Tailgate sheet metal has a big hole in it!

[AuH2O]

I have a tailgate for an 80's K5 where the outer sheet metal is badly rusted through in two places to the point where it's not really feasible to fix it. So I ordered a repro through a local vendor to be welded on as a replacement. (I know there are also both repro and OEM complete tailgate shells, but the rest of this one is in good condition and doesn't need changing; and besides, a lot of parts would have to be refitted. Not to mention it costs much more...)

Anyway, when I got the metal, they'd cut a big square hole where the lock cylinder and mounting pad is supposed to be fitted. So, only way I could get this to look the way it should is to cut the protusion around the lock from the old tailgate skin and weld it on the new one (which is not an option, since that's where one of the rust holes is). Or, am I supposed to buy this little part as a separate piece of sheet metal and weld that on? And if so why wouldn't they just make the metal in one piece to begin with? Not to mention it probably wouldn't be all too easy to get a good result welding that in place... Did anybody mess up on this, and where do I go from here? The vendor guy didn't know but were gonna ask the manufacturing company (I think they're Canadian), and in the mean time I'm asking you. Here's a picture of the tailgate skin in question, with its rather poorly cut square:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3637/k5blazertailgateskinml2.jpg

And here's a tailgate replacement from Auto Parts Warehouse for comparison:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/domestic/images/replacement/6796.jpg

What say you?

 

[Pookster]

So weird, I dunno, I never used one, but that hump seems mighty important..

I have a tailgate for an 80's K5 where the outer sheet metal is badly rusted through in two places to the point where it's not really feasible to fix it. So I ordered a repro through a local vendor to be welded on as a replacement. (I know there are also both repro and OEM complete tailgate shells, but the rest of this one is in good condition and doesn't need changing; and besides, a lot of parts would have to be refitted. Not to mention it costs much more...)

Anyway, when I got the metal, they'd cut a big square hole where the lock cylinder and mounting pad is supposed to be fitted. So, only way I could get this to look the way it should is to cut the protusion around the lock from the old tailgate skin and weld it on the new one (which is not an option, since that's where one of the rust holes is). Or, am I supposed to buy this little part as a separate piece of sheet metal and weld that on? And if so why wouldn't they just make the metal in one piece to begin with? Not to mention it probably wouldn't be all too easy to get a good result welding that in place... Did anybody mess up on this, and where do I go from here? The vendor guy didn't know but were gonna ask the manufacturing company (I think they're Canadian), and in the mean time I'm asking you. Here's a picture of the tailgate skin in question, with its rather poorly cut square:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3637/k5blazertailgateskinml2.jpg

And here's a tailgate replacement from Auto Parts Warehouse for comparison:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/domestic/images/replacement/6796.jpg

What say you?

 

[dremu]

Maybe the skin also fits the pickup tailgates, which have the handle there?

-- A

 

[4WheelCowboy]

Maybe the skin also fits the pickup tailgates, which have the handle there?

-- A

I agree looks like a trucks.

 

[southernspeed]

I've got one of those . I guess you're supposed to cut out your lock assembly and weld it into the new metal. I never got around to using mine for my old '78.

 

[enginenine]

Looks like a pretty crappy panel. Maybe its the angle of the pic but it doesn't look like the body lines are the same.

 

[nvrenuf]

Instead of trying to transfer over the handle area, why not use what ever portion of the skin you need and scrap the rest? Most likely, the rusted area on the original is along the bottom so it would seem easier to cut it somewhere in the middle and use the lower section. If you have the tailgate trim it would cover any noticable part of the seam.

 

[Blue85]

Truck, Suburban and Blazer/Jimmy should all have different skins. If the vendor doesn't offer three different ones, then something is wrong.

 

[4WheelCowboy]

Truck, Suburban and Blazer/Jimmy should all have different skins. If the vendor doesn't offer three different ones, then something is wrong.

Blazer and/Jimmy same. Tailgate from truck same as blazer but no window. The rear 1/4 panels are same shape as a truck. So wouldn't it be Suburban (1)and truck, Blazer Jimmy (2)?

So like two different styles?

 

[nvrenuf]

Truck gates are very different from the others. Subs look similar to Blazers & Jimmys but again are different.

1/4 panels for the 3 groups are also different once you gt back to the taillamp area.

 

[Blue85]

Blazer and/Jimmy same. Tailgate from truck same as blazer but no window. The rear 1/4 panels are same shape as a truck. So wouldn't it be Suburban (1)and truck, Blazer Jimmy (2)?

So like two different styles?

The truck and K5 tailgates are the same height and can be interchanged, (although I don't know what you would do with a roll-up window on the back of a pickup), but the sheet metal is still different. For one thing, trucks have the latch on the inside, K5s have the keyswitch or crank mechanism on the outside. You might think a Sub tailgate (i.e. not "barn doors") would be the same as a K5, bu the sub window is shorter, so the tailgate is taller.

I never intended to imply that Blazer and Jimmy would be different.

So again, all three are different. Only the fronts interchange: hood, fenders, doors, grill, etc.

 

[AuH2O]

I've got one of those . I guess you're supposed to cut out your lock assembly and weld it into the new metal. I never got around to using mine for my old '78.

Yeah, there's really no other explanation than that that's what they meant for you to do. Why I don't know. Is it that diffcult to manyfacture a complete sheet metal with that bump in it? Thing is, the 'lock bump' is one of the areas rusted through, so salvaging the old piece really isn't an option. Which begs the question, do they sell new 'lock bumps' separately? Again, it seems stupid.

Looks like a pretty crappy panel. Maybe its the angle of the pic but it doesn't look like the body lines are the same.

Except for the big square hole, it is actually an accurate match with the original panel, so no complaints there.

Instead of trying to transfer over the handle area, why not use what ever portion of the skin you need and scrap the rest? Most likely, the rusted area on the original is along the bottom so it would seem easier to cut it somewhere in the middle and use the lower section. If you have the tailgate trim it would cover any noticable part of the seam.

Yeah, I wish. No, on this tailgate skin pretty much the complete upper edge closest to the window is rusted through, and there's also a big gaping hole where the DIESEL 6.2L emblem used to be located. Add to that the aforementioned rust on the lock hump. Plus there's rust at the bottom too, so I really need a complete shell.

Still haven't heard back from the vendor though. But it's definitely a Blazer/Jimmy skin, as stated on this sticker on the back (edited for contrast). Also says Made in Canada. Figures...