Tailgate Mod Idea...Opinions or Ideas?

[AaronJen]

So I'm getting a little further along on my '90 K5, and I've been debating on whether or not to try and find a truck tailgate like many on here have done, or modify the stock tailgate to save that cash for other things.

I don't really need the "seal" function of the stocker, since I don't plan on running the hard top ever again, but I got to thinking about a possible future soft top, and had an idea. Just looking for opinions or ideas, since a search didn't turn anything specific up.

I was thinking of retaining the stock opening mechanism, but removing the glass and associated hardware, and filling in the gap in the top of the tailgate. My thinking is that 1) I save the cost of a truck tailgate and the time/labor to find parts and swap it, 2) I get rid of some of the weight from the tailgate, 3) I retain the sealing function of the stock gate if I ever do get a soft top.

Anyone done this or am I on the wrong track and it's more trouble than it's worth?

 

[muddermilitia]

Sounds like a lot of work for not much gain. Truck tailgates aren't that expensive. I got mine for $40, it does have a small rust spot but not that bad. I still need to hit up the junkyard for the remaining parts needed. What "seal" function are you referring to? I have a softopper and will be getting rid of the k5 tailgate soon.

 

[496truck]

You answered your own question. You don't need the glass, but still want a working gate. Just remove the guts. Simple as that. No money spent, no modifications, no paint matching.

 

[ryoken]

if it's never getting a hardtop back on it, and you can find a clean one at a reasonable price, just go with the p.u tailgate IMO..

FAR cleaner install than a gutted K5 one with something covering the top hole up... no purpose in the glass for a softtop anyway, as they all have an isenglass back window...

I just bought the trunions and link assemblies to mount mine... new from LMC it all cost me about $80... luckily a gracious member sent me his clean p.u gate for shipping costs..

 

[AaronJen]

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess what I was getting at, and I could have explained a little better, was the tailgate sealing aspect. If I ever did put a soft top on and enclose the passenger compartment, won't I run into issues with fumes getting in there without the truck tailgate being sealed like the stock one?

I thought I read somewhere that this is a common issue. Maybe I'm confusing something else. What I do remember is my buddy's hardtop '74 Bronco. Stopping at a red light would make your eyes water instantly. Just didn't want that situation to happen with the wife and little man in there. Makes for no fun.

 

[ryoken]

not sure what you mean by sealed... the softtops have a back window that is attached at the tailgate..

 

[AaronJen]

I'm talking about the actual seal/weatherstripping that runs all the way around the bottom of the stock tailgate and up the sides.

 

[ryoken]

if it's an issue, i see no reason why the K5 weatherstrip couldn't be added to the pickup one... the jambs are identical... i have both downstairs and can verify...

for the record, if the exhaust makes your eyes water instantly, it's not running right.... plus, the exhaust should exit out behind the tires, not straight out the back...

I drove around for 2 summers with the softtop on, no back window, and never noticed a thing...

 

[blazinzuk]

If I ever did put a soft top on and enclose the passenger compartment, won't I run into issues with fumes getting in there without the truck tailgate being sealed like the stock one?

What Paul said, if your exhaust runs out the back the fumes will come right in. But if your exhaust exits to the side they will not come in.

All exhausts on convertible trucks need to be out of the side towards the rear of the truck

 

[pmpski_1]

What's the weight difference between the truck tailgate and the Blazer tailgate? I have an old STC softop and thought about doing the same thing, but I would need to add the snaps for the rear window.

Seems like a good way to lose a couple pounds.

 

[blazinzuk]

Even without the glass and internals I bet you would loose a solid 40 lbs by going to a pickup tailgate. Blazer tailgates are heavy beasts

 

[Blue85]

I haven't compared the two side by side to know if the sealing surface is the same, but the seal for a K5 gate is available from Classic Parts and it is just applied with adhesive. With a K5 gate, sealing the hole shouldn't be that difficult. There is probably some kind of weatherstrip or rubber stuff that could be installed in the gap for a decent look without having to fiberglass the gap and do paint/bodywork. The biggest advantage of the K5 gate is that the paint is already done.

Do you have any preference for the handle on the inside vs. outside?

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Slight hijack but what needs to be done to put a pickup truck tailgate on?

Really starting to think about saving up for a soft top and if I did that the hard top would never go back on since I only drive it in the spring, summer, and fall.

 

[AaronJen]

Well, I looked at my tailgate last night and thought a little more about it. Based upon the feedback from everybody, I'm thinking I may just pull the glass and associated stuff for now, since it won't cost me anything, and maybe keep an eye out for a nice tailgate to add later to lose some more weight.

I really appreciate the tip about the exhaust. You guys nailed that one. The PO had duals run straight out the back with big a$$ echo tips. They'll get the and the whole exhaust reworked to a single out the side when I get to that point.

As for the watery eyes--that Bronco definitely needed a tuneup, but that's someone else's problem now. The Blazer doesn't give me watery eyes, I just don't want to take a permanent nap at the wheel from the carbon monoxide getting in there.

 

[muddermilitia]

if it's never getting a hardtop back on it, and you can find a clean one at a reasonable price, just go with the p.u tailgate IMO..

FAR cleaner install than a gutted K5 one with something covering the top hole up... no purpose in the glass for a softtop anyway, as they all have an isenglass back window...

I just bought the trunions and link assemblies to mount mine... new from LMC it all cost me about $80... luckily a gracious member sent me his clean p.u gate for shipping costs..

Trunions? what all needs to be aquired to mount the truck gate? Im planning on hitting up the junkyard in a few weeks

Also, I believe the hard top is in the neighborhood of 250 lbs. Soft top prolly weighs around 40lbs. So you would knock off around 200lbs. Then swap the tailgate for an additional 100ish lbs. Those blazer gates are heavy SOBs!

 

[ryoken]

trunnions are the "male" side of the hinge that bolt to the c-post...

then ya have the female hinge that bolts to the tailgate...

pu gate's use a link assembly on each side, instead of the stupid cables the K5's use...

so basically the minimum you need to have is the hinge on the gate, the trunnion on the post, and a link assembly on each side...

here's the pu LMC page....


http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=30

 

[Polski-Chevy]

To anyone's knowledge, have ya seen a tire gate like the one pictured used on a K5 yet?

 

[Brown75K5]

Not sure who's this is but I came across this pic

 

[Jessie James]

FWIW, I'd leave it stock. If you want to sell it you lose value for not having it intact, and frankly you're not losing enough weight to make any kind of difference on one of our trucks.