I went to FORD today to see how much they wanted fer tailgate cables for my 1990 bronco.... -They were nice enough to help me back to my car- Is it possible to swap the tailgate steel straps that the old F-100 trucks used or any other ford used ? The straps would be stronger and never need replacing.

 

Just use some 3/8" chain! now that won't break!! Or you could go smaller if you don't haul much on the gate itself. There is plenty of room for it to fit.

 

Im such a brain fart, i didnt even think of that. plenty of room for 3/8 chain ? are the bolts strong ? is there a weight limit for the tailgate ?

 

The guy who told me to do it was a diesel truck(class 8) mechanic. He had them holding his tailgate up with toolboxes full of 3/4" drive sockets, breaker bars, all his tool boxes weighed at least 40# plus he would work off the gate hammering and wrenching on parts. He had three full size truck tool boxes in a one ton dodge and that thing was squatting!!!! Sometimes we had to pull them out and slid them over that tailgate so if the chains can hold up to that I think they can hold up to anything!

 

I got replacements at an auto supply under the "Help" brand rack. They work fine.

 

Im kinda scared of the factory aftermarket type cause ive seen them snap "both at the same time" and i even caught a set of them pulling out of the crimped end's. scary stuff man-

 

That's why that guy used chains, His cables snapped and a big breaker bar hit his foot!! I think he even used grade 8 bolts and a washer. If you pull that out of the body maybe you need a flat bed. I told him!! Plus they look cool as hell and nothing screams I take care of my own problems than a big chain holding the gate!

 

So long as I have yer attn. I saw a post on here and the guy said that you should replace -or- your o2 sensor is only good fer 30,000 miles.. is this true or is this just a tailgate cable busting load of poo-

 

My 84 Bronco has chain for tailgate support done by previous owner. He also put a section of bicycle tube over the chain so no rattles.

 

POO POO I have never seen that in any service schedule. Generally when they start wearing out you will know about it (Cel, Black exhaust, eating fuel) For the price of them I wouldn't be doing that if they said I had to. I did own a dodge van I think when it got to 60k or was it 90k an emission light came on the dash and the fix for it was to replace the O2 sensor and pull out the light bulb! I am serious! pull out the light bulb and leave it out!!!

 

Good idea on the bicycle tube.. but i just LOVE electrical tape !!!

 

HaHAHA, the light bulb fix.... my '90 bronco with a 351w has 200,000 miles on it. "says the previous owner", I did a timing chain, distributor, de-carbon the throttlebody....... the engine runs like is still at the showroom.... I aint afraid to go the money on the o2 sensor. i just dont wanna do it quite that often.

 

Don't forget to clean up the IAC every now and then! And a bottle of gas line dryer will help! Every oil change $1.00 a bottle it can end a lot of headaches before they begin.

 

IAC ??? whut and where is that ?

 

On the TB it has a diamond shaped mounting plate and a solenoid deal with a wiring plug in it. If that is dirty you will have uneven idle and it could cause stalling problems.
Take it off and spray it out with carb cleaner keep the solenoid deal up so crud don't run into it. Put antisieze on the threads and torque it to 80 90 inlbs A little RTV on the gasket wouldn't hurt either!