Tailgate install tricks?

[wdukes]

I am swapping tailgates on a pig. Even the new one requires new metal where the hinges attach. The passenger side hinge has the lift assist tension on it, so holding it down and screwing into the new tailgate is problematic. Any tricks out there>

Yes, I have ordered new drive gears for the window operator. Both old and new window operators have broken plastic gears.
See also gratuitous picture of newly recovered front seat

 

[scrapdaddy]

Duke,

I'm still looking for the page in my thread where I used a block of wood to help with install. I can't remember how I did it. I'll keep looking.

 

[xtiaan2000]

I ended up tacking a bar on the spring, flexed it up into position, put the short bolt in, and then cut the bar off. Quite a struggle, but welding took right care of that.

 

[Pighead]

I think that i left the cover for that torsion bar kinda loose, with just a thread or two of all those little screws turned in, tightened them slowly to snug it up.
But, fortunately, it's been a while since i last swapped tailgates