Junkyard score! Lift and tail gate! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Brad54 · 03-11-2014, 01:01 AM

Was at a junkyard I've crawled through A LOT this past Saturday. Lots of '50s and '60s cars, one dead '61 Panel with nothing salvageable but the roof, a '61 Apache 40 stake bed that I want to buy, and a '61 bus with a dead hood and headlight bezels.

Came around a turn on a path, and saw a Knee Knocker door laying up against a tree. Looked at it, and the whole bottom was rotted away. Next to it, against another tree, was a Chevy Suburban tail gate. Took a look at it, and the damn thing was solid! Had the "Chevrolet" license plate housing too (which I tried to find for a couple years and could never get one for less than $125).
While I'm looking at it, my friend says "Here's the lift gate... the glass looks like it's still good..." and he starts moving pine straw and leaves off it--it was laying flat on the ground, and buried in pinestraw and leaves. He tipped it up, and it was actually recessed into the ground--and damned if it wasn't solid too!

There were actually plant roots growing in the rubber weather stripping.

Both of them were filled with dirt and sand, but they are solid.

The kid that works at the yard said they'd been laying there on the ground for at least 10 years, and another guy said they were there since he started there 15 years ago--they knew RIGHT where they were. Everyone was surprised they were useable, never mind not needing any rust repair.

$100 and they came home with me. I didn't even talk them down... and I should have, because I usually do. But I was so excited to get them, I didn't think about it.

Now I've got three complete lift gate/tail gate assemblies to sort through and choose the best of; Two Chevy, one GMC.
I'm converting my '61 from barn doors to tail gate. One of the sets came with the whole last 18 inches of the truck, frame rails and all, to give me the lower hinge mounts and tail panel.

-Brad

lucifer · 03-11-2014, 06:37 AM

great score at a super price. I am jealous.

regards

1963c-10 · 03-11-2014, 08:52 AM

Nice score Brad!!!!

MikeS. · 03-11-2014, 05:33 PM

Nice find!

lc1111 · 03-13-2014, 10:05 PM

I need a lift gate guild if you have one you would sale me thank larry

justinf4 · 03-19-2014, 11:36 PM

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03-11-2014, 01:01 AM	#1
Brad54 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 1,456	Junkyard score! Lift and tail gate! Was at a junkyard I've crawled through A LOT this past Saturday. Lots of '50s and '60s cars, one dead '61 Panel with nothing salvageable but the roof, a '61 Apache 40 stake bed that I want to buy, and a '61 bus with a dead hood and headlight bezels. Came around a turn on a path, and saw a Knee Knocker door laying up against a tree. Looked at it, and the whole bottom was rotted away. Next to it, against another tree, was a Chevy Suburban tail gate. Took a look at it, and the damn thing was solid! Had the "Chevrolet" license plate housing too (which I tried to find for a couple years and could never get one for less than $125). While I'm looking at it, my friend says "Here's the lift gate... the glass looks like it's still good..." and he starts moving pine straw and leaves off it--it was laying flat on the ground, and buried in pinestraw and leaves. He tipped it up, and it was actually recessed into the ground--and damned if it wasn't solid too! There were actually plant roots growing in the rubber weather stripping. Both of them were filled with dirt and sand, but they are solid. The kid that works at the yard said they'd been laying there on the ground for at least 10 years, and another guy said they were there since he started there 15 years ago--they knew RIGHT where they were. Everyone was surprised they were useable, never mind not needing any rust repair. $100 and they came home with me. I didn't even talk them down... and I should have, because I usually do. But I was so excited to get them, I didn't think about it. Now I've got three complete lift gate/tail gate assemblies to sort through and choose the best of; Two Chevy, one GMC. I'm converting my '61 from barn doors to tail gate. One of the sets came with the whole last 18 inches of the truck, frame rails and all, to give me the lower hinge mounts and tail panel. -Brad __________________ '61 Suburban daily driver: off the road due to 180-pound 8-pt buck! '62 K-10 long-step project '61 C30 Camper, aka "Valdez" There's no cool like Old School

03-11-2014, 06:37 AM	#2
lucifer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: simcoe ontario canada Posts: 681	Re: Junkyard score! Lift and tail gate! great score at a super price. I am jealous. regards __________________ 65 burb On the road Mar 26th Finally

03-11-2014, 08:52 AM	#3
1963c-10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: fayetteville nc Posts: 10,338	Re: Junkyard score! Lift and tail gate! Nice score Brad!!!! __________________ 1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer

03-11-2014, 05:33 PM	#4
MikeS. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: FarEastern WVa Posts: 1,691	Re: Junkyard score! Lift and tail gate! Nice find! __________________ Past Master Triluminar Lodge #117 GL of WVa My 1963 4x4 Suburban build; http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=531274 My Gallery, now with pics of my 1966 C30 motorhome. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...&ppuser=103447

03-13-2014, 10:05 PM	#5
lc1111 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: loxahatchee fl Posts: 25	Re: Junkyard score! Lift and tail gate! I need a lift gate guild if you have one you would sale me thank larry Attached Images

03-19-2014, 11:36 PM	#6
justinf4 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 8	Re: Junkyard score! Lift and tail gate! Please note that you must be a supporting member to post classified items. This includes but is not limited to What Its Worth, Want To Buy, Want To Trade, and For Sale. Please consider supporting the forum by subscribing. Further information on the subscription levels available are located here If you need any further assistance with that please contact any Admin for help.



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