I learned something interesting about how we squarebody fans can't always assume things will interchange.
I have one of the tailgate supports that messed up.
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The "rivet" for lack of a better word, that's supposed to hold the 2 pieces together has flat spots so it likes to come apart. I don't know if the previous owner did this on purpose or if it was some sort of damage. For reference, this is how it's supposed to look.
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A couple months ago I pulled one off a truck in the junkyard. When I installed it in the truck I could not get it to allow the tailgate to close. I finally figured out the lower piece connected to the tailgate is almost 1" shorter on the 73 than the one I pulled.
I was back in the junkyard so I started looking closer at tailgates. There weren't any like the 73, but I figured out another difference when I looked at the 73 tailgate again. The big difference I noticed is the stud on the tailgate that the support slots into is integrated with the piece bolted around the latch. In the picture below you can see a bolt head on either side of the latch and the stud for the support below that.
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On the newer tailgates the metal piece bolted around the latch is longer and the stud for the support strap is attached to that and not directly to the tailgate. This change must have meant a change in the lengths of the support. So I'm curious now how many years were done like the 73 before they switched. I might have to see if I can swap over that piece bolted around the latch.