tailgate latch repair
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 111
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tailgate latch repair
the bolts that hold the latch onto my tailgate 3 each side - one of them has nothing to thread into. is there a plate behind there is what is holding the bolt in ?
doesn't seem to be a way to access that to repair it . anyone had this issue to deal with and any solutions ?
thanks
79 f150 short bed
doesn't seem to be a way to access that to repair it . anyone had this issue to deal with and any solutions ?
thanks
79 f150 short bed
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 790
From: Simi Valley, CA
1979 F150 Styleside
The bolts that hold the latch onto my tailgate 3 
each side - one of them has nothing to thread into. Is there a plate behind there is what is holding the bolt in ?
Doesn't seem to be a way to access that to repair it . Anyone had this issue to deal with and any solutions?
each side - one of them has nothing to thread into. Is there a plate behind there is what is holding the bolt in ?Doesn't seem to be a way to access that to repair it . Anyone had this issue to deal with and any solutions?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 243
Likes: 10
If I remember correctly there are studs in that parts that the bolts go into. When I swapped tailgates and removed the hardware some of those studs fell off when I tried to reassmble. You should be able to find a square bolt with the correct threads. I think you can hold the tailgate upright and slide that part into the tailgate and then get the bolts started.
they have good hardware for you tailgate and much more
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 15
From: Lower Mainland B.C.
In the diagram shown here (and out in the field) the part identified as part number 431D76 does use 3 bolts to attach it to the tailgate. On the inside of the tailgate, for each of the bolts, there is a square nut that is trapped by a sheetmetal cage or spotwelded, but if it rusts out it is danged difficult to install another nut there, but it is do-able. Some people have just welded the latch assembly directly to the tailgate sheetmetal, or welded a plate to the tailgate and then welded the latch to the plate (but made a hole for the actuator rod to pass through of course), and then there is the question of the spacing of the "surround" if it hits when closing or not... Better to repair it in it's proper position or replace tailgate. Tailgate is spot welded together so if you want to drill out all the spot welds on that sheetmetal insert piece(that the latch bolts to, and the lower ball hinge joint bolts to) then you can remove it and repair/rebuild/replace it with sound metal, and then re-weld it back together.
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