73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: bigblock73 on September 07, 2007, 07:27:21 PM

Title: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: bigblock73 on September 07, 2007, 07:27:21 PM
OK, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss and document the differences in 73-87 GM tailgates.  If we can get a good and accurate discussion going, I'll put this on 73-87.com for everyone else to see and use as a reference.  Anyone here with me?

Here are some of the pics I have. 

These are mid/late 70's gates.  I believe the white one is more mid 70's (maybe 75/76), while the green one is a late 70's (maybe 77-80)...

(http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exterior/Tailgates/tg01.JPG)

Here are comparisons of the latch assembly on the gates...

(http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exterior/Tailgates/tg02.JPG)
(http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exterior/Tailgates/tg03.JPG)

I tried to get a pic of my '73 gate, which is currently bare steel, but it didn't turn out...I'll try again later.  Until then, here is a picture of it from the side...notice the differences in the bottom trunion...

(http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exterior/Tailgates/tg04.JPG)


Soo...it would be nice to narrow down which ones are which.  If anyone can go out to their truck, snap a few quality pics, and post them here along with the information about the truck it is off...that would be awesome!  Also, if you know for a fact what the differences are between the years, it would be great to hear from you.
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: loudnlow87 on September 07, 2007, 10:48:22 PM
im pretty certain the white one is 76-80, the green one is 81-87

but i prefer mine  ;D
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: 75 C20 on September 07, 2007, 11:26:42 PM
the green one is 81-87
i'm 99% sure  the green one isnt 81-87
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: bigblock73 on September 08, 2007, 07:50:05 AM
The 81+ gates have a more boxy recessed are with the raised script to the right side....not centered.

Anyone want to post some pics of their tailgates?
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: VileZambonie on September 08, 2007, 09:56:10 AM
Here is the factory gate from my 74 GMC. Most noticeable differences are the hinge isn't quick release, the tailgate has to be unbolted to be removed. It has the upper tangs that stick into the bed sides. In the upper left hand corner the sheet metal is raised with the letters GMC and factory GMC letters on top of them. It also originally had the trim like your green one does.



Here is an aftermarket 81-87 gate on my 85

*photobucket links removed
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: 1973c20 on September 08, 2007, 09:57:00 AM
Can someone tell me why no one seems to sell the 73-75ish tailgates, but just the 76-up ones? I wanna get a new one for my truck but I cant find one anywhere short of looking on ebay. Sorry if this is a bit off topic.
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: VileZambonie on September 08, 2007, 10:02:12 AM
Because of the slight differences in the design I don't think anyone wants to call it a direct replacement. All of them will interchange though so why not just get a reman?
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Captkaos on September 08, 2007, 11:01:47 PM
I don't have pics, but from what I know, I believe it should break down like this...  Please feel free to correct me.  I do know 100% that 73-74 is unique and I am 100% sure 75 and 76 are the same (I have had both in my posession..)  There WILL be some early 75's that are like the 73-74....
73-74 (no quick release)
75-77 (white one pictured) first year of quick release
78-87 (Green one pictured)

Jeff, as you can see there are 3 holes in all of them, I believe that they are the same position just the later ones use only 2....
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Blazin on September 09, 2007, 08:54:25 AM
The folding thingamajigs that keep the tail gate from laying on the bumper have two different styles too. Not sure what the year was but I had to fix another shops screw up one time. They had put one of each style on a 76 C 20, Hence the gate would not go all the way down. One would hold it while the other still had slack!
 Also not sure on the year is when the CHEVROLET embossing went to the right hand side of the gate, I want to say around 80 / 81 to 83.
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 25, 2008, 07:34:49 AM
Because of the slight differences in the design I don't think anyone wants to call it a direct replacement. All of them will interchange though so why not just get a reman?

Are you sure they all interchange? Its just I need to order one from you're side of the world and want to get the right one!!

cheers
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: VileZambonie on March 25, 2008, 08:09:20 AM
Yes they will just the hardware is different. For the 81-87 style you'll need the bolt on hinges on the gate itself and on the bedsides. The latches have the hook on them on 81-87 for the hinge latches.

