1981 Tailgate Panel retrofit ?

[440sixpack]

Is there a way to retrofit a 1981 or new tailgate panel to fit the older tailgates ? I've given up finding a perfect one for my '77 so I'm looking at this option.

 

[Big Chip]

Is there a way to retrofit a 1981 or new tailgate panel to fit the older tailgates ? I've given up finding a perfect one for my '77 so I'm looking at this option.

Are you looking for the narrow band?

 

[440sixpack]

No I have a '77 Silverado so it has the wide one.

 

[Big Chip]

Right on. I can’t help then.

 

[CSFJ]

I didn't think the wide band arrived until the eighties. Are you sure the gate hasn't already been replaced with a newer one?

 

[Big Chip]

They were big and then little and then big again.

 

[CSFJ]

Lol. Figures.

 

[Big Chip]

The early ones had the Chevrolet or GMC centered and the later ones were offset.

 

[CSFJ]

That's odd. The band on my '79 had the Chevrolet lettering centered. Doubt it had the gate replaced, the truck was only about 13-14 years old at that point. The wear on the inside of the gate, matched the rest of the wear inside the box.

 

[Big Chip]

The narrow bands were all centered.

 

[Craig 85]

I don't think it will fit. It looks like the raised center rib is narrower on the 73-80, than the 81-87. If you're talented, you may be able to swap the backs if they are the same dimensions.

73-80

You must be registered for see images attach

81-87

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[440sixpack]

That's what I'm thinking. I just don't know if the size is close enough to make it work. I need to find an 81-87 one to compare it to. I'm sure it's been tried but I can't find anything on the web about it.

 

[CSFJ]

Can you post a pic of the tailgate you're working with?

 

[440sixpack]

I'm not sure how to do that. but it's just like this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1980-...050926?hash=item1a4e6f0f2e:g:ou0AAOSwufBa9ESM

I found a perfect NOS one but man is he proud of it.

 

[Craig 85]

Here's the two gates. The 81-87 gate has a taller flat section in the center, but the area is not as wide as the 73-80. I swapped beds on an '80 3+3 I had in the 90's and found out the small 73-80 trim did not fit in the 81-87 tailgate because of the taper on the sides. This why you would have to use the 73-80 back on an 81-87 style trim panel.

73-80

You must be registered for see images attach

81-87

You must be registered for see images attach