Squarebody truck tailgate tech

[kennyw]

Can you spot all the differences in 1973-87 Chevy truck tailgates and hardware?

1973-74
Guide bars at the top of the tailgate.
Matching slot in the truck bedside.
Non- slotted female cups welded to tailgates (tailgate does not lift out)



1975-76
Slotted female cups added for the tailgate to lift out. Otherwise, identical to 73-74.

1977-80
Guide bars integrated into latch assembly
Slot in bedside removed
Slotted cup on passenger side allows tailgate to lift out at an angle without removing trunnion
Male passenger side trunnion flat on two sides



1981-87
Rubber bumpers changed
Smaller male trunnions
Female cups now bolt on rather than weld on

 

[rampage]

I didn’t know there was a difference. Good to know.

 

[kennyw]

I didn’t know there was a difference. Good to know.

That may not even be the full list, but it covers most of the functional differences.

 

[onetonbb74]

The 81 and up gate is thicker and beefier then the 73 to 80 gate. The 70s gates kink easier in the middle.

 

[nvrenuf]

THIS ^^ type of stuff is why forums are far, FAR superior to other social media platforms. Sadly the forum scoffing generation(s) won’t understand that until it’s too late.

 

[obijuank5]

That is some serious gourmet tech

 

[Chickntrk]

I learned more here today than anywhere else I went

 

[skunked]

I could have used this info a few years ago when I was trying to track down hinges for my 74.

 

[muddybuddy]

now @kennyw sell me a clean 75-80 tailgate

Thank you for sharing, cheers

 

[kennyw]

now @kennyw sell me a clean 75-80 tailgate

Thank you for sharing, cheers

I just sold the last extra one yesterday, it was rust free but had a good bow in it. However, even if you liked it, shipping would have cost more than a new aftermarket tailgate.

 

[muddybuddy]

Ah! And a nice band to go with it.

 

[Blue85]

I had some pictures of 2 styles in here: https://ck5.com/forums/threads/swapping-k5-to-truck-tailgate-and-lift-glass.334230/

 

[CharlieC]

I’m looking around for a good 75+, why do folks knock those tabs off at the top that go into the bed side when closed? The last two I looked at were like that. Those tabs I don‘t think are reproduced.

Charlie

 

[USSkoval]

I’m looking around for a good 75+, why do folks knock those tabs off at the top that go into the bed side when closed? The last two I looked at were like that. Those tabs I don‘t think are reproduced.

Charlie

I'm betting that the locating tabs on those '73-'74 tailgates have caused a lot of bodily harm. I'd cut them off too (and install the later latch setup with built-in locators).

 

[kennyw]

I updated the first post, I left out 75-76. They still had the locator tab at the top of the tailgate but added the lift out, Slotted trunnion. I'll get pics of my 76 this weekend.