The Cameo tailgate was a rotted mess. The step side tailgate had Chevrolet pressed into it so it also could not be used. I purchase a new blank tailgate and started making it into what I needed. The latches on the Cameo were in pretty rough shape, a spring was broken on one, and the pot metal release handles could not be restored. No aftermarket parts were available. I went to the Junk yard to find something that I could use for a latching mechanism. While shopping around I found a S-10 tailgate that seemed to have a good start to what I needed. When I got it home, I took it all apart and removed the latches and linkage. I cut the end caps put of the Cameo tailgate and welded them into the new blank. Then I modified the latches to bolt into the caps. I made a bell crank and decided to use a solenoid to pull the latches open. I purchased a remote control that could control a relay and wired it in. I didn’t have the chrome bow tie that mounted in the center of the Cameo tailgate outer skin so I decided to fill the holes and cut a bow tie into the lower center for a 3rd brake light. I did this because the Cameo tail lights were mounted so high because of it being a 4x4 that I wanted a brake light to be at a normal height so it would be seen from a normal point of view. I used a very bright led light for this purpose.
