just got my truck painted and looking for solutions for tailgate support without the chains I have hidden latches in the bed to hold it closed but I do use this truck to haul stuff and with my chopper in the back I have to leave the tailgate down with the front wheel sitting on it (the bikes 9.5' long) so i was thinking of adapting the cables from a more modern truck. Anyone tried this before?
A couple ideas... Take some strap iron 4 peices of what ever size you need, attach one peice to each end of the gate, and another peice to each side of the box, then attach the peices in the center... that's the hard way... Option 2... hang it just like every late model truck gate is hung.. 4 studs, one on each end of the gate, one on each side of the box, and 2 lengths of cable.. Cool truck, I had a 60, I was going to use seat belt latches for gate latches, and cables..
Go to Vato Zone and get some late model truck tailgate cables. They shoud not be visible when the tailgate is closed. They're around $15. I did the seatbelt latches thing on my old '63 chevy. It worked great and the shaved chains looked so good. I didn't get around to adding the cables before I sold it, but that's what I was going to do.
Look at the supports on a 60's El Camino. They're 2 bars that fold out. They hide inbetween the tailgate and the bed. They're probably the same for 70's models, but I've never had on of those.
That's what I was thinkin' about... Cables would take less to do though... My neighbor has an early 80's Caballero (GMC 'camino) I can't remember how the gate is hung... I would use stainless or aluminium if you went the bar route though, it would hold up better than the plain jain steel as far as rust goes..
My Model A had (what else?) Model A hood latches mounted inside the bed. Quick, cheap and simple, plus it looks right at home, at least on an "A".
Paint looks good dude, finally! Now im gonna have to come up your street to get to my house so i can drool. I used late model cables on my C10 and hidden latches, converted over from seat belts and no support cables. Works good. Stop by and check it out sometime.
Thought I'd post and update. Went with late model ford cables available from Autozone, and made my brackets a bolt on deal from 1" x 1/4" steel flat bar.
I have virtually the same set up on my daily driver '66. It works just great & the tailgate doesn't rattle when driven. It was a very inexpensive fix. Those chains ****ed!
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