fleetside tailgate latch mechanism - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

theyaehoo · 02-10-2011, 05:37 PM

Good afternoon,
My tailgate opening latch is not working and I ordered a new one from LMC Trucks, it is here. The guy that owned the truck before me Rhinolined the bed, really well. Am I going to have to remove the rhino lining from the tailgate to replace this or just a portion of it? I can not see any evidence of screws or an outline of an access panel from the inside of the tailgate. Thanks for the help, again!

nu2-72 · 02-10-2011, 06:15 PM

Lift the handle and look. There should be three weld nuts that you can see. These are for the three screws on the inside of the gate. If you cannot locate them because of thick liner maybe you could drill very small pilot holes through them to the inside and locate them. They will be phillips head. Use an x-acto and cut around the heads and then try a larger bit. Maybe it will catch and turn them out. Get new ones and cover after the project is done. Just a thought.

theyaehoo · 02-10-2011, 07:37 PM

A great thought at that! So there are no access panels, just those three screws and then it will all be as it looks. Thank you very much!

nu2-72 · 02-11-2011, 01:50 PM

Always want to give the most accurate info possible. Hope this is what you are looking for. Pics of a handle removed showing the weld nuts. Front and rear view. And front/rear of a tailgate. Unless someone has modified your gate it should appear as this. If you need better location of bolts I can do that too.
And I was wrong, they are hex head bolts and does not look like you will be able to drill from the outside. There is always the crazy PO that has done something like welded a panel over the bolts for a smooth look or welded the handle in. I can't explain those or help with that but this should get you where you need to be. And like I said, I can get more specific measurements if you need them. Maybe body filler over them ?? Can you get a pic?

theyaehoo · 02-11-2011, 08:00 PM

Thank you, the info you gave me is excellent, and it worked. With that I was able to guesstimate the bolt locations, cut out the rhinolining in 1" squares, and replace the latch. All of you that have helped me on this site are awesome! Thanks a million! Have a great day, Scott

02-10-2011, 05:37 PM	#1
theyaehoo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 12	fleetside tailgate latch mechanism Good afternoon, My tailgate opening latch is not working and I ordered a new one from LMC Trucks, it is here. The guy that owned the truck before me Rhinolined the bed, really well. Am I going to have to remove the rhino lining from the tailgate to replace this or just a portion of it? I can not see any evidence of screws or an outline of an access panel from the inside of the tailgate. Thanks for the help, again! __________________ If you want a job done right, lower your standards! Have a great day, Scott 71 Custom 20

02-10-2011, 06:15 PM	#2
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Re: fleetside tailgate latch mechanism Lift the handle and look. There should be three weld nuts that you can see. These are for the three screws on the inside of the gate. If you cannot locate them because of thick liner maybe you could drill very small pilot holes through them to the inside and locate them. They will be phillips head. Use an x-acto and cut around the heads and then try a larger bit. Maybe it will catch and turn them out. Get new ones and cover after the project is done. Just a thought. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

02-10-2011, 07:37 PM	#3
theyaehoo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 12	Re: fleetside tailgate latch mechanism A great thought at that! So there are no access panels, just those three screws and then it will all be as it looks. Thank you very much! __________________ If you want a job done right, lower your standards! Have a great day, Scott 71 Custom 20

02-11-2011, 01:50 PM	#4
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Re: fleetside tailgate latch mechanism Always want to give the most accurate info possible. Hope this is what you are looking for. Pics of a handle removed showing the weld nuts. Front and rear view. And front/rear of a tailgate. Unless someone has modified your gate it should appear as this. If you need better location of bolts I can do that too. And I was wrong, they are hex head bolts and does not look like you will be able to drill from the outside. There is always the crazy PO that has done something like welded a panel over the bolts for a smooth look or welded the handle in. I can't explain those or help with that but this should get you where you need to be. And like I said, I can get more specific measurements if you need them. Maybe body filler over them ?? Can you get a pic? Attached Images __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide Last edited by nu2-72; 02-11-2011 at 01:55 PM. Reason: additional info

02-11-2011, 08:00 PM	#5
theyaehoo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 12	Re: fleetside tailgate latch mechanism Thank you, the info you gave me is excellent, and it worked. With that I was able to guesstimate the bolt locations, cut out the rhinolining in 1" squares, and replace the latch. All of you that have helped me on this site are awesome! Thanks a million! Have a great day, Scott __________________ If you want a job done right, lower your standards! Have a great day, Scott 71 Custom 20

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