1985 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4...looking for the red reflective piece that attaches to the polished aluminum piece across the back of the tailgate. Measures about 66.5" x 4", has "FORD" in chrome letters on right-hand side. Sugestions, besides a wrecking yard, which I've already tried? Beyond that, any suggestions on how to remount the original. Mounting tabs on back are borken off; tried double-sided tape but that didn't last long.

Thanks!

Greetings from beautiful Bend, OR

1985 F150 4x4
1999 Exploder 4.0
2000 Crown Vic P/I
1985 Ford 1200 Goldwing (Ha! Made ya look!)

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-Dec-02 AT 10:16 PM (EST)]Use 3M outdoor double-sided foam tape, or automotive trim adhesive. They also make double-sided pads for automotive emblems, but they're kinda expensive & hard to find. I have a couple I bought on clearance.

But '85 didn't use the trim panel with the red stripe. That year used an all-aluminum panel with some black paint & a blue oval emblem attached. The EFIs had an EFI badge glued on. I have one of those in my spare parts pile.

The red stripe was used from '87-91, and '92-97 used the smoke stripe panel.

 

Yup, Steve, you're right! I "brain-drained"...truck is actually an '88, not an '85! Don't know what I was thinking!

I did some checking and was told that Ford no longer makes the red insert, that they went to the black only. For $200, just looking for a less expensive option.

The problem w/ getting a used one from the junk yard is that when you pull it off (seems no matter HOW carefully), it breaks the tabs on the back side. Guess I'll have to use some bigger, better quality double-sided tape and see where it goes.

One other question...what's the best thing to use to get old wax off the black rub strips along the side? I didn't want to get too crazy with a scrub pad...I've been told that alochol (the medicinal kind, not the drinking kind!) will dissolve that old build-up?

Thanks!

Neil/
Bend, OR

 

Don't pull the red stripe off the trim panel in a junkyard; pull the trim panel off the t/g!

Wax is a hydrocarbon, like propane, benzene, & grease. The lighter ones dissolve the heavier ones. Alcohol is partially like a hydrocarbon and partially like water, so it'll dissolve almost anything that can be dissolved, but it's much milder than HC-based solvents. Try it, then try progressively more agressive solvents. I'd go for a 3M product made for automotive painting.

 

Thanks, Steve. One more question for you, tho...how do you get the ENTIRE trim plate (brushed metal with the red trim) off the tailgate?

Neil/
Bend, OR

 

Pull the access panel from the inside & then the 4 nuts (2 on each side of the regulator). On '80-86, there are 4 phillips screws in the corners of the trim panel that you can remove from the outside, but '87-96 have 4 larger nuts on the back of the side lips. Look at these pics & click on them to read the captions:
http://www.webphotos.com/list_photos.asp?mi=3&smi=2&a=73922

 

Thanks, Steve....mission accomplished and looks good as new. Now I can spend the $$$ on something else!