Tailgates, NOS vs. Original

[randy500]

The body lines and lettering are less defined on NOS gates.
Here is a picture showing how the top on an NOS gate "rolls" vs a sharp bend on a clean original gate.
The outside surface has a similar "roll" too.

[randy500]

The outer surface, difficult to show in pictures but the original is flatter.

[CG]

I have a NOS one in the shop and I just checked it. I thought I could peek past the cardboard but it's banded too tight. I want to keep it banded till I'm ready to use it, so I couldn't see the differences

[randy500]

Thickness of NOS gate with caliper throat touching the gate. The original is .159 thinner.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by CG

I have a NOS one in the shop and I just checked it. I thought I could peek past the cardboard but it's banded too tight. I want to keep it banded till I'm ready to use it, so I couldn't see the differences

Your holding back the good part aren't you...post up when you open it.

[randy500]

Now before someone says the salmon colored gate is not NOS, believe me not long ago it was NOS and it hasn't expanded since then. The green gate is original paint with 71 disc brake sticker. My recently acquired 68 K20 tailgate has even crisper lines and is thinner than the green 71 gate. The earlier the gate the thinner it will be at the top. Its very noticeable if you have seen really nice early gates.

Now please go measure your gates and post up. I measured those standing on end at a little above my waist so I could take a picture of the caliper.

[samkost]

Alright Randy, now what first caught your eye to notice the differences?
Interesting, that's for sure.
Were the worn original production dies utilized for the NOS replacement parts?
I had to replace my gate with a very nice OE tailgate with the correct upper and lower trim holes.
You made me compare mine to your examples
Sam

[randy500]

Originally Posted by samkost

Alright Randy, now what first caught your eye to notice the differences?
Interesting, that's for sure.
Were the worn original production dies utilized for the NOS replacement parts?
I had to replace my gate with a very nice OE tailgate with the correct upper and lower trim holes.
You made me compare mine to your examples
Sam

I think the dies got worn and created the thick gates.
I noticed it in about 1994, I bought an NOS tailgate (back then it was just a "new tailgate") from a local dealer, yes they had those in stock along with grills, fenders and trim, probably lots more stuff too, I just bought those parts. Anyway the tailgate I bought back then is just like the NOS gates you see today for sale. When I unwrapped the gate it looked thick so I compared it to some nice original gates I had at the time.

Like I said even a nice 67 or 68 gate is thinner and crisper than an original 72 gate.

[randy500]

There is a thread that was up last week showing there is a slight difference in earlier tailgates on the inside and on the outside where it has the indentation side to side. I will try to find that thread and post a link.

Anyway when you see one of those super nice take off tailgates, snatch them up, they are a lot nicer gates and a real bargain.

[randy500]

Tailgate changes by year...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=523850

[samkost]

I think you're correct Randy.
It makes sense about the dies and the later stamped NOS tailgates.
I remember reading the differences between the early year gates.
Great information again from this forum.
Thanks,
Sam

[davepl]

I would think they should be exact dimensionally but the stamping dies wear over time. Thing is I doubt there was only on die for the 3,000,000 or so tailgates they stamped, so you don't know where any tailgate was stamped in the relative life of the die.

Still makes sense to assume later dye -> more used -> less distinct. But I 'd expect dimensionally to be the same unless I'm missing something about the stamping process?

[randy500]

I’m sure they were also stamped and or assembled by different companies over the life of production which could account for the differences.

[randy500]

It’s very hard to photograph but the thicker NOS gates also taper from side to side on both inside and outside surfaces with the thickest section in the center, tapering smoothly to the left and right edges.
The end caps on the early and late tailgates appear to be the same.
I haven’t measured the gates at the very edge where they are spot welded but by eye they look about the same thickness.

[randy500]

Moving this up for a member