I haven't gone to see this tailgate yet, but it's listed for sale locally as a "mid 70's Ford tailgate", which is obviously wrong. I'm trying to verify it would be correct for my 86 (which is sitting at the shop waiting on its transmission to be rebuilt).

These are pictures from the listing. There are some condition issues obviously. My truck is just a work truck, so it doesn't have to be perfect.

Can anyone confirm this is correct for an 86? Second picture looks like it's got a cable hanger attached on the end.

Thoughts on a fair price? I know the aluminum trim panel is worth something just by itself and looks to be in good shape.








My current tailgate... Most of the truck is solid but this gate is pretty bad.

 

Can't tell you if it is "correct" for an '86, but it looks exactly like the tailgate on my '84 XLT, down to the color and trim.

 

To clarify what I mean by "correct", I know they changed the tailgates somewhat between the early and later year Bullnose trucks. I just don't really know how to identify which tailgate is which. I think it had to do with whether the gate is suspended by hinged metal bars like the older trucks, or by cables.

This one appears to have a cable attached on tht end you can see in the second picture, making me think it's the later and thus correct tailgate for an 86. Just trying to confirm that as I'm new to the bullnose trucks.

 

From 80 to 86 the tailgate didn't change. There's different trim levels and color schemes. But the fit should be good. If I'm wrong someone will be along shortly to correct me.

 

I seem to recall even the next Gen gates fit too (?) My tailgate looked like yours many years ago. I gave up using the latch, I mounted eye bolts to the top of the gate and use a turnbuckle to hold it closed. Been that way for about 12 years or more. No more rusty latch that was hard to work.

 

I think the OP is right on the supports, cable or metal bars, and think the latches were different also with the support change.
Now was that with in the 80 to 86 truck or after 86 trucks?
I never really looked into this as the flare side gate is a different beast both how it hinges to the support / latch, we use chains.
https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/tailgate.html
Dave ----

 

Looking at Gary's link, the drawing of the tailgate support, shows a cable. They call it a strap but it's a cable as you can see from the detail drawing. This was in 85, and my 86 is the same. I'm only talking about style side gate supports, the flare side is different as you noted, using chains.

I think that previous years to the Bullnose they used hinged bars instead of a cable strap. I like my cable straps but the vinyl coating has cracked. I'm keeping them Fluid-Film ed up though so not much cable deterioration yet...

 

If the gate is good but thew cables bad cant you get the cables through LMC or DC?
Dave ----

 

I got cables for my 86 from the auto parts store.