I sold my junk LMC tailgate. They are junk and flex when you stand on them. I had painted my with quality paint job. The first time I stood on it it flexed and the paint popped off in strips!

Found a nice gate in the j/y, FORD, with all the hardware, minus the handle. When I took it apart to lube the latches, the oe spot welded nuts all fell off inside the gate. It was fun spot welding them back on, welding up a crack on either side by the latch, and mounting it. It is so nice to pull the handle and it just opens easily, closes smoothly too. Too bad the gate is black and truck is white/blue. Paint on the way.

 

Yeah, the cheap Chinese tailgate repops are pure junk. If I needed a tailgate I would look for a good used one, they're out there and (depending on where you're located) not too hard to find.
As a (pricey) back-up, Dennis Carpenter's tailgates are a lot better and have the "FORD" stamped into the tailgate. Plus they are galvanized inside
to help keep them from rusting out. This is something even the OEM tailgates didn't have.

 

Got a new in the box OEM FORD tailgate been saving for years for the next job, my old OEM rust infested tailgate had 10 bags of wood pelts on it and me standing there too, over 600 pounds easy. Never bows.

Still in box, in dry basement, standing up against some ply wood, behind two ladders also standing up. Still has plastic bands. I had it out looking at it when bought, but slipped bands back on the box.

 

Me too. I bought it from the local Ford dealer back in the early 90's, although the box disintegrated years ago.
You never know when a tailgate might come in handy.

 

I was sitting at a light while I had the gate removed. Someone pulled up next to me and shouted, "hey, I have two tailgates for that truck, if you want to buy one." Now I wish I'd asked the price at least.

 

Small world!
Bought mine at Magic City Ford in Roanoke in 1992, was picking up other parts and parts man asked if I wanted a new tailgate, said he was cleaning out old parts and found it in the box … looked up most recent price he had which was a few years old, then discounted it 50% … it come home. I think maybe same day I picked up some door rubber & stuff.
I had a local body shop buddy order my bedsides & doors, but they are just early '90s era Keystone or other Taiwan as I recall. Gotta strike when the iron's hot. Seems like yesterday parts donor trucks were plentiful, but time flies.

My Father in Law had a '77 F-250, tailgate was nice on outside but pretty beat up on inside. He took and plated inside with 1/8" thick sheet steel, added a 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 angle across top welded to plate inside, that tail gate was a two hand to open & shut deal. Had the truck repainted, bed too, looked really nice, very stout. Inspired me to make my own for my '72 Chevy C-10 step-side, used thick wall steel tubing 1-1/2" OD top & bottom, 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 square tube on sides, put chains inside when I had it painted, it was heavy too. Worked great. I painted the truck 1976 Mack Truck Fleet Blue, used stick on tailgate letters spaced out just so, looked factory until you got close.



Put a 350 LT-1 with built Turbo 350 transmission in it, pistons rattled until warmed up, sounded like swapping holes. Rare step-side with Factory OEM cold AC, PS, PDB, Auto, gauges too. Sweet driver.

 

Small world indeed! I've just moved to your neck of the woods!! Right now I'm living in Shenandoah and building a house in Stanley.
I bought my tailgate from Haines City Ford back in the early to mid 90's. I've also got new doors, fenders and grill shell along with the hood and a whole bunch of other stuff. One of these days I'm actually going to finish the Pumpkin .
That C10 looks sweet!

 

Hey Mike that's a far cry from Florida,congrats on Old Dominion

 

Yeah, I've lived in Florida all my life, born and raised. But now it's not the same anymore, too crowded .
Now, if I can just figure out how to turn VA red again .
Sorry for the F250 Restorer.

 

my friend ( Will ) always said about his Virginia town,if there are two cars at a red light its a traffic jam,,,and if i see an orange F100 on Moonshiners I'll keep it under the hat

 

Put a very large fence between you and DC

 

Clean and lube the tailgate latches, if you have everything adjusted right the tailgate will snap click and shut just like a door. No one in this house slams doors, doors adjusted right just click twice and shut. I swear half the world was born and raised slamming Monte Carlo doors. GM must have same hinges from chevette to Cadillac.

 

I like how on some models GM welded the hinges on .

 

Yeah, here it's a little more crowded than that but not much,
I like the idea. I have 2 1/2 acres, maybe a 30' high fence around that.

 

Both Porche and BMW do that.