K30 Tailgate Lights

[trevmountain]

I am in the process of swapping over a standard OEM tailgate to take the place of my damaged K30 tailgate with the lights.

I looked all over to try and find a tailgate from a K30 so I wouldn't have to do this but no luck. I've got an absolute perfect OEM gate and I want to just hole saw the holes transfer over the wiring ect. After looking at it last night it appears the light strip on the inside slides in from the side where the latch bracket is. So basically I just need to figure out how to get the latch temporarily out of the way so I can remove and slide in the strip from gate to gate. Its going to be a pain in the ass because I will also need to fish the wire out the bottom for the power source. If I remove the screws that secure the handle does the whole latch system just kind of split and I'll be able to pull the piece out of my way, and also if I disconnect am I going to be able to put the latch system back together?

If anybody has messed with these old gates before and can give me some tips before I start into something that may not be possible without splitting the tailgate open.

Thanks

Here are some pics of what Im talking about

 

[sweetk30]

3 screws for handle out

pull handle out as far as possible.

unhook clips for rods to handle assembly

then each end peice will come out the ends of the gate as you have the screws out already .

 

[86454K30]

Yup what he said. Pull the latch out of one side and the harness strip will come out that side. Damn dude are you putting the beat down on that K30?

 

[trevmountain]

Perfect thanks. That's what I thought but asking first is better than wishing I had.

Tailgate got smacked by a sled. Truck is getting some things done to her, pics to come soon.

 

[86454K30]

Do you have any pictures of your truck with the new tires and wheels? What did you use to lift it more?

 

[trevmountain]

I put on an ORD 1" body and a zero rate to the spring pack in front. Larger block in the rear. The extra lift and adding a gearvendors meant I needed to address my angles so I went all out and had a custom cv shaft made from high angle drive line. Pinion is set perfect and absolute zero vibes. It's pretty sweet now and I just need to regear the truck now that I have overdrive. Truck is actually stripped down at the moment. Bed, fenders and hood are off. Going in for paint. I'm recoating the entire under side, wheel wells ect with KBS. I'll shoot some pics, actually should be documenting it anyway. It looks super sweet stripped down and it really shows how well the truck was done when everything is off. Not a speck of rust anywhere on her and with all the new goodies it looks sweet. Love the exhaust. Hats off to Jerry