Tailgate Construction (1 Viewer)

[45Kevin]

I've had the parts to make a new tailgate for years and am finally going to do it.

So there are a few pieces I'll be taking of the old tailgate.
Two of those are gate latches and the chain hooks.

They are fixed to the tailgate with two big Phillips bolts, and a weld along the top.
It seems a bit odd that the latch has adjustable bolts AND a weld.

I want to confirm with other late '70s LP owners that the weld at the top of the chain hook is from the factory.

I guess I may know the reason for the weld. The chain hook doesn't need any adjustment and the weld gives needed addition strength to the hook.
The latch can be adjusted by the two Phillips bolts in their slotted holes.

Also wondering where seam sealer was used. I can see on my dilapidated tailgate that the top of the bottom rail has it, but a lot of it has fell off over the years.

 

[PG45er]

Yes on the chain hook welded on from the factory.

I bought one of Alteq's tail gates a number of years ago for my 1977 45. It's pretty much a pavement princess though and I won't be using that truck for heavy work or driving it in the winter so didn't weld the hook on or put on any seam sealer.
My 1980 45 has a oem tailgate and I went through my photos but don't have any that show enough detail to tell where the seam sealer was but I didn't seem seal that one either before I painted since it gets parked in the winter as well. I do seem to recall that the top of the bottom channel was seam sealed though. The inside of the channel doesn't get any paint anyway and Alteq's bottom channels have lots of large drain holes so I figure spraying some rust inhibitor on the inside would be a good idea.

 

[45Kevin]

Yes on the chain hook welded on from the factory.

I bought one of Alteq's tail gates a number of years ago for my 1977 45. It's pretty much a pavement princess though and I won't be using that truck for heavy work or driving it in the winter so didn't weld the hook on or put on any seam sealer.
My 1980 45 has a oem tailgate and I went through my photos but don't have any that show enough detail to tell where the seam sealer was but I didn't seem seal that one either before I painted since it gets parked in the winter as well. I do seem to recall that the top of the bottom channel was seam sealed though. The inside of the channel doesn't get any paint anyway and Alteq's bottom channels have lots of large drain holes so I figure spraying some rust inhibitor on the inside would be a good idea.

View attachment 3900810

View attachment 3900811

I like the rear bumper.
But how do you get to your spare tire winch?

Where did you get the round reflectors?
I need one.

 

[PG45er]

Thanks on the bumper.
I figured it was pretty unlikely I would get a flat so I put a notch in the bumper behind the license plate and it's only takes a minute to take it off.
The reflectors I found on e bay about 9 or 10 years ago. They are for a Yamaha motor cycle if I remember correctly. They are a couple mm's different in size from the original but as close as I could find.