IMG_3587.JPG
430 hits | 37.97 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
Back on the truck. The trim covers up the weld and the paint match is near perfect.

IMG_3586.JPG
407 hits | 64.8 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
Another shot of the finished tailgate.

IMG_3585.JPG
410 hits | 71.06 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
This is the final product all painted. I used spray cans that were mixed from the paint code at a local automotive paint shop.

Red Primer 6.jpeg
418 hits | 48.83 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
Tailgate all primed. This was actually before the new panel was put on. (I only got red primer because it was on sale, gray is easier to cover up but I was putting on 3 coats of paint anyway.

Gate - Bottom Weld Closeup.jpeg
373 hits | 41.45 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
I made 3 pieces to go along the bottom. I used tools in a machine shop to make them perfect.

Gate - Bottom Weld.jpeg
344 hits | 38.14 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
This is a view from the bottom, and yes I did put lots of drainage holes in afterwards.

Gate - Front Weld 2.jpeg
367 hits | 45.31 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
The new panel welded in place. (remember scrap off that so called black primer that comes on all new panels.)

Weld Thru Primer.jpeg
349 hits | 38.19 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
I used weld thru primer for my welds, I also left a great deal of old metal under the new skin to help line it up.(BTW, I find weld thru primer to be crap and will never use it again. All it did was bubble the welds.)

Special Thanks to Greg Greer 2.jpeg
373 hits | 37.44 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
If you ever decide to do this, don't cut off the bottom - inside bracket, it makes everything a lot easier to line up. Notice the rust. The guy that was supposed to do the welding for me decided the freshly sand-blasted gate could use a day in the ra...

IMG_3587.JPG
430 hits | 37.97 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
Back on the truck. The trim covers up the weld and the paint match is near perfect.

Red Primer 6.jpeg
418 hits | 48.83 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
Tailgate all primed. This was actually before the new panel was put on. (I only got red primer because it was on sale, gray is easier to cover up but I was putting on 3 coats of paint anyway.

IMG_3585.JPG
410 hits | 71.06 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
This is the final product all painted. I used spray cans that were mixed from the paint code at a local automotive paint shop.

IMG_3586.JPG
407 hits | 64.8 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
Another shot of the finished tailgate.

Torsion Bracket 2.jpeg
403 hits | 51.71 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
Since this was only to be a short-term repair job, I made my own brackets for the torsion bar. (at the time I was new to welding and it's obvious in the shotty weld job.)

Shined Up Metal 2.jpeg
400 hits | 71.77 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
This is after the rusty bottom half was cut away. I had already sand-blasted the inside of the shell, then coated the inside with primer and black paint while it was open from the bottom.

Special Thanks to Greg Greer 2.jpeg
373 hits | 37.44 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
If you ever decide to do this, don't cut off the bottom - inside bracket, it makes everything a lot easier to line up. Notice the rust. The guy that was supposed to do the welding for me decided the freshly sand-blasted gate could use a day in the ra...

Gate - Bottom Weld Closeup.jpeg
373 hits | 41.45 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
I made 3 pieces to go along the bottom. I used tools in a machine shop to make them perfect.

Gate - Front Weld 2.jpeg
367 hits | 45.31 KB | Posted: 1/31/05
The new panel welded in place. (remember scrap off that so called black primer that comes on all new panels.)