The 73-80 gate has it directly on the gate itself. So with a hardware change they will all interchange but I personally like the fitment and hardware of the 81-87 design myself. I have a bunch of them in stock
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 25, 2008, 08:18:42 AM
You wanna mail me a mint one?
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: HAULIN IT on March 25, 2008, 08:41:47 AM
The one difference that has not been mentioned is the bottom lip. In '81, I believe it went from rounded over to more like a bottom of a door, this does not effect anything, but since were talking about differences. The pictures are a little hard to see, but the White one looks like '75-'76, if it's a "quick change". The Green one is the '77-'80, In my opinion. The older gates ('76 & back) had welded on pins for the straps,ect. right? And the '77 & up were part of the longer latch. You need to replace the bed half to match during the swapping somewhere along the way. I have an original '85 with original paint if someone would like me to take a picture of it to add to the collection.
Lorne 
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 25, 2008, 08:55:33 AM
Were they're any made with a fog light in the middle? Either that or someone swapped the handle out? The only replacement ones I can find are plain - no imprinted Chevrolet logo etc  :(
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Captkaos on March 25, 2008, 09:06:01 AM
I have some with the Script, so I know they are out there.
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 25, 2008, 12:57:54 PM
If you can arrange the shipping Chris I'm sure we can sort something out- serious  I'll have a right hand fender too while your at it!!
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Captkaos on March 25, 2008, 02:06:37 PM
That's the catch, you would have to arrange the shipping so I could send it to them to ship over to you.
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: lowbucktruck on March 25, 2008, 03:49:08 PM
I have a '73 C10 with original tailgate, can shot a pic of it for you later tonight.
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Fordeatinz71 on March 25, 2008, 05:04:03 PM
i'll try to get a decent pic of the tailgate hinge setup on my truck...it's an '83 with 79K original miles, tailgate is in great shape...original paint even, so i know the tailgate was never changed...

this pic is old, when i first got it with all the crap still on it...
(http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/2297000-2297999/2297253_20_full.jpg)

note-at some point in time the make logo embossed in the metal was moved from the center to the side...it was sometime in the 81-87 gates...note how mine is on the left side and not in the center...
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 25, 2008, 05:55:32 PM
That's the catch, you would have to arrange the shipping so I could send it to them to ship over to you.

ooops! we've had this conversation haven't we!
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: lowbucktruck on March 25, 2008, 09:59:31 PM
Here are some pics of the original tailgate from my '73 Chevy C10 LWB (sorry for low light, was burning daylight there)  :P
My gate is still on my truck, of course.


Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: lowbucktruck on March 25, 2008, 10:05:22 PM
And here is one more pic of my 73's tailgate.
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: 123 pugsy on March 27, 2008, 07:45:46 PM

Here's a couple of pics showing the newer gate with the door style bottom edge as was mentioned in a previous post.



Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: Captkaos on March 19, 2010, 06:03:04 PM
Not sure what year tailgate you have, well here is how to tell.  There are actually 4 versions of tailgates for the 73-87(91) pickup trucks.  This is how you tell the difference:

1) 73-74 - This version has a top guide welded on, the bottom of the tailgate is round, has a separate hinge mount bolt, the bottom trunion has no slot, so to remove it you must unbolt it from the truck. and the latch attaches with 2 bolts.  CHEVROLET Script centered on the tailgate.  It looks like this:
(http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/tailgates/73-74.jpg)

2) 75-76 - This version has the same setup as the 1973-74, BUT it has a relief slot in the trunion allowing you to remove the tailgate without any tools.
(http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/tailgates/75-76.jpg)

3) 77-80 - This version has the same setup on the bottom as the 75-76 allowing the removal, but the latch portion is now all one piece and bolts in the same spot as the hinge slot on the 73-76 and the upper latch bolt.  It doesn't have the hole where the lower latch bolt used to be.  The welded guide was dropped and integrated into the latch.  So now the latch has the hinge mount bolt and guide built in.
(http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/tailgates/77-80.jpg)


4) 81-91 - This version has the same upper setup as the 77-80, but new for this year the bottom of the tailgate is no longer rounded, it is flat, and CHEVROLET Script offset to the right on the tailgate, AND the latch assembly is no longer welded to the bottom of the tailgate, it is bolted.
(http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/tailgates/81-91.jpg)
Title: Re: Tailgate Identification - What year do I have?
Post by: VileZambonie on February 09, 2020, 02:47:34 PM
Adding a few more details to this post:

73-80 has a dip in the area next to the taillight while the 81 up version is flat in this area and then recesses in. Tailgate bands change and the tailgate handle is different 73-80/81-87 (91)

73-74 GMC has the raised script in the upper left corner. 75 up GMC is centered script in the recess.

All regarding fleetside, as far as I know stepside differences is just the script.