Need A 79 Ranchero Tailgate
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Josh,
Interesting question. I pondered the same for my 78. The way the taillgate is made, with a big, hollow center, looks to me as if the basic stampings were done to serve both cars. The way the inner and outer panels mate is certainly more complicated than I would have thought necessary for a truck tailgate, lending additional credence to the idea of interchangability. Of course, the inner steel panel is unique to the Ranchero, and the wagon would have had extra holes in the skin for lock, etc, but they could be filled. Some Ford wagons had 2-way tailgates, but I'm not sure about the LTDII.
I talked to a local fabricator about making a new inner panel from diamond plate, and he said it could be accomplished.
Interesting question. I pondered the same for my 78. The way the taillgate is made, with a big, hollow center, looks to me as if the basic stampings were done to serve both cars. The way the inner and outer panels mate is certainly more complicated than I would have thought necessary for a truck tailgate, lending additional credence to the idea of interchangability. Of course, the inner steel panel is unique to the Ranchero, and the wagon would have had extra holes in the skin for lock, etc, but they could be filled. Some Ford wagons had 2-way tailgates, but I'm not sure about the LTDII.
I talked to a local fabricator about making a new inner panel from diamond plate, and he said it could be accomplished.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Crook county, Illinois
Theres one on e bay right now, I have one for sale fairly straight with no rot but has surface rust. If you are in the Chicago area you are more than welcome to check it out, I would be asking 75.00 for it, and prefer not to ship.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
stellars
Ranchero & 1961 - 1967 Econoline
2
Feb 14, 2007 06:23 PM
