(NEW) Tailgate latches -Where to find ?

[Lunatic]

They weren't back ordered until I decided to order them - Go figure

These are the latches that fit inside the sides of the tailgate. Can anyone point to an in stock merchant ?

I've been tracking about 5 different sites, watching the stock get pushed back....then back.....and.......back again. Summit is a daily monitor.

Numbers... Goodmark 4145-835-85L and 85R - Approximately $30.00 each

Links...

Goodmark Industries - "Out of Stock"

Summit left latch, Summit right latch - "Back-Ordered"

Just Truck Parts - Empty shopping cart costs 19.95 to ship.

American Muscle Car Parts - Supposed to be calling me with a "hands on stock" confirmation, showing only 1's in stock - AMC admitted to a 1 qty being a risky order due to inconsistent inventory records - I agreed. That was last week.

USA1 Industries left latch, USA1 Industries right latch - Canceled this order - After 3 weeks of nothing, not even a transaction charge - After I called them 20 times and finally got a breathing person, they admitted the back order and canceled immediately upon request.

Classic Parts left latch and right latch - They haven't returned an email inquiring as to their 140-150.00 parts - There was a good dialogue going until I asked that particular question.

LMC is out of the question.



Anyway - 1986 Jimmy - Can anyone help a brother out here ??




Thanks !




Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[90'K5]

Junk Yard

 

[diesel4me]

How about "Brothers" or "Harmons",or Classic Truck Parts ??..Hemmings has more truck parts places listed,those are just a few off the top of my head..

 

[Lunatic]

Junk Yard

I wasn't thinking when I posted the thread. I'm seeking new latches. Anything in the yard around here has wear on the actual latch arm - Leaving play in the tailgate. Correction made in thread title.

How about "Brothers" or "Harmons",or Classic Truck Parts ??..Hemmings has more truck parts places listed.

I'll be sure to look into your suggested sites - Thanks !



Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[Lunatic]

Brothers has them - At 170.00 each. Yeah - uh.....No thanks.

Harmons didnt show very much for a Blazer / Jimmy - They appear to supply more to the car enthusiast - Too bad.

Classic Trucks Parts mysteriously ties directly to LMC - They want 180.00 each.


Thanks for the new ideas though - Was worth a shot.

I have about 2 weeks remaining on my Jimmy's paint - Then I can still hold off until it is the last thing to do..... Maybe about 3-4 weeks before they're actually "needed" - Ive been looking since May 24.


This sucks !



Troy B
Ft Hood. TX

 

[4X4HIGH]

I think I might have a pair to sell you. I'll have to take a look first though if you're interested.

EDIT: Also just so you know, the truck and blazer latches ARE DIFFERENT.

I just checked and I don't have those anymore. FWIW Classic Parts list them as 11-338 (Blazer-Left) and 11-339 (Blazer-Right) and are 139.95 and 149.95 respectively.

http://www.classicparts.com/1978-91-Tailgate-Latch-Assembly-Blazer/productinfo/11-338/

http://www.classicparts.com/1982-91-Tailgate-Latch-Assembly-Blazer/productinfo/11-339/

 

[Lunatic]

The different latches - Yeah - Between pick up truck and blazer. Its one of the reasons I wont do a blind order.


The Classic Parts info you provided - Thanks. I don't know why, but for what ever reason above, in the initial post - I call them Car Parts.....I'll need to change that. I was stating the price from memory, but now you've provided the actual.

Funny thing, I still haven't received a reply from "Alex" of classic parts.


I'm thinking I'll just end up dis-assembling the latches, and fabricating the worn latch arm and then re-assembling. A bit dramatic, but not 300.00 (insane).

Summit has responded stating that their latch inventory is a special order item, ordered from the distributor once the order is placed. And, of course, the ship date is still cycling further and further......8/22 last I checked.


Thanks for stopping in 4x4HIGH, 'preciate the input.





Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[90'K5]

I wasn't thinking when I posted the thread. I'm seeking new latches. Anything in the yard around here has wear on the actual latch arm - Leaving play in the tailgate. Correction made in thread title.



Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

I'm sure most have play. Once you install the seals any play should be gone.

