Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Tailgate stops

For the tailgate (AD trucks) is there anything that prevents the tailgate from going all the way down to the bumper when you open it? Or are you just supposed to use the chains to hold it up when you open it? Has anyone found any method to not have the hooks dig into the tailgate when it’s open?

You can look to retrofit cables, or…
My truck came with a crease in the tailgate from someone opening it onto the bumper, I recently did a complete tailgate restore/repaint/ on that…

Since I dont want to be that guy that expects his wife or friends never to make the innocent mistake of not chaining it flat if they open the gate when I’m not looking..
I went with the MarK folding straps option, which require notching the inside edges of the tailgate, still have the chains to lock it when up, kinda would miss the exterior chain look though there are latch options out there, but as always, personal choice…….
Me and the wife tend to open it and sit and picnic at the few events we attend, so a strong strap and PPF made sense…
each their own
Ps, wife thought I was nuts to cut, punch, edge dye & stitch up the chain covers from some leather I had around…..an hours work, she’s prolly right…

Cool. That was exactly what I wanted to do. Keep the chains but have something that will simplify the opening process. The mar-k ones just seem so darn expensive for something so simple. So you have to cut the tailgate to make them work?

It’s more about the hooks to me. Just seems like any weight on the tailgate and the hooks would just dig right into the gate….

If you did all that leatherwork in an hour, I am super impressed. They look great; a lot better than the plastic chain covers I am used to seeing.

How did you like the Mar-K kit? I have looked at it a couple times and agree that it seems fairly expensive for what it is, but it is cheap compared to fixing or replacing a creased tailgate.

I also toyed with the idea of getting some tailgate cables from an 03-06 silverado and trying to retrofit them. It would be cheaper but a lot more work.

Here’s some for less. I may contact them and ask for the instructions. I don’t mind repainting the tailgate but I do not want repaint bed sides right now.

https://www.classicindustries.com/p...mwihEAQYBiABEgIAIfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I've put lots of weight on my tailgate and I've never had an issue with the hooks ...

The hooks are bent so when they are in the correct position they won't come into contact with the gate, you sure you have them installed correctly?

Not my first rodeo with leather, have done any number of vintage bicycle handlebars which are far more labor & complex with wetting, stretching the curves, and the brake levers in the way. I have all the tools that makes it go smoothly. PS: seemed like an hour, likely a bit more but not much
For me chain strength was not an issue, only that the hinge straps would be that strong.

MarK kit: nothing that remarkable but I trust them to have it right, looks same to me as the Classic Ind unit and same price as at Summitracing which is free shipping, they support Stovebolt so why not Mar-K. They carry SS and Galv so the expense is your choice, anything you do costs time $ unless you pick n pull….
I cut the inner tailgate recesses shorter and shallower than the template and only increased enough for the hinge to work properly, I consider nothing standard on my truck so I worked up to the correct length and depths, take your time….assume templates are universal so have extra space built that might be unnecessary.
Chuck

Hanks -

I often see sideboards that detract from a vintage truck because they are out of proportion - too small in size and mass. You did a fine job selecting the stock for yours.
Also - the bright finished wood goes well with the cream body color.

All in all , very well done.

It wouldn’t be the first time I missed a simple solution. What am I doing wrong?

Here's pics of how I do it; shape of hook doesn't gouge paint. You can sit on it without harm. I also like bicycle inner tubes for covers.

I think if you switch the chains to the opposite side of the truck it won't contact the paint if they are made right. I've seen this before where the R and L designations are stamped wrong. As Joe H said, the bend in the hook should prevent contact with the paint when you open the tailgate and hold it horizontal with the chains.

Mark

Right. So weird. Mine are clearly stamped L and R but looking at the pics from skooter I think I need to try swapping. Very peculiar. Thank you

The 47-53 hooks are not the same as the 54 hooks
Non of the photos above are the correct hook for the tailgate they are on
The photos all appear to be 54 hooks or newer
The 47-53 hooks have a 3d twist shape in them
They cannot lay flat

There are photos in previous threads about the shapes of the hooks and examples of correct shape and deformed shape side by side
The hooks weren’t the best design because just the slamming force of the tailgate can deform them
Many parts websites don’t know the difference between the different year hooks so their photos aren’t a great source for authenticity
-s

Added a photo of supposedly original correct shape 47-53 tailgate chains
Notice they are not as closed and the hook and loops are not in a flat plane
These are not my chains the photo is from a previous discussion
This topic has been done a few times before in the forums

Some pics of my original 54 3100 chain set-up. Chains had been repaired over the years but the hooks are original to the truck. Had this truck since new.

It may not be showing in my photos but mine are a 3D shape. The issue for me was that they were simply mislabeled L and R. It seems improbable but it’s true. I swapped them and the fit now makes sense. I think we are now just shamelessly posting close up pics of our tailgate paint jobs. 😁😁

Jethro…. “Had the truck since new”

Wowwwwww. That’s awesome 👍👍

50Shep,

In your first photo you hook the gate from the outside in.

Mine seems to naturally hook from the inside out. The indentation in the vertical part of the gate allows the hook and its base to nestle.

Obviously there is no right or wrong way but I was wondering if there are any factory photos showing which way Chevrolet intended the hook to be inserted.