Tailgate fitment Question??????????

[k5mudfreak]

I am having some trouble with my tailgate (aftermarket) fitting anywhere near close. Has anyone gone through this before? And can you give me any suggestions? I made a couple of spacer blocks to space the latches out to the tailgate hooks. But the replacement rubber still doesn't seem to be enough to fill the gaps.

Help!

Thanks for any info......

~B

 

[tRustyK5]

Your box sides are prolly spread. Measure the opening at the top of the box sides and at floor level. Ideally it should be the same measurement. Often the tailpan gets rusty and weak allowing the tops of the box sides to lean out...then the latches don't work and the rubber won't seal.

I just replaced my tailpan...what a PITA. My box sides were spread 1 1/2" at the top and I had to use a come-a-long on them to close the tailgate. /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif

Rene

 

[k5mudfreak]

I'm really sorry about not informing eveyone about the length of a rebuild that has actually took place here before I asked this question. I have replaced the entire rear section of the blazer ( rear floor, bed sides rear passenger foot floor, as well as the rockers and the main floorboards and front fenders.) THere is about an inch and a half of a gap on each side of the tailgate which I fabbed some aluminum spacers to space out the latches so that they will fit with the aftermarket tailgate. Even after the rubber seal is installed there is a gap.

Also, I need to get the sheet metal undercoated. ANy Ideas??

 

[ryoken]

honestly it sounds like something didn't go back together right somewhere in the floor/bedside area... hope you get it.. maybe a little comealong and strap action...

as far as undercoating goes, the best i've ever seen bar none is the stuff from 3M. white can with green lettering..

this stuff http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediawebserver.dyn?vvvvvvdbnGJvPZwvIZwvvvD1fGyVVVVU-

 

[tRustyK5]

Well, it sounds like someone forgot to measure the tailgate opening top and bottom when putting all that stuff together.

After redoing my tailpan my boxsides measure within 1/16" top and bottom and leave about 3/32" gap between the boxside and the tailgate on both sides.

Previous to the tailpan being fixed I needed a high-lift and a come-a-long to close my tailgate. The tailpan was mostly just bent from a wreck and wheeling without a tailgate than anything else.

Good luck, it sounds like you're gonna have to look at that area again to get it fixed right.

Rene

 

[xflatrater]

My aftermarket tailgate also has a very poor fit. Its not the bed its the gate!