So as I continue to peel back the layers of this truck, i got stuck in to the tailgate. It had a rubber matting covering the inner.
From a previous question we had found that there was no original weatherstripping and brackets had been removed
So I pulled off the rubber matting, held by so much glue and so many screws, to find a piece of styrene board attached to tailgate, by again so many screws. I attempted to remove the screws using a rust penetrant, but was mostly unsuccessful. So i did next best thing and started breaking pieces of it off only to find spray foam on tailgate.
I swear a previous owner must have owned a hardware store.
I am planning to take truck to body shop later this week for work on drivers side outer rocker and A pillar for door hinge issue. Will discuss if tailgate is salvageable, as there are so many screw holes to fill