1981-82 Metal Lower Tailgate Mldg

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

BadBowtie

BadBowtie

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Posts
185
Reaction score
224
Location
North Texas
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet
Engine Size
5.0L
I have an early production LOWER tailgate molding that I pulled from a 1981-82 full size truck in a salvage yard in the late 1980s.

Fast forward to 2024... What I can not remember is how it was attached???

Was it just several BIG blocks of 3M type double sided tape??

It is item #14 in the attached GM parts schematic.

I do not remember any metal or plastic clips like the rear cab molding or the earlier 1973-80 bodyside metal strips use.

Does anyone else even remember this early design- Or even have one on their current 1981-82 trucks?? This is not the peel and stick trim molding like used on all other 1982-87 trucks all the way around- Now aftermarket.



Thanks,

Jon in TX.
 

Attachments

  • CK.png
    CK.png
    67.7 KB · Views: 35
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
2,883
Reaction score
9,159
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
I did not remember them being any different than the later years (fully adhesive w/o clips).

The elimination of clips and holes was a corrosion prevention measure.

K
 
Last edited:
TotalyHucked

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,677
Reaction score
11,881
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
From my vast research on the subject, it looks like there were some plastic clips that were 3M'd to the tailgate that the molding then attached to

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,449
Reaction score
28,371
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
TotalyHucked said:
From my vast research on the subject, it looks like there were some plastic clips that were 3M'd to the tailgate that the molding then attached to

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
Click to expand...

Typically when GM used those types of clips, they have snapped onto nail-head studs that are welded to the sheetmetal. Much like the rear cab bands.
 
TotalyHucked

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,677
Reaction score
11,881
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
bucket said:
Typically when GM used those types of clips, they have snapped onto nail-head studs that are welded to the sheetmetal. Much like the rear cab bands.
Click to expand...
You're right, but I think these may well have just been tape. Though it's so hard to find any info on this setup at all though, I can't say for sure.
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,449
Reaction score
28,371
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
TotalyHucked said:
You're right, but I think these may well have just been tape. Though it's so hard to find any info on this setup at all though, I can't say for sure.
Click to expand...

They could have been, I can't remember. Most of those early trucks have been gone from my area for a long time.
 
BadBowtie

BadBowtie

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Posts
185
Reaction score
224
Location
North Texas
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet
Engine Size
5.0L
Yeah. thanks for the replies guys. Wish I could get a PN# for a clip.

I remember the junkyard truck did not have holes left on the tailgate's sheetmetal, so it must have been those large clips with a LARGE band of 3M adhesive tape that held these things on the early trucks. After all there is NOT a lot of wind resistance trying to pull that molding off the bottom of a TAILGATE. LOL!!

At least I know I am NOT crazy!! :laughing1:
 
BadBowtie

BadBowtie

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Posts
185
Reaction score
224
Location
North Texas
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet
Engine Size
5.0L
TotalyHucked said:
From my vast research on the subject, it looks like there were some plastic clips that were 3M'd to the tailgate that the molding then attached to

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
Click to expand...
Wished I could make out a PN# on one of those black, plastic, clips.
 
PrairieDrifter

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,858
Reaction score
5,656
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
BadBowtie said:
Wished I could make out a PN# on one of those black, plastic, clips.
Click to expand...
I've got some. I can take a look in the next couple days. They are indeed just taped on I believe. This one has no holes either.
You must be registered for see images attach
 
BadBowtie

BadBowtie

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Posts
185
Reaction score
224
Location
North Texas
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet
Engine Size
5.0L
That would be AWESOME "Prairie Drifter". It's odd this style of metal stamped lower tailgate molding came on the 1981-82 models.

Those tailgates all had the small, square block "ESC" badge in 1981. Or that massive "Electronic Spark Control" 2-tone badge with those two big 1/4" pins going thru the sheet metal in 1982.

I do not see that on this white tailgate of yours. Though the peel and stick 1981 badge could have been removed or fallen off 30 years ago. LOL.
 
PrairieDrifter

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,858
Reaction score
5,656
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
BadBowtie said:
That would be AWESOME "Prairie Drifter". It's odd this style of metal stamped lower tailgate molding came on the 1981-82 models.

Those tailgates all had the small, square block "ESC" badge in 1981. Or that massive "Electronic Spark Control" 2-tone badge with those two big 1/4" pins going thru the sheet metal in 1982.

I do not see that on this white tailgate of yours. Though the peel and stick 1981 badge could have been removed or fallen off 30 years ago. LOL.
Click to expand...
No problem, might even get them out to you. But yeah I can't see any other holes or spots where anything else was attached. It doesn't look like it's got any bondo or anything either. I just picked up the gate this last spring here.
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,449
Reaction score
28,371
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
BadBowtie said:
That would be AWESOME "Prairie Drifter". It's odd this style of metal stamped lower tailgate molding came on the 1981-82 models.

Those tailgates all had the small, square block "ESC" badge in 1981. Or that massive "Electronic Spark Control" 2-tone badge with those two big 1/4" pins going thru the sheet metal in 1982.

I do not see that on this white tailgate of yours. Though the peel and stick 1981 badge could have been removed or fallen off 30 years ago. LOL.
Click to expand...

Wasn't the ESC only on the 1/2 ton 2wd's?
 
H

HotWheelsBurban

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2023
Posts
2,418
Reaction score
5,706
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Carol
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
bucket said:
Wasn't the ESC only on the 1/2 ton 2wd's?
Click to expand...
IIRC it was the 305 and 350 4 barrels. Our '81 Sierra shop truck had a 305 2 barrel (dual jet). So no ESC badge...but I remember seeing a lot of trucks with that badge, back in the day. I was in high school in the early 80s....
 
BadBowtie

BadBowtie

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Posts
185
Reaction score
224
Location
North Texas
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
Chevrolet
Engine Size
5.0L
PrairieDrifter said:
No problem, might even get them out to you. But yeah I can't see any other holes or spots where anything else was attached. It doesn't look like it's got any bondo or anything either. I just picked up the gate this last spring here.
Click to expand...
Oh that's FREAKING AWESOME!!

I am just south of you, in a city called Wichita Falls, TX. 76308.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
1973-1980 Tailgate Trim
2
Replies
22
Views
2K
Muddybuddy
M
Oldbear42
New to me '82 Chevy C20
Replies
14
Views
1K
Long Rider
Long Rider
CheemsK1500
Definitive interchangeable parts thread 73-87(91) (non-drivetrain)
2
Replies
15
Views
4K
CheemsK1500
CheemsK1500
S
1981 K10 Suburban ECM questions
Replies
9
Views
1K
fast 99
fast 99
Khayward
Early OBS dash swap
Replies
1
Views
2K
Khayward
Khayward

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,199
Posts
951,481
Members
36,333
Latest member
mbullington
Top