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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 19 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 19 | Hi everyone,
I need to remove my tailgate (its a 54) and put on a new one with new hinges, chains, etc. How to get the old one off? I thought about cutting the bolts with a sawsall, but that will undoubtedly damage the body. the hinge just turns and turns, bolt rusted pretty good. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 452 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 452 | I can't remember exactly how that goes together, but have you thought of drilling the head and shaft off? Or, could you squeeze the hinge trunion inside the tailgate with a great-big-huge pair of vice-grips to help get some torque on the bolt?
Current fleet (subject to change w/o notice) \'49 GMC 3/4-Ton , 60 Austin Healey Frog-eye Sprite (some assembly required), 2011 Dodge Avenger, 2015 Jeep Cherokee. No, they don't all run. My other ride is a (B737)no, (B767)no, A320.... Update... was Embraer E190, now Boeing B787. Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but ignorance means you don't know you can't do something.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,299 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,299 | HorVath has a very good posting on that subject here on this site. I think there are holes in the bottom of the tailgate that you stab something through to keep trunion from turning as you remove the bolts. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,188 Insomniac | | Insomniac Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,188 | There is a slot in the trunion that you can insert a screwdriver in to stop it from turning. I twisted the bolts off on both sides getting the tailgate off, so I need new trunions and bolts. Use lots of WD40 and hope for the best.
Gord 🇨🇦
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1954 1/2 ton 235 4 speed
| | | | | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 1,271 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2003 Posts: 1,271 | I had a bit of an ordeal figuring out how to remove mine, but I got lucky: Read This I hope that helps.
~~ Alan Horvath 1954 Chevy PickupSinging his praises in thePassing Lane | | | | | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 355 Member | | Member Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 355 | Gord is right. Spray the whole thing with WD 40. Then, slip a screwdriver into the slot on the trunion and use a breaker bar to turn the bolt. Should twist right out. I replaced the bolt and trunion before replacing the repainted tailgate. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11 | No you are all wrong, you send a 10 yr old child out there to "play" and with any luck the next time you go to take the bolts off they will already be removed and it will tumble off when a slight breeze hits it. Thats what happened to my Dad when he went to take his off! What a shocked look on his face! He struggled with those old rusty bolts for days-spraying everything he could find on them, took the top ones off and wham a trip to the hospital with two broken toes. I guess my sister thought she would help! The moral of this story: Don't ever rant and rave around your kids about your stuck tailgate-you may get what you wish for!
Lori
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 19 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 19 | Wow, thanks everyone for the tips, I knew there must be a trick to it. Alan, the pics helped. Thats a beautiful 54 , Kimberly . One day I'll paint mine like, ONE color.... G man. | | |
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