Hey Everybody, Time for an update. I've been in a steel cage death match with the tail gate for a couple of weeks. Finally, I prevailed...sort of. My tail gate is really beat up. During its life before I owned this truck, it had the driver side, formed part removed and a "field repair" made to keep the truck working. It also suffered a huge hit in the center that ran from top to bottom of the tail gate. Net result was that it was bent. Kinda like a board that is racked. In turn, it bent the brackets that the tailgate rotates on (hinges). Once I repaired the bedsides and squared up the sides, the tail gate no longer fit. I replaced the tail gate hinges, straightened out the actual tail gate and made a few welds to the passenger side formed part of the tail gate. When installed, it did not fit at all! Turns out the formed part was misaligned when welded on (by a previous owner). I hadn't noticed until I attempted to reattach it. So...pulled it off, used a cutoff wheel and undid my welds and the previous owner's welds and then properly aligned the formed part of the bed. I mounted the tail gate and then welded the formed part in place. Now, it fits! In fact, it moves like butter! Is my tail gate still sad? YES! It is a part of the truck, though and it can still serve its purpose. So, this is how we'll roll.
