86 k5 tail pan replacement

[mjck5]

hello all,
i have discovered my tailpan in my 86 k5 is pretty well rotted out, from what i can see it looks like this is just bolted in with the floor spot welded to it, has anyone out there dealt with replacing this? any info/advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[bucket]

The biggest challenge is getting the old one out and the new one in, with the frame in the way. You'll want to undo the body mounts and jack the rear body up off the frame for working room. It's a scenario that can cause a lot of project "might as wells".

 

[Rickf]

I replaced one on my old mid 80's CUCV many years ago. I should have removed the fiberglass top first or braced the sides up so as not to sag from the weight. And for some reason that escapes me now I cut access holes in the bed to get at the rear body mounts, maybe the bolts were frozen to the bushings?

 

[mjck5]

is it welded in or bolted in, hard to tell on mine with how rusted out it is but it allmost looks bolted in

 

[Rickf]

Relying on memory, which can be sketchy at times, it is spot welded along the bed floor and bolted under the stake pod area. I did this 10 to 15 years ago and may need "memory refreshing" from someone else.

Good Enuff Customs has a pretty good utube video, part 17.

 

[mjck5]

yeah i saw that video, unfortunately he just patched his and didnt remove it, i dont think mine is salvageable enough to just cut out the bad parts

 

[mjck5]

heres what im dealing with

 

[Rickf]

I wonder why he didn't cut both sides just outside the frame rails and replace the outer sections. If you are replacing the entire piece, maybe cut it in half, might be easier to get two shorter sections in place than one larger.