bent tailgate - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69ChevyLB · 05-29-2007, 07:50 PM

Has anyone taken a tailgate apart to straighten it? The outside on mine looks straight. It's the inside thats bent about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Dont know if this is even possible.

GREASEMONKEY72 · 05-29-2007, 08:04 PM

i believe you can take them apart and weld it back up

**SactoJim** · 05-29-2007, 08:04 PM

Yep. I had bought a new aftermarket tailgate and it sucked. The only reason I bought one was because the inside of my gate was pretty beat up and beyond repair. Wasn't too hard to accomplish and came out very good......click on my build thread below.

knsmodels · 05-29-2007, 10:18 PM

My OEM tailgate had a pretty good bow in it and I removed 95% of it without taking in apart......put the ends on blocks and apply pressure to the center and you can get it to bow back just the way it was originally bowed in the first place.....JMHO.....

grayw0lf · 05-31-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knsmodels

My OEM tailgate had a pretty good bow in it and I removed 95% of it without taking in apart......put the ends on blocks and apply pressure to the center and you can get it to bow back just the way it was originally bowed in the first place.....JMHO.....

How did you straighten it? By blocks, do you mean a pallet of blocks?

I suppose I might as well give it a try... its better than going without.

CST*TEN in Katy · 05-31-2007, 12:27 PM

Mine was bent and rusted at the bottom. I cut the bottom off, had a sheet metal shop bend a U from 18 ga. They were not able to get the bend tight enough, so I still had to beat on it to get the radius needed.

The weld seam is under the trim, so my dirt dauber welds are hidden.

But I still couldn't figure out how to get to the dents on the top of the tailgate.

jimmydean · 05-31-2007, 12:43 PM

Spot welder and slide hammer? That should get the dents out, maybe us a little heat to ease the metal.

69ChevyLB · 05-31-2007, 07:43 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. It will probably be awhile before I get to it. Worse problems to work on first.

GREASEMONKEY72 · 05-31-2007, 07:48 PM

if you have dents on the top then just cut a line in the top widthwise and bend the flaps up a bit and flatten out the dent then put the top back down and spot weld it back and smooth it out, thats what i plan on doing

05-29-2007, 07:50 PM	#1
69ChevyLB Active Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canton, OH Posts: 249	bent tailgate Has anyone taken a tailgate apart to straighten it? The outside on mine looks straight. It's the inside thats bent about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Dont know if this is even possible. __________________ 69 C10 LWB Project 47 Cushman Scooter Project It is better to have loved and lost than to live with a psycho all your life.

05-29-2007, 08:04 PM	#2
GREASEMONKEY72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,893	Re: bent tailgate i believe you can take them apart and weld it back up __________________ -steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME

05-29-2007, 08:04 PM	#3
SactoJim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,970	Re: bent tailgate Yep. I had bought a new aftermarket tailgate and it sucked. The only reason I bought one was because the inside of my gate was pretty beat up and beyond repair. Wasn't too hard to accomplish and came out very good......click on my build thread below. __________________ 72 Cheyenne SWB Fleet Nut & bolt frame off in progress...99.9999% - supercharged 383 - 4 wheel discs - relocated fuel tank - My Build Thread

05-29-2007, 10:18 PM	#4
knsmodels I make Models Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bucks, PA Posts: 626	Re: bent tailgate My OEM tailgate had a pretty good bow in it and I removed 95% of it without taking in apart......put the ends on blocks and apply pressure to the center and you can get it to bow back just the way it was originally bowed in the first place.....JMHO..... __________________ Click to see what I do 1972 LWB K10 350/4 sp 1968 SS Chevelle 396/tremac5spd

05-31-2007, 12:27 PM	#6
CST*TEN in Katy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 48	Re: bent tailgate Mine was bent and rusted at the bottom. I cut the bottom off, had a sheet metal shop bend a U from 18 ga. They were not able to get the bend tight enough, so I still had to beat on it to get the radius needed. The weld seam is under the trim, so my dirt dauber welds are hidden. But I still couldn't figure out how to get to the dents on the top of the tailgate. Attached Images __________________ 1970 CST-10 owned it 26 years, finally back on the road after a 10 year rest. 1989 Suburban 1971 Sleekcraft 455Olds Berkeley 1992 SC400 pimp ricer

05-31-2007, 12:43 PM	#7
jimmydean Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 3,728	Re: bent tailgate Spot welder and slide hammer? That should get the dents out, maybe us a little heat to ease the metal. __________________ New Project: 1966 LWB C20 Plans: 1/2 ton conversion Dropmember front Dropmember rear Corvette discs Restored raised bed http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4295210

05-31-2007, 07:43 PM	#8
69ChevyLB Active Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canton, OH Posts: 249	Re: bent tailgate Thanks for the suggestions. It will probably be awhile before I get to it. Worse problems to work on first. __________________ 69 C10 LWB Project 47 Cushman Scooter Project It is better to have loved and lost than to live with a psycho all your life.

05-31-2007, 07:48 PM	#9
GREASEMONKEY72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,893	Re: bent tailgate if you have dents on the top then just cut a line in the top widthwise and bend the flaps up a bit and flatten out the dent then put the top back down and spot weld it back and smooth it out, thats what i plan on doing __________________ -steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME



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