 

[Lunatic]

The latch arms have worn slots in them. In combination with the worn striker plates, there's a little more than 1/4" play on the tailgate. I have new striker plates already - That was the easy part apparently.

Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[Lunatic]

 

[4X4HIGH]

I would suggest welding up the wore out part then carefully get a small grinder to shape it correctly and be done OR find a good set at your closest junk yard.

 

[ryoken]

i think i have a very clean used set if you want me to look...

 

[Lunatic]

Thanks Ryoken - Please do.





Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[496truck]

I would suggest welding up the wore out part then carefully get a small grinder to shape it correctly and be done OR find a good set at your closest junk yard.

x2 ^

Now I'm gonna go look at mine and see if they are worn like yours. And if they are, the mig's coming out.

 

[Fordum]

Well, I'm going to throw in an idea that I have no business doing. I have no GM products to check on this with, and I'm going by memory.

That latch piece looks really familiar. Over the years, I have adjusted latches on lots of different types of vehicles, and that shape is real common.

With that much wear, the pivot bolt or rivet for it is going to be worn too.
My idea is to compare just the worn part with other model latches. A car company loses profits when it has to design and build a special part for different models. So, they tend to do as much part sharing across model lines as they can.

The entire latch as a whole might be different, but that does not mean it doesn't share parts with others.

If so, you might find a unworn latch in a junkyard off a newer model, grind off the head of the rivet and replace just the arm.

You really need to pull that part out anyway if you are going to weld it up to keep from drawing the temper on the spring.

Putting it back in will be tricky. You almost certainly will not be able to use a bolt because the head and nut will stick out too far.
A dome head brad on type rivet might work, but I would think about a countersink or dome headed stripper bolt.
Cut the threaded end off close and spread it with a chisel.

BTW, like the 'possum, but I miss the Cheetah...

 

[Lunatic]

Hey Fordum - You always make sense.

I didn't consider the cross ref possibility. I may check the yard if it comes down to that. Right now I'm almost stuck on the idea of fabricating the part. I'll be popping the one rivet on each latch tonight and taking pics - It really is a simple piece to make.

The rivet will be replaced with a shallow head pin, with an E-clip on the other end - It can't get much cleaner than that (Less obstruction than the original rivet).


I felt that the cheetah should move on - Its been on duty for about a year now. I like the possum, but really only put it there for the change. I have a similar one to the cheetah though....lol




Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[Fordum]

Without knowing what is on the other end of that piece, I can't say for sure, but if you had one for a pattern, it would be a no-brainer for a wire EDM machine.
Or heck a regular CNC milling machine would make short work out of it.

For that matter, time, patience, a hacksaw and dremal tool would do it.

At about $170 a pop for new, there might be some money in a rebuild kit. You could charge $60 for a new part, pin, and instructions..........

 

[Lunatic]

So who knew the left and right latches were identical ?? Still simple in design, and should be easy enough to duplicate.

The solution for the pins, however, changed real quick when I popped the first one out. But, it just became even easier to retrofit. I'm going to drill and tap the top (where the pin was crushed, and now flat) with a fine thread for a pan screw with lock tight.

It would be a good investment IMHO for an individual to market a repair kit. But that's without knowing the costs for everything involved.





Troy B
Ft Hood, TX

 

[ryoken]

and selling 3 a year.... if lucky...

i would question how long a repair or homemade piece would last.. ground down mig wont be overly durable...

i will peak out in the yard tomorrow to see how that set i have is..

 

[Lunatic]

Thanks again Ryoken. Being that they're in the yard, there's actually a chance of finding them. Had you stashed them in the dungeon though......




I'm going to use steel for mine if your pair leave me empty handed. Maybe even 3/16 (These are 1/8). I'll check measures prior to the fab though.

What makes you think a fab'd latch wont last or be as durable ? I agree about the welding fix - That would seem to only be a temporary fix. But a fresh, one piece mirror of the latch ?



And for those that suggested a pick/pull yard - I did look already. One Blazer - Tailgate already opened (Access panel off), with a hornets nest inside. But the latches were worse off than my own regardless. Fordum gives the idea of taking a walk - I may still try that also.




Troy B
Ft Hood, TX