The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 46 Art Deco 1/2 ton tailgate

Okay, I'm now starting on the tailgate on my 46 1/2 ton and you'll have to forgive me but how in heck does the tailgate come off. The hinges seem like there welded on. Can anyone help and advise.
I am a little experienced in bodywork but this one is a teaser. Thanks
Bob T

Hinges should only be bolted.

Yup, each hinge is supposed to have two bolts into the rear stake pockets, on mine one is a through bolt with a nut on the inside of the stake pocket and the other goes into a tapped hole in the stake pocket frame.

No doubt yours could be welded; no telling what “repairs” could have been made in the past

Thanks for the info, I'll take another look for any bolts but whomever welded it did a darn good job. I just would hate to have to cut it out and start over.
Bob T

bobt,

If your hinges did get welded on over the years, and you are planning on taking the box apart, the tail gate will drop off when you separate the box walls from the bed floor...not sure how bad you want the tailgate off, but just a thought..

I am working on removing the grain gate from the back of my tail gate...I will probably have to scrap the whole gate. The gate was warped when the hole was cut and the grain gate parts were welded in....oh well...what the heck is another 160 bucks in this project...