1967-1972 Ford F-100 Styleside Tailgate Install - Right From The Gate

Because this truck still has its factory paint, and that's how I intend to keep it, I liked the results of using Mothers California Gold Carnuba Cleaner to clean and restore the paint to its original luster.

It didn't seem to make any difference if I observed in what order to replace the new parts, so I installed the straps, and rubber bumpers first. It doesn't look like a brand-new truck, but notice how much nicer the truck looks with a little elbow grease (wipe wax on, wipe wax off) and some new parts.

Next, the female portion of the latch was installed with a quick final tap of the impact-wrench on the Phillips screws to ensure it wouldn't work loose from use.

Removing the tailgate has the potential to be a little difficult if a series of steps aren't followed. First, the driver-side hinge bolts were undone and the hinge was removed.

Leaving the rear bumper on made it harder to access the lower hinge bolts, but the bumper made an excellent rest, making it easy for one person to install the new tailgate.

Again, for aiding one person, lifting the old tailgate straight up at this angle proved the best way to remove it from the bed.

Notice the new Dennis Carpenter hinges appear slightly different, but function in exactly the same way. Scribing the position of the old hinges before removal simplified realignment of the new Dennis Carpenter tailgate.

The driver-side hinge was mounted and then the new tailgate was installed by hooking it onto the driver-side hinge and lowered down into place in the same manner as the old tailgate was removed.

This worked like a charm. To install the passenger side hinge, the tailgate was opened flat and the hinge slid downward into place.

With the new tailgate closed it was obvious the rear bed corner will have to be pulled outward for proper alignment (look for it in an upcoming tech story).

To install the bolts into the hinges it was easiest to do the bottom bolts first because they the hardest to get started. A 3/8 flex-drive made short work out of tightening the bolts down.

As a choice, Dennis Carpenter offers a polished stainless steel tailgate handle. Notice at the top, to shim the handle for less slop than a new stock Ford I used a 3/8 flat washer.