blazer tailgate

[jarogers]

is it at all possible to replace the tailgate of a K5 with another k model tailgate? i have a soft top i am about to put on, and I no longer need the glass in the tailgate so i was hoping to lose some weight by switching it out with maybe a k10's

any thoughts?

 

[xenomarine]

Yes that's a popular thing to do, you just need to make sure you get all the right hardware and that the mounting holes aren't all rotted out. It literally bolts on as long as you get the strikers and hinges and stuff like that.

 

[jarogers]

Yes that's a popular thing to do, you just need to make sure you get all the right hardware and that the mounting holes aren't all rotted out. It literally bolts on as long as you get the strikers and hinges and stuff like that.

which hinges and strikers? the ones off the k5 tailgate or the k10's? i know the theory is that they both should mat, i just didnt know if i would run into a spacing problem.

 

[xenomarine]

You need all the k10 hardware, different mounting holes for each.

 

[dremu]

is it at all possible to replace the tailgate of a K5 with another k model tailgate? i have a soft top i am about to put on, and I no longer need the glass in the tailgate so i was hoping to lose some weight by switching it out with maybe a k10's

any thoughts?

To be clear, *any* 73-87 Fleetside pickup tailgate will fit (i.e. Stepside ones won't, though that should be obvious by lookin' at 'em.) Short or longbed, 2WD or 4WD, 1/2, 3/4 or 1-ton, doesn't matter, any Fleetside bed tailgate will go nicely.

You'll also need the hardware involved, which are the hinge cups that bolt to the body down at the bottom, and the straps that bolt to the body up at the top (and I think four of the ubiquitous 3/8" bolts each side to fasten them down.) When I did this very thing I found my Blazer was already drilled/threaded for the hardware, and my understanding is that they all are, so it's literally a bolt-up.

(Just for completeness' sake note that Suburban tailgates are unique to that body style and are no bloody good otherwise

Oh, and here's some nice pix of the parts involved:

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=30

Not suggesting you buy from them, necessarily -- though you can -- but the exploded parts diagrams are helpful.

-- A

 

[USSkoval]

I just did the swap, it was very easy. I had a complete extra shortbed from an '84, I put the tailgate, trunnions and straps on my '83 K5. Before mounting it all up, I ran a tap in all the bolt holes to clean the rust out of them.