Cracks around tailgate handle

[trailblazr81]

My 73 K20 has 4 cracks coming from the tailgate handle. Is this a common problem? Comments? Suggestions? I guess if I really want to I can grind, weld, and grind some more then paint. I'll probly just take a trip to the Boneyard sometime.

 

[rdn2blazer]

i think my 73' k5 has cracks also, im going to run my tailgate off my 89' crewcab on my k5 anyways so it does'nt matter to me if the 73' window gate is or not. my crew gate has no cracks. i do think it is a common problem though. i will buy a new gate for my crew thad doesent have the tailgate lights on the gate. i will fill the light holes in the gate for the k5.

 

[R72K5]

it happens ive seen it many times, ive even seen it where the handle sheetmetal area is pulled out a little too, its crazy, i dont know how ppl manage to do things like this, but they find a way, they are rough, maybe its from yanking on gate thats frozen, etc., since no one ever oils them- or hoods or doors,,, etc.


the fix would be to slightly V-grind the cracks and weld fill them and grind smooth and go from there

 

[73k5blazer]

Is the handle itself cracked, or the sheetmetal of the tailgate cracked? I see cracked broken handles all the time. Only good way to fix those is the get a new one, and when you taking everything out to replace it, get some new innards and grease everything up.
If the sheetmetal is cracking, do what the other just said, vgrind it, and weld, grind, fill, sand, paint.

 

[R72K5]

i assumed sheetmetal cracks since he said grind weld paint

in which would be the way to go about it, or find another gate,

dunno


good luck