GRpufnstuf Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 I love that Studebaker! ^^^ Gmc/chevy made me super angry when they put a sliding roof option on the Envoy SUV and claimed it was an original idea. Right up there with when Subaru claimed the outback was the "worlds first sport utility wagon" when there were still AMC Eagle Wagons driving around Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 Ill keep looking for a pic,but was not like the Studebaker. The tailgate,itselve dropped below the bed Quote Link to comment
Cardinal Grammeter Posted November 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 Yeah, that drop down tailgate would be something to see! Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted November 1, 2015 Report Share Posted November 1, 2015 Thought I had the ad saved. Appatently not, i am still looking Quote Link to comment
5t341tH Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 How does that tailgate protector mount? just bolts to the tailgate? Quote Link to comment
qwik510 Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 How does that tailgate protector mount? just bolts to the tailgate?Here are some better pics of the protector They did not use bolts. They are more like round top metal push clips similar to what is used on some Datsun interiors. Looks like there is a pin in the center that was driven into the center of it. I'm not ready to start taking it apart. Looks like they are on there pretty good. Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Those appear to be pop rivets. Look to be the same size used on snowmobile tracks from the late 60's/early 70's to hold steel cleats on the rubber track. Roughly 1/4" shank, 1/2" head, all steel. Quote Link to comment
orangie Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 I have a tail gate like that I bought from a guy who had it stashed in a warehouse. I thought it was from a certain year Datsun. The guy had quite a few tailgates and really not much else. Anybody missing a pickup tailgate in the Phoenix area? Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 I have a tailgate with the protector. Just some pop rivets holding it on on that one. Need to check my other two tailgates that are floating around Quote Link to comment
Cardinal Grammeter Posted November 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Hummm.... the protector has mid-span rivets as if there were 3 ribs or stiffeners to attach to - the tailgate only has one in the center. I wonder if the protector included 2 more stiffeners? They could even be simply attached to the protector itself. __________________________ I'm spent another hours trying to find the big diameter tubular rear bumper on a project thread of a dually with the bed removed so you could see the frame and how the bumper was attached to it. Quote Link to comment
5t341tH Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Thanks for the pics and info. Going to buy myself a piece of sheet metal and rivet it on Quote Link to comment
qwik510 Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Someone just posted up a protector in the classifieds. http://community.ratsun.net/classifieds/item/6621-620-factory-inner-tail-gate-protector-panel-fits-725-to-79/ Quote Link to comment
Cardinal Grammeter Posted November 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 It's really tempting, but I just remember I went to buy some 16ga to replenish my stock for body work and I ended up with a piece of 14ga which I've been using on floors and rockers. It is 4:42AM and I just realized the sheet may be big enough to do the tailgate. So I went outside to the garage to check and YES, I have more than enough to do the panel. This is a double win for me since I don't really need or want a big sheet of 14ga. So I can use it on the tailgate and buy some 16ga. It won't look OEM but I can deal with it since it is not a gross butchery job - I'll just drill holes in the tailgate ribs that would get covered up if I acquired the proper protector. But the 14ga would be basically undentable which is a bonus. Of course now I'm thinking how could I do something to simply make it not a flat sheet. but that is just plain OCD! Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Might want to think of a gasket to seal it. Dont want moister to get in there and build up Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Might want to think of a gasket to seal it. Dont want moister to get in there and build up this is a very good point 1 Quote Link to comment
Cardinal Grammeter Posted November 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 I was thinking if I use the 14ga sheet, I could fab some "ribs" or "skids" that would stick up like the OE. Could get really nuts and fat out of 1/4" plate. Maybe my tailgate wouldn't be able to support its own weight? haha I know it is highly unlikely, but I wonder if there would be a market for the rear tube bumper and perhaps a complete kit with the front and rear and side steps. The bumper guards are really not that effective and it is mostly Coolness Factor. Quote Link to comment
5t341tH Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 does the OE panel have some sort of gasket or seal? Might want to think of a gasket to seal it. Dont want moister to get in there and build up Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 does the OE panel have some sort of gasket or seal? according to the parts manual no, but many things that were made can always be improved on Quote Link to comment
Cardinal Grammeter Posted November 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 Ah Ha! #76 appears to be a 1/4 and 3/4 span stiffener which I hypothesized based on rivet locations on actual photographs (!) Quote Link to comment
Elkie Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 There are drains built into the tailgate, I don't see moisture being a problem. 1 Quote Link to comment
5t341tH Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 Wow those grab handles look so unnecessary Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted November 8, 2015 Report Share Posted November 8, 2015 and the side step isn't? Quote Link to comment
Cardinal Grammeter Posted November 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2015 Hey, those side steps are very useful when getting stuff from the front of the bed. Could you imagine getting anything from the bed of any of the current behemoth monstrosity Jack In The Beanstalk tall full size 1/2 top pickups? Talk about a joke.... Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted November 8, 2015 Report Share Posted November 8, 2015 and the side step isn't? Theres a set of new steps on eBay. Theres actually the chrome side rail as well Quote Link to comment
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