Tailgate curve

[777mech]

Hey guys, I have a friend doing the body and paint on my 76 shortbed fleetside. We noticed that both the tailgate and front bed panel have an even bow facing rearward. Is this normal? I think I have noticed this on other squarebody trucks but I can't be sure. The tailgate is original and the front panel is NOS GM.

 

[Snoots]

Doesn't sound normal, but I can't see it from here.

 

[777mech]

It's weird, both the tailgate and bed front panel are bowed the same direction and the same amount, and the front panel is a new old stock that hasn't seen any use

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I think my esteemed colleague would like you to post some pictures there, chief.

 

[777mech]

Sorry, I didn't take any pics, it's at my painter friends house

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Ahh, I gotcha.

 

[777mech]

Would anyone be so kind as to snap some pics sighting down these panels to see if they are straight or curved. My buddy is about to paint it and if it's normal we will just leave it be.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Hold on.
Wait.

You don't has ne pix...
we dont either.

 

[WFO]

I don't have a

Would anyone be so kind as to snap some pics sighting down these panels to see if they are straight or curved. My buddy is about to paint it and if it's normal we will just leave it be.

I don't have any pictures either, but they're supposed to be straight.

 

[CSFJ]

Yeah, they should both be straight. Hard to guess why yours have a bow, but it isn't supposed to be there.

 

[gotyourgoat]

Ain't no curves on a square man.

If anything the bed would be pushed in to the cab and the gate bowed out from exuberant loading. From something like this..

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The new piece well, maybe from shipping or bad tooling.