Awesome, I finally made someone laugh, Guess there is a first time for everything...

Oh, I thought them dark spots were from my dirty glasses!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

And to be clear:-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

And to be clear:Thanks.

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

You're getting a little to hung up on this I think. The gate physically is the same from 1980-1986. So if you're not talking about hardware the year of the gate has nothing to do with it. So yes that trim was available on all three of those breakdowns you listed. And evidently it came on First today's 83 XL

 

Your descriptions are not very clear and only pertain to used tailgates, because...

Tailgates bought at the parts counter came without any trim, didn't come with any holes for the clips, either.

And...the (Styleside) tailgate is not the same 1980/86. There are two different types: See posts # 33 & 35.

1980/82: EOTZ9940700A

1983/86: E5TZ9940700B (replaced E3TZ9940700B).

FYI: The 1980/89 Ford LIGHT Parts Catalog is available on a CD from hipoparts.com.

I wish more members had it. It would end all the confusion and y'all would never have to ask to see a picture again.

 

But the only differences are for mounting purposes, Right? If you are standing behind the truck you can't physically tell the difference. So looking at a picture of a truck from behind isn't necessary to define whether it's an early or late gate.

 

You know what they say in the Ford parts biz? It may look the same...but looks can be deceiving.

 

Mounts would actually be the pivots at the base. As far as I am aware, the 80-82 were removable the same as the 83-6, Perhaps not, but that is my thought. The side straps are flat iron on the 80-2, but cable on the later versions. It is possible holes are different, or such due to those changes. I would think the latch is the same, but there is always that chance... Cosmetically, they may look the same, but could require a bit of rework to actually swap.

 

Hideous? What is wrong with you, man? The 1985 - 1986 version with the red reflector and "FORD" off to the right side is the best looking one of ALL!


I have a canyon red 1985 F150, and it took me YEARS before I finally found a nice one. And what is aggravating is that the 1980-1984 version is reproduced, and then the '87-'91 and the '92-'96 versions are reproduced. The 1985 - 1986 aluminum trim panel is not reproduced ANYWHERE.

 

Well I did tack on IMHO...

Personally I used to think that the tailgate looked best with no trim and just the white FORD letters. But I really like the look of First Today's tail gate, with the earlier trim. I'd get rid of the trim if I didn't have the big friggin holes in my gate for mounting it.

 

i'm lucky i guess my favorite tailgate is exactly the kind i have on my 86 f150 atm lol big white letters spelling out ford across it lol

 

Yup, Maybe, Maybe not!

As ND stated, looks can be deceiving ...

The 80 to 86 gates ARE NOT the same, they have different hardware, thus they are different Ford Part Numbers as ND Clearly stated.

And thats exactly the way I broke it down... Is this more clear???Meaning, that LOOK (worthless without the picture) comes on those trucks, however hardware is different.

As ND clearly stated there are 4 gates for the years 80-96.If one was looking to buy a new tailgate from a Ford Dealer this would be moot, however this is a real world and few if any are going to buy a tailgate from a dealership, they will be looking for a used gate, when they see a gate WITH TRIM, what is it... Thats what I am trying to get answered for them.

Maybe we/I should forget about gates and stick to the trim available for the 80-96 years.

Thanks

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

The above is still confusing, to me at least.

EOTZ9940700A fits all 1980-1982 F-100/F-350 regardless of the trim or the lack of trim that's on it.

E5TZ9940700A (or the E3TZ version even) fits all 1983-1986 regardless of the trim or the lack of trim that's on it.

If you got a new gate from Ford, you would have to buy the trim seperately and drill the holes for the trim in the new gate.

The 1980-1981 Ranger XLT trim, or the 1982-1984 XLT Lariat Trim is the exact same. It's the tailgate itself that's different.

So you cant tell by looking just at the trim panel. Or the lack of one either.

Hopefully that clears it up?

 

Maybe I missed something but I thought you were trying to show pics from behind of the different trims and when they were available. All I was pointing out is it doesn't matter if you label what year the gate is in the PIC, because they all LOOK the same from the back. But instead we're back to talking about the hardware and different part numbers, which has been covered ad nauseum....

 

Okay, now I am gonna mess up everyone. My truck is an XLT. I had to look at my fenders to remember. I am so used to looking at the XLS in my truck and the XL in my dads truck, that I forgot it is an XLT. It is not a lariat though. It does not have any lariat badges.

Very sorry for the confusion.