgate posts.

When a truck is missing a tailgate, some people leave most of the hardware on the box, other people strip it all off, so depending what yours is like you will have some idea of how it goes together or you wont. The diagram posted is helpful. Should google or duckduckgo or bing or webcrawler for images of stock tailgate setup.

When you can open tailgate, then you can undo one of the side straps by lifting tailgate to proper angle to slip the strap off its pivot point(no bolt for this part), and then with one strap holding tailgate you can then unbolt the upper bolt of the lower hinge, lift tailgate to proper angle to slip off the 2nd strap, and either close or have someone hold the tailgate giving access for you unbolt the 2nd bolt from the lower hinge that is lower than the bottom of the tailgate.