| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
1 members (classicchevs),
101
guests, and
2
robots. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,093 Posts1,056,474 Members48,444 | | Most Online14,466
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!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 237 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 237 | I am begining to start restoring the tailgate on my 1946 Suburban.
It is a 2 piece unit welded together with one access plate for the latch assembly.
I hate to cut it open and with the exception of one easily repaired rusted area around one hinge I do not have any serious issues to address.
Having said that I think I need to rust proof the interior of the tail gate and seal up the wood frame work inside.
My initial thought is to drill 3 holes in the bottom and do my best to flush and clean out the interior and then seal the inside with fuel tank sloshing compound/sealer.
After that I would seal the holes I drilled with plugs/drains to avoid any moisture problems in the future.
Does anybody have any experience, suggestions or comments on how I could do this better/differently? | | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 321 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2007 Posts: 321 | Hey Dave. Well, I am just thinking out loud here since I have never had to deal with a 46 gate, however I have had to get inside doors.
I guess you could drill access holes and get one of those rustproofing wands to get in those spots to spray in whatever material you think suits the project. That may work.
Is the skin in good enough shape to peel back and separate and then hammer and dolly the skin back on again? That would definitely take some extra talent, but I am not sure how far you want to go.
Lastly, what about cutting some larger access holes and welding them back in place in strategic spots?
Those were my ideas for a Thursday morning! :-) | | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 237 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 237 | Thanks for the suggestions Patrick. The less invasive I am the better.
The only access panel in the whole unit is a 4 X 4 inch panel at the top center of the tailgate. This panel allows access to the tail gate latch bars.
Due to the wood framing inside I can not see the entire inside of the assembly. That is why I decided to drill access holes at the bottom where I can later plug the holes with removeable plugs and then cover them with new weather stripping.
There were only 59 of these built in 1946 so finding another tail gate would be imposible. | | |
|
|
| |
