When I first bought my 78 F-250, the truck had a 87-96 style bed rigged onto it. Located a donor bed off of an 77 F-150 XLT Ranger
supercab. The bed has the "toolbox" in the rh side of it. I first
thought the tailgate was seized closed. After a month or so of
oiling it,prying on the latches,whoppin' it with my fist etc., I gave up on gettin' the gate open. Then one day I walk over to the truck, and shazam, with one finger the gate lets down. All this time I was pulling up on the handle. The weired thing is the handle opens out like a intr. door handle. Couldn't beleive it. Never seen a gate handle like this before. The taigate also has a smooth gauge plate factory installed (?) protector welded inplace. Rolled slightly over the top edge of the gate, and has the concave holes, welded around, to access the opening handle bolts for removele.
Was this some kinda special tailgate? I've owned Ford trucks all my life and do not remember ever seeing a tailgate like this.
Or am I mislead in thinking this bed is a 77? It definately came off of a 77 truck.
Thanks.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/MEPHISTO_XES/3b57c2103cd9b841.gif

"There's a little red button there,kid...don't ever, ever touch the red button!"

Garett

 

The same thing happened to me, but it only took me a week to figure it out. ;-)

Seriously, when I first bought my 69 I thought the tailgate release was frozen up. The problem was that I, too, was trying to lift up. Once I figured out that it was hinged on the side, it worked just fine. You may have a bed off a 67-72 instead of a 77, because all 67-72 trucks used that type of release. I don't know what the 73 and up gates used.

ksd
69 F100 Explorer lwb 2wd FE 360 C6. WANTED: straight/clean styleside long box w/aux fuel tank for 67-69 F series.

 

It's for sure the 73-79 style bed. Thanks for the input.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/MEPHISTO_XES/3b57c2103cd9b841.gif

"There's a little red button there,kid...don't ever, ever touch the red button!"

Garett

 

the 67-72 tailgate will fit on a 73-73 bed with very slight body line differences

 

Ok. What would the diferances be? Mine has the aluminum FORD name plate on it. Would that plate be hiding something?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/MEPHISTO_XES/3b57c2103cd9b841.gif

"There's a little red button there,kid...don't ever, ever touch the red button!"

Garett

 

The 67-72 tailgates will fit on 73-79 beds. The 68-69 Rangers had the aluminum FORD plaque, as well as the 70-72 Sport Customs. Are the letters curled at the ends, or are they straight?

 

The letters look to be straight if i'm following you right. Rather block type lettering.



https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/MEPHISTO_XES/3b57c2103cd9b841.gif

"There's a little red button there,kid...don't ever, ever touch the red button!"

Garett

 

I have both styles of tailgate, 67-72 and 73-79. I tried putting my older style tailgate on my 79. Yes it could be engineered to work, however. The body lines between the two styles don't match up. And some of the latch bracket stuff would have had to been ground on. Now... nothing says that a 73-79 tailgate couldn't have had an older style handle installed into it. When you buy a tailgate either aftermarket or from Ford, you dont' get the latch. I have had to reuse latchhandle assm I have and see no big difference between the two styles that would prevent them from interchanging.

BBT

 

That must be it then. I am certain the gate belongs to the 73-79
gen. The release handle threw me for a loop. Thats alright though. Makes the truck that much more unique and personel.
Thanks for the input fellas.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/MEPHISTO_XES/3b57c2103cd9b841.gif

"There's a little red button there,kid...don't ever, ever touch the red button!"

Garett

 

i like that style release better anyway