Tailgate hinges?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 145
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From: Kemah TX.
Tailgate hinges?
I spent most of the day getting my bed squair and the OEM tailgate I have fitted today. The TG was in pretty rough shape so I cut off the top and bottom rails (It is off of a 60 year old truck and you could tell) and got the TG clamped on to do some bodywork to it and later this week I am going to TIG some 1" tubing to it for the upper and lower rails but I need to build or buy a set of hinges.
What have you guys used for hinges in the past? I thought about milling out a set out of aluminum but I need to come up with a design.
What about a set of latches? I thought about something hidden and spring loaded.
What have you guys used for hinges in the past? I thought about milling out a set out of aluminum but I need to come up with a design.
What about a set of latches? I thought about something hidden and spring loaded.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
I made my own TG hinges because I wanted something flush to the gate and the modified bed I made. These hinges are just a block of aluminum shaped for looks with a shoulder screw that projects inside the gate's lower tube. A delrin bushing is captured by the shoulder screw and is what the gate actually contacts. These work REALLY well and don't squeek like the stock ones, where the gate just rides on a shaped sheet metal pin parent to the hinge housing.
Here is the best picture I have of them:
Here is the best picture I have of them:
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
You can buy reproduction hinge pins just about everywhere - the repro parts houses (LMC, C&G, Carpenter have them - also e-bay) adn also, MAR-K. If you are making new tubes, set a 3/4 inch copper union inside the bottom ones to act as bushings - that elliminates the rusting and wear.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,955
Likes: 9,727
From: Rio Rancho, NM
As far as I know there are 2 basic styles of tailgate hinge pins that are used. One style is made from stamped steel the other has a solid cast pin. I know that the stamped steel design has been used up through the mid 80's. I bought a seet from a mid 80's step side from a local wrecking yard for about $10.
I also used 1" tubing for my tailgate. In the bottom roll I pressed in a piece of 1/2" pipe into the tubing as a bushing for the hinge pin. I thought about using a bronze bushing or something like that but its not like this is exactly a high wear or high use area.
I fabricated my own spring pin style latches to hold the tailgate shut. There are some details of it in my gallery;
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=25568
Hope this helps
Bobby
I also used 1" tubing for my tailgate. In the bottom roll I pressed in a piece of 1/2" pipe into the tubing as a bushing for the hinge pin. I thought about using a bronze bushing or something like that but its not like this is exactly a high wear or high use area.
I fabricated my own spring pin style latches to hold the tailgate shut. There are some details of it in my gallery;
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=25568
Hope this helps
Bobby
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
The Mar-K link assembly can be installed on your earlier tailgate although it was designed specifically for the 53 and later tailgate. Here is a link to the installation sequence: http://www.mar-k.com/53-87_ford_tail...ink_straps.pdf . Notice that the pivot bracket is installed through the tailgate skin so it will show on the outside of your tailgate.
Since you are welding 1" tubing for the upper rail, the Mar-K hidden latch could be installed inside that tubing as long as the tubing is greater than 5/8" inside diameter and extends to the full width of the tailgate. The Mar-K hidden latch is designed to fit the '53 and newer tailgates. Installation on your earlier truck may require you to fill in the chain latch slot near the top of the bedside so that the plunger can properly engage the bedside. We have not done this installation on your year truck, but see no reason it could not be made to work. Here is the link to the latch installation instruction so you can see how it is installed: http://www.mar-k.com/53-87Fordhidlatch.pdf .
These parts are really sold for 53 and up, so if you go to the website and put in a 51 Ford, the parts you need won't show up. But you can order them by part number:
102882 - Link Assembly
102884 - Hidden Latches
Hope this helps!
Since you are welding 1" tubing for the upper rail, the Mar-K hidden latch could be installed inside that tubing as long as the tubing is greater than 5/8" inside diameter and extends to the full width of the tailgate. The Mar-K hidden latch is designed to fit the '53 and newer tailgates. Installation on your earlier truck may require you to fill in the chain latch slot near the top of the bedside so that the plunger can properly engage the bedside. We have not done this installation on your year truck, but see no reason it could not be made to work. Here is the link to the latch installation instruction so you can see how it is installed: http://www.mar-k.com/53-87Fordhidlatch.pdf .
These parts are really sold for 53 and up, so if you go to the website and put in a 51 Ford, the parts you need won't show up. But you can order them by part number:
102882 - Link Assembly
102884 - Hidden Latches
Hope this helps!
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,955
Likes: 9,727
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Mike,
That latches were a piece of cake (and cheap....I like cheap). Basically a couple of pieces of pipe that will slide into each other (test this at the hardware store -- not all pipe is the same), a spring, a bit of welding, drilling, and tapping and viola
Good luck
Bobby
That latches were a piece of cake (and cheap....I like cheap). Basically a couple of pieces of pipe that will slide into each other (test this at the hardware store -- not all pipe is the same), a spring, a bit of welding, drilling, and tapping and viola
Good luck
Bobby
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 283
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From: San Diego
Mike, I have a set of these(new), if you are interested. I'm looking to trade for a set of original latches and chains (any condition).
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 145
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From: Kemah TX.
Well I got the tubing cut and the slots milled for the latches and tacked on this evening. It fits pretty good so far I will weld it out this week and start machining the hinges. I will post some pictures of the progress soon.
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