Just wondering if anyone has bought a new replacement tailgate out of LMC, JCW, etc and what they thought of it.

My current tailgate is straight, but the bottom is rusting pretty badly. Right now I'm considering two options.

First is to buy a replacement tailgate. I have the aluminum trim plate that covers the "FORD" stamping, so I'd be doing the $100 non-stamped replacement.

Second consideration is if the strength isn't on par with OEM to pull the old tailgate, drill all the spot welds, peel it apart, build a framework inside of it, and then reassemble it. The rust has definitely weakend it and it's starting to get a bow to it which is my main concern.

Justin

 

I seriously doubt the aftermarket units are any weaker than the stock 80-86 tailgate. These tend to pull apart at the welds rather easy. The spot welds on each end of the factory tailgates were not that great, I've seen a good many that are barely holding together. My 80 model had no dents in the inside of the bed or tailgate, just a few minor scuff marks, yet the tailgate was pulled apart at the spot welds when I bought it.

 

My tailgate is falling apart too. The spot welds at the bottom are coming apart.

 

The '85 I recently bought has an after market tailgate of unknown origin, and is very flimsy. When the tailgate is open, it will noticeably bend/flex if you lean on it a little bit. I really hope OEM was stronger than that. if someone knows of a good source of tailgates, please post it. Currently, I am leaning towards cleaning up a junkyard OEM tailgate.

Casey

 

The aftermarket tailgates tend to be of very poor quality strength wise. Last one I dealt with weighed about half what an OE unit does.

 

You can still get an OE one through LMC, just be ready to drop about $400.

and I was figuring they'd be of reduced quality. I know fenders and such are definitely thinner, but I'd think something as abused as a tailgate would have to have a little more meat to it.

I have another tailgate lying around that's pretty rough, i'll probably practice peeling that one apart before going after my better one.

Current plan is to run a piece of round tubing the diameter of the OE hinge cups all the way across the bottom, then come up at the edges with 1" or 3/4" (depending on what fits) .125 wall square stock and tie them together with the same below the level of the tailgate mechanism. Basically i'd be building a "gooseneck" tailgate.

Wrap the OE sheet metal around the frame, and then fully weld it back together.

I have other things to do now, but I'm thinking mid-february would be a good time to start.

Justin

 

I would try the wrecking yards first.

 

They fit OK . But dont drop anything one them when down . But for a 1/4 the price of oem buy1 every 3 years .

 

I'm not of the throw away mentality. I'd rather buy a OE that'll last another 20 years or fix my OE so it'll out last the rest of the truck.

I'd rather do it once and do it right and since I plan on keeping this truck for a long time I'll just take the extra time and effort to do it the way I was planning on.

Justin

 

Hello all. I've been lurking around here for a while now and got some really good information from this site and would like to thank everyone.

I came accross this thread, and I just thought that I'd let everyone know about a mint tailgate that I have if someone could use it. I bought it for my 84 F250 about 6 months ago, but decided not to use it after finding another one.

To make a long story short, it came with the aluminum trim panel (peeling decals but otherwise pretty straight) and I was going to fill the holes in and not use the trim panel for asthetic purposes only. I prefer the look of the one without the trim.

I was at a local u-pull it junkyard on Thursday, and I found another mint tailgate without the trim panel holes and bought it for $31.35! The truck just came on the lot, and the Mexicans didn't have time to strip it yet. It even had a nice aluminum protector accross the top. Took it home and within minutes I had the old, bent rusted piece of crap off my truck.

Now, I have the extra mint tailgate with the trim panel that I'm going to be putting up for sale on eBay. I just thought that I'd let you guys have first shot at it before I post it. It has one spot weld on the corner that needs a little attention, but other than that it's in really good shape.

I live in Northeast, Pa. and can post or send some pics if anyone is interested.

 

can you send me or post pics of it?

 

I'll see if I can post some today. If not, then definately tomorrow.

My batteries are dead in my camera right now. I'll charge them up and see what I can do.

BTW: The yard that I visit quite frequently has about 30-40 of these trucks. Most of the sheetmetal is shot, but there are tons of other good parts on them if anyone needs something in particular.

I also have a couple of instrument clusters, and quite a few black base model radio trim panels (with DIN style openings, although I have seen a couple of the shaft type in the yard as well as a few wood grain instrument and radio panels), an automatic steering column with cruise and a nice wheel, a couple of wiper filler panels, lots of windshield trim and other stuff.

I've been picking this stuff up here and there while in the process of restoring my 4WD 84 F250 - 302, NP435. I found a rust-free cab, bed, hood, doors (91 Bronco), aftermarket fenders (which I'm not happy with the fit but they work for now - just found a rust free OEM set which I'm going to pull off of a Bronco tomorrow for $35.00 each), completely changed the mint dash and interior to beige, replaced all of the brakes, lines, calipers, wheel cylinders, rotors, drums, etc.

I have a Sterling 10.25 with a 4:10 posi and a Dana 50 that I'll be putting in as soon as the weather breaks. I'd like to do a Dana 60 in the front, but they are really expensive to buy around here ~ $1200.


Here is a pic so far:

 

One thing to note here, this tailgate had metal hinges instead of the usual cables to hold it open. I'm not sure if this makes any difference or not. By the look of it, they can easily be swapped for cables if that's what you need. This is a shell only, I stripped the parts off it to paint and put them in my storage shed, and if I can find them they will go with the tailgate including the (bare) aluminum trim panel. If not, you will have to re-use yours.

Can anyone clarify when they changed to cables? I'm guessing that this was off a 1980 as mostly all that I have seen are post 1980 and they all had cables.

I managed to snap one off before my batteries went totally dead. While they are recharging, here is one of the back:

 

I think the change to cables occured in 83.

 

Anyone interested in this tailgate before it goes on eBay???