Is the lift gate identical for 1998 and 2003 100 series?

[Jdfern]

I have a 2003 LC with some damage on the lift gate, and have the opportunity to buy a 1998 lift-gate assembly from a scrap yard. Does anyone know if they are identical.? I looked at the Toyota part numbers and they are different numbers.
Thanks

 

[FLWookie]

I saw this in searching for some photos of the replacement process. I have the opposite issue. But i've had a CORRECTION 1999 LC upper and lower sitting in my garage to swap onto my 00 LX for 2 years now. Finally getting around to starting the project.

I'll post up here if i find any dissimilarities between them.

 

[FLWookie]

I finally got around to installing my 99 upper and lower gates. The upper went in with no problems. All harnesses matched and the trim as well.

Where things ended was when trying to install the 99 LC lower to my 00 LX. First, the wire loom exits the 99 on the passenger side to the car and has a totally different plug style vs the 00LX which exits on the driver side. The inner taillights are completely different on the 99 LC tailgate as well, with no chance of swapping over the lights from my truck. Different shape, different cutouts in the sheet metal.

I ended up keeping my original tail gate in place after realizing that the rust raining down was the clips that hold the LX cladding to the gate, and not the actual sheet metal of the gate. So i just cleaned up the adhesive and rusted clips and stuck the cladding back on with 3M body tape.

 

[gatormark91]

Just FYI - The upper hatches are NOT the same. Lexus 'L' badge and Toyota Sobrero badge have different holes in the hatch - LX hatch will NOT work on LC and vice versa if you want to use the stock brand badges. I used an LX hatch on my LC, but I bought a BH3D TEQ logo to cover the holes, so for $40 that took care of that.

 

[FLWookie]

Yeah. I filled in all the holes in the hatch I bought including the Toyota badge and the wind deflector mounts.