As any of us know the tailgate is a huge pain in the butt to remove and install. Yet, modern trucks have the ability to just tilt the gate at an angle and just lift them out.

So, my idea, would you guys think it was feasible to make this work on our trucks? Looking at the hinges all that would really be needed is to notch the gate pocket and then cut the hinge to match.

Although I am working with a 67-72 tailgate if that makes a difference.

Just an idea, because like I said the tailgate install blows!

Josh

 

I have seen this done before, however, I only remember seeing the cup on the tailgate itself modified on one side.

 

great idea, removing and installing the tailgate is easily a 2 guy job, now if we could mod the hinges, 1 person could remove and install the tailgate, if anyone has done this please post your experience with this mod, and pictures would also be great, i am considering the same idea, and maybe only one side has to be done? then you can simply slide it out of the other hinge?

-Brent

 

Got back from the junkyard and picked up a spare set of hinges. Also I snagged the rubber tailgate insert from a late model Ford truck.

The insert fits the 67-72 and 73-79 tailgates perfectly. I was going the grab the late model hinge as well, but didn't bring any torx bits with me.

Now curiously, when I snagged my 67-72 gate last Spring and it's hinges I noticed the same hinges were also on a 76 truck in the yard today. But next to it was a 78 and a 74 and they had the stamped metal hinges.

I like the earlier solid metal hinges and and all it is going to take it seems is just to remove a "half-moon" shape from either side and then notch the tailgate pocket.

I'll take some pics later...

Josh

 

The tailgates are a pain to remove... but that also keeps an honest man honest. These tailgates are like $400 in the LMC book, aren't they?

 

talk about keeping a honest man honest, here is my tailgate i scored a few months back for $150, the only spot of rust is on the driver side on the top corner edge, which was very very light, its already been removed since this picture, also there is not one dent in either side of the tailgate, and not even a dent in the trim, this tailgate was saved from regular duty, because the truck it came off of, had a camper in most of the trucks life, also the owner sprayed the inside of the tailgate with some kind of black rubberized coating, it looks like that black coating called Ziebart, all i know is, its one heavy tailgate, and is in mint condition, its as good as going back in time in a time machine and buying one from the dealer, i am so glad there is no filler in the gate, and no dents or rust or the common tailgate outward bend, or damaged trim, so maybe i will leave my gate hinges alone, i don't plan on taking my gate off anyways, and it makes it harder to take, and from what i see the aftermarket gates are way more than 150 bucks, and all the gates locally are rotted out and full of filler, or the mint ones are on trucks worth 10-20 grand





-Brent

 

Hinge test fit



Close-up of tailgate and mid-80s rubber dampner



Comparison of 67-72 hinge and 73-79 hinge. The solid hinge of the earlier trucks is what makes this possible.



Josh

 

Have you tried comparing to the 80-97 hinge to see if they are the same mounting, or could be reworked easy to fit? I haven't tried to look at it yet...

 

I would think they would work just fine, the rubber peice I grabbed fits perfectly and matches the diameter of the old style hinges great. I just didn't bring my torx bits with me to the yard so I was not able to grab the hinges.

The only question there is the bolt spacing and possibly the layout of the holes. The old style has the bolts in a line whereas if I remember correctly the newer style had a dog leg.

Josh