Tailgate year break down

[MylilBowTie]

What year tailgates will work for a 74 gmc c25?

[walkerb]

73-91

[gramps77]

Originally Posted by walkerb

73-91

not true.
I believe 73-76 have the tangs at the top of the tailgate that go into slots in the bed sides.
77-91 do not have those, If I remember correctly
Only mentioning in case someone asking the other years goes to lookin'

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by gramps77

not true.
I believe 73-76 have the tangs at the top of the tailgate that go into slots in the bed sides.
77-91 do not have those, If I remember correctly
Only mentioning in case someone asking the other years goes to lookin'

Are those "tangs" not removable?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by walkerb

Are those "tangs" not removable?

If I remember correctly, not really. I think they are welded inside the tailgate. Technically you could cut them off, but that really wasn't what the O/P was after.

[walkerb]

I guess I assumed that he was looking to replace the one he has. Transferring hardware.

[N2TRUX]

I think there are other differences in the trunion mounting as well. We need Jeff in on this one. hes the tailgate expert.

[lolife99]

Look here for all your answers,...
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/sm...?topic=15684.0

[MylilBowTie]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I think there are other differences in the trunion mounting as well. We need Jeff in on this one. hes the tailgate expert.

Nice to see it see you still around these parts

[Dead Parrot]

As an aid to the OP, based on the tailgate id thread, I successfully mounted a 81-91 tailgate in my 75. When I pulled it from the pull-a-part lot, I also got all of the mounting hardware. You will need the newer mounting hardware to let the newer tailgate work.

[MylilBowTie]

Mine 74 gmc tailgate has the older style tangs on the upper part of the tailgate. I have a newer 80s tailgate guess I need to source the newer style hardware for the bed sides.

[willett]

If your tailgate latch quit working its a pretty easy fix. I can explain if your interested

[MylilBowTie]

Yes that would be helpful. The handle moves but the latches don't move. I believe they are stuck inward position. So it won't latch to the bed posts. I tried looking at the handle but couldn't make heads or tails of it.

[willett]

Get 2 nuts (I think I used 5/8") and use them to wedge the striker pins against the 'L' bracket so that the pins are in the open position.

On the inside face of your tailgate (the part that faces your cab) there are 3 big ass Phillips screws, take those out. Your handle will now be dangling

Underneath the handle and inside of the tailgate you will see a couple of thick wires kind of reminiscent of thick coat hangers hooked to either side of the handle mechanism. *Unhook those babies.

Your handle will now be free and come out


*The wires are hooked through plastic bushings that will probably break if they're not gone already, Don't worry if they do break you can get replacements through LMC or do what I did and leave them out. (Mine works just fine without)



Once the handle is free you can undo the bolts above and below the striker pins and slide the striker pin / wire assembly out.


Now get some degreaser and go to town on everything, they usually quit working because the mechanism gets all bunged up with a combination of old grease, road dirt, and corrosion.


Re-grease it with something like rost off..... Something sorta thin yet viscous so it doesn't all run off in a month.



For putting it back together repeat disassembly. You will probably cuss a few times hooking the wires back to the handle. Get creative and make some hook tools.



Once it's back together I recommend adjusting the striker catches on your box. If you get it right it will close even easier than when the truck was new!


It's been a awhile since I've had a tailgate apart but this should do it

Good luck!
- Spencer

[willett]

You try it?

[MylilBowTie]

Not yet I should have time tomorrow to take a look at it.

[MylilBowTie]

Thinking it needs to be shimmed on the sides. Got the pins working a little better. The bed sides have seen better days and pretty floppy. The pins don't seem to engaging enough. One will catch and the the other side doesn't.

[willett]

Did you pull them right out? Are your bed sides bowed out? I have seen them so bad that guys have to run a ratchet strap from stake pocket to stake pocket

[MylilBowTie]

Yeah the bed sides are weak. I couldn't get the rods out of the handle. Took the bolts out by the pins but they are spring loaded. It was a working a few weeks ago. The handle always was a little stiff to move. I'd have to push in on it to help the pins engage.