tailgate

[chicken joe]

i have a 1976 k5 and i am in the process of having body work done. the inside has all been bedlined and when we were putting it back together my new tailgate from lmc truck doesnt fit. im looking for others who have used these tailgates and what they had to do to make it line up again. we have 1/8" gap on right side and very little gap on left, the guide plates we have been bending out slowly to line. and to top it off the latches are 1/8" to far away and dont catch when closed. any ideas and what has everyone else done

thanks in advance

 

[drew4x4]

i am swapping the tailgate on my k5.... my recommendation is to not use LMC for replacement metal - their quality has been constantly reported less then satisfactory when it comes to metal pieces. (as you are finding out)
instead... go to a pickapart or a junkyard and restore an older factory tailgate. thats the route i am taking.

 

[chicken joe]

once we took the tension off the helper springs it pretty much fell into place. i do have a bunch of pics but no idea how to post