Bushings for Tailgate Hinge - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Driver_WT · 09-08-2018, 10:35 AM

The tail gate on my 53 Chevy truck fits quite loose (about 1/4" of play between the tailgate and the hinge. Am I missing a bushing that should go in the tailgate or meant to be loose on the hinges?

Thanks.

Wade

MARTINSR · 09-08-2018, 11:43 AM

I know of no bushing, are the hinges or the gate reproduction?

Brian

_Ogre · 09-08-2018, 07:09 PM

47-53 use this style hinge
they may be worn slap out

54 to 80s used this style hinge

Driver_WT · 09-09-2018, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

I know of no bushing, are the hinges or the gate reproduction?

Brian

I acquired the truck as a project, but the parts look original. It may be that they are worn.

Ogre, I have the 53 style hinges.

Foot Stomper · 09-09-2018, 11:04 AM

Trunnion. That's the technical term for the "hinge".

**mr48chev** · 09-09-2018, 11:46 AM

Worn out or the hole in the tailgate is stretched out. You just have to take it apart and see what looks bad and either replace the part or come up with a way to take up the slack

They don't sell bushings but that doesn't mean you can't make a bushing or sleeve to take up some of that slack.

MARTINSR · 09-09-2018, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Worn out or the hole in the tailgate is stretched out. You just have to take it apart and see what looks bad and either replace the part or come up with a way to take up the slack

They don't sell bushings but that doesn't mean you can't make a bushing or sleeve to take up some of that slack.

Yep, in fact it sounds like a good idea! A strip of polyurethane or something.

Brian

**Dan in Pasadena** · 09-09-2018, 06:25 PM

I JUST bought the reproduction poly type trunnions for my ‘55.2 figuring they’d cause less rattling than the original metal ones. Plus they come with polished stainless buttonhead bolts that will look better.

But they made my tailgate fit slightly lower than the factory bedsides which would have resulted in chips happening faster on the tailgate “Hasps” (I guess they’d be called). i mean where the slotted tab on the tailgate mates with the bedside and the chain goes through. I hope that description makes some sense. I have no photo. Unfortunately this makes me have to use the factor plain carbon steel bolt for now. But I’ll swap them out for stainless eventually.

We re-installed the factory metal ones coated in wheel bearing grease.

**mongocanfly** · 09-09-2018, 07:31 PM

I made some bushings and hinges..I had to make new hinges anyway because one was homemade...
Different manufacture but may give you some ideas...
I made them from uhmw...

tmoble · 09-09-2018, 07:46 PM

Greg, you may get many inquiries on these. Looks like a good clean design.

09-08-2018, 10:35 AM	#1
Driver_WT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: River John, NS Posts: 448	Bushings for Tailgate Hinge The tail gate on my 53 Chevy truck fits quite loose (about 1/4" of play between the tailgate and the hinge. Am I missing a bushing that should go in the tailgate or meant to be loose on the hinges? Thanks. Wade __________________ 53 Chevy 3100, SBC 355, 700R4, S10 frame, Ford 8.8 rear with 4.11 gears, front disc & rear drum brakes

09-08-2018, 11:43 AM	#2
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge I know of no bushing, are the hinges or the gate reproduction? Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

09-08-2018, 07:09 PM	#3
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,680	Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge 47-53 use this style hinge they may be worn slap out 54 to 80s used this style hinge __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

09-09-2018, 11:04 AM	#5
Foot Stomper Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,252	Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge Trunnion. That's the technical term for the "hinge". __________________ So when is this "Old enough to know better" supposed to kick in? My 1959 GMC build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=686989

09-09-2018, 11:46 AM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,710	Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge Worn out or the hole in the tailgate is stretched out. You just have to take it apart and see what looks bad and either replace the part or come up with a way to take up the slack They don't sell bushings but that doesn't mean you can't make a bushing or sleeve to take up some of that slack. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

09-09-2018, 06:25 PM	#8
Dan in Pasadena Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 6,343	Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge I JUST bought the reproduction poly type trunnions for my ‘55.2 figuring they’d cause less rattling than the original metal ones. Plus they come with polished stainless buttonhead bolts that will look better. But they made my tailgate fit slightly lower than the factory bedsides which would have resulted in chips happening faster on the tailgate “Hasps” (I guess they’d be called). i mean where the slotted tab on the tailgate mates with the bedside and the chain goes through. I hope that description makes some sense. I have no photo. Unfortunately this makes me have to use the factor plain carbon steel bolt for now. But I’ll swap them out for stainless eventually. We re-installed the factory metal ones coated in wheel bearing grease. __________________ '55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda!

09-09-2018, 07:31 PM	#9
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,670	Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge I made some bushings and hinges..I had to make new hinges anyway because one was homemade... Different manufacture but may give you some ideas... I made them from uhmw... Attached Images __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver Last edited by mongocanfly; 09-09-2018 at 07:36 PM.

09-09-2018, 07:46 PM	#10
tmoble Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 1,062	Re: Bushings for Tailgate Hinge Greg, you may get many inquiries on these. Looks like a good clean design.

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