Tailpan, tailgate hinge repair.

[nwcustoms]

Thanks for the help guys! Very helpful. The 4" seems closer to what I need. Should find out this weekend, unless work calls

 

[swettysblazer]

So correct me if I am wrong here, but you are using the box tubing in place of an aftermarket tail pan, correct?

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Yep. Guys have been doing that for years. Either that or angle iron.

 

[swettysblazer]

Seems like a way better option than doing the tailpan. Stronger, plus not having to deal with the Chinese crap.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Yep.

Done right and painted well it doesn't look far from stock.

Done cheaply and unpainted it'll still last a hell of a lot longer than sheet metal.

 

[nwcustoms]

Update, filler piece tacked, bed upright tacked, did have to jack body up to get measurements right. Side note, dont forget 2" holes in the ends of 2"x3" to feed lights thru.

 

[nwcustoms]

Here you can see the accuracy of those LMC parts. They were 1/8". Wider than my originals. Had to cut down center and narrow. What a time consuming process!!! Wish i had a plasma.

 

[919jackass]

 

[nwcustoms]

Ok, right side bed support tacked in.

 

[nwcustoms]

Now to check tailgate and weld hinges. I removed latch catches from bed side, and bolted the hinges to the gate just tight enough to adjust by hand but not loose.

 

[nwcustoms]

Next we lifted tail gate into position and let it hang from the alignment pins, pictured here

 

[nwcustoms]

Used some washers as shims to raise gate 1/8". Then folded the base of hinge up to meet the 2"x3". It should be very apparent if gate needs to go up or down because the entire surface of hinge should be square and flat against the 2"x3". Then tacked the hinges, open close checking for rubbing

 

[nwcustoms]

Ok, got 2x3 drilled and tapped. For 3/8 stainless bolts. Note about that. I knew that i would have drill out the holes on the hinges to get a bolt through. So did that first. But by doing that before drilling for tapping caused my pilot bit to walk, wich meant that the holes did not match perfectly. I should have left hinges alone, tack welded where i wanted them, then drill pilot hole thru hinge, 2/8 spacer and 2x3. Then take hinge off, and finish drilling out the hinge threads. Cause it was a royal pain to get bolts in that dont line up!!

 

[nwcustoms]

Ok, one last piece, then paint tomorrow!!!

 

[Deuling]

Your doing some great work. Keep it up man!!

 

[nwcustoms]

Thanks!! Don't know how i am going to seal off the ribs of the bed floor yet. Cant see spending over $200 to lmc for floor back halves when i only need the end. :$

 

[Deuling]

Go to a junk yard and hack a piece out of the back of an old pickup bed floor

 

[nwcustoms]

Ya, might have to do that, not super concerned what it looks like, covered by carpet, and its a wheeler.

 

[76zimmer]

seam sealer will fill in those gaps, I would hammer them down and then go over with the sealer, it dries pretty firm and can be painted...3M stuff worked well for me.
Put some on the underside as well to keep sh!t from getting up in the seam, unlike GM when they built them.

 

[nwcustoms]

Ya, kinda the direction i was thinking to. Will see what happens, trying to get going for this weekend, then see what happens to finish it off.