Need Help: 1973 K5 Blazer Tailgate Torque Rod Mounting Hardware / Setup

[Thompson101]

I'm working on the tailgate torque rods on my 1973 K5 Blazer, and I'm having trouble getting them correctly anchored to the frame-side brackets.
My Setup & The Problem:

• My factory triangular frame brackets are mounted, but the holes where the anchor pins are supposed to live are completely unthreaded.
• The original pins were missing, so I tried using a standard hardware-store shoulder bolt (pushed through from the back) and a hex nut to hold the rod loop on.
• The issue: The torque rod loop doesn't want to stay on the shoulder bolt when I open the tailgate. It seems like the rod isn't twisting cleanly or it binds, forcing the loop to walk sideways and pop right off the bolt/nut.

I’ve attached photos showing the front and back of my bracket with the hardware removed, the loose torque rod, and the specific shoulder bolt I am currently trying to use.

 

[Thompson101]

I'm working on the tailgate torque rods on my 1973 K5 Blazer, and I'm having trouble getting them correctly anchored to the frame-side brackets.
My Setup & The Problem:

• My factory triangular frame brackets are mounted, but the holes where the anchor pins are supposed to live are completely unthreaded.
• The original pins were missing, so I tried using a standard hardware-store shoulder bolt (pushed through from the back) and a hex nut to hold the rod loop on.
• The issue: The torque rod loop doesn't want to stay on the shoulder bolt when I open the tailgate. It seems like the rod isn't twisting cleanly or it binds, forcing the loop to walk sideways and pop right off the bolt/nut.

I’ve attached photos showing the front and back of my bracket with the hardware removed, the loose torque rod, and the specific shoulder bolt I am currently trying to use.

I could not add photos for reference