Another tailgate question.

[Joe Kriston]

I just picked up my truck after the guy painted the tailgate and was shocked...I thought that all the tailgates were the same(with or without the aluminum trim),and that I would only have to fill the rivet holes ,as far as body work was concerned...Well,that outer ring that surrounds the F-O-R-D letters that's stamped into the tailgate has 12 additional stampings in that ring,...I'm guessing to accomodate the alum. trim panel...I'd post a pic if I knew how...Does anybody know what I'm talking about?...I'd be pissed if I was going to show this truck or something,but as it is,it looks ok...unless you know your Ford pickups....

[FORDification]

I'd sure like to see a picture of your tailgate. AFAIK all tailgates are the same. However, I've never removed the full-size tailgate panel to see what it looks like underneath. The panel itself DOES have 12 mounting pads, which I'm almost willing to bed coincides with what your tailgate has. I do have a tailgate at the shop with the full panel...I must might have to remove it so I can take a look. Anyway, here's a shot of the rear of the full-size panel:

[Joe Kriston]

Keith,...I wish I had a camera....and knew how to take pictures...and how to post them...

The one I got at the scrapyard had the smaller stainless Ford emblem,not like the Full size '71 and '72 XLT's...You can see the indentations from the inside of the tailgate because it's single wall there...You're right,it's where the twelve rivet holes are...It looks like at the factory they flat-punched around the rivets for whatever reason...They're certainly uniform,but it is definitely different than the tailgate w/o the trim...

[granitestate68]

Hi Joe,

Yes, the tailgates with the small trim insert do have the small flat punches around the rivet holes. That's what I ran into when I did mine. My truck isn't for show so I just had the rivet holes welded up and tried to make it look as good as we could. I'm going to try to attach a picture that might shed some light on what your talking about. I tried to put arrows to the area in questions. There are 12 holes going around the stamping.

Hope this helps.

Lee

[Joe Kriston]

There you go,Lee....Thanks...What do they say,...a pic paints a thousand words?....Like,yours,I think mine looks fine with the holes filled,but it still ends up looking 'different' than the ones that never had the trim....

[rjewkes]

Yes on the full Panel trim the 12 or so holes are there. They just don't have indentions. the indentions are from the impact of thr pop riveter. Kieth how does the trim look on your full pannel? Woodgrain Xlt Or black ranger?