Adding a tailgate, anyone done it?

I've read through earlier posts and found out adding a tailgate is possible however my question is, has anyone here actually done it? I started to do some closer inspection of my tub and discovered there is a lot of inside rot in my back panel. It also has a pretty good bow / dent right down the middle, I think a PO backed into a pole. I can't seem to find any replacement panels so I was thinking about adding a tailgate. The valance is also pretty trashed so I need to replace that anyways. My other question is what did Jeep do for a tire carrier? Does it mount on the side like earlier models or is it like the swing away model on the CJ-7. I suppose I could always fabricate something but I'd prefer factory.

 

There was a swing out carrier from the factory, but i would imagine it to be near impossible to locate one.

 

I suppose I could always fabricate one to look like a factory model. I might be able to save my existing mount and incorporate it into a swing away design. I guess I'll cross that bridge when the time comes.

 

Are you trying to tell me late CJ's have no tailgate?!?! WTF?

M38A1 had no tailgate until it became the CJ5. M38A1-C variant already had the right opening, so I added a tailgate to mine.
Copy the opening of an early CJ5, frame it with steel channel, add stock tailgate and cast hinges.

 

There was a tailgate delete option for the intermediates from the factory.

 

Was kind of kidding, but I still appreciate the knowledge that it was an option.

 

I'm happy with just the plain panel but there are no replacements available. Makes no sense why someone would order a Jeep without a tailgate.

 

AFAIK the back panel for the M38A1 is the same as the CJ-5 with a solid back panel. Classic Enterprises sells them, last I looked. Should be no problem getting a replacement.

http://www.classicent.com/jeep.php#car5175 about half-way down the page

They also sell the tailgate frame, if you'd rather have a tailgate.

 

My son in law fabricated one for me. He used the original as the template...and he created one that is identical in every way, except he used a heavier gauge steel. If the M38A1 panel doesn't work, and you really want one, I can ask if he'd be willing to fabricate one for you (for a fee of course).

He has 10 years metal fabrication experience and has access to all the good stuff in the shop. Here's a link to a pic for the back panel... https://sites.google.com/site/1974jeepcj5/1974-jeep-cj5-renegade/the-work/body-work-2

 

My panel is different than the ones shown on Classic Ent and elsewhere. I may be able to bend it back into shape once I cut it out, I'll have to wait and see.

 

the angle iron in your pic(bottom edge) is not stock. the outer stiffener would come off to be re used . and then the panel its self is like the classic smooth one.

 

Angle iron? What am I missing, I don't get it. I checked google images for a bunch of late model CJ-5s, tailgateless models looks like mine with that c-channel support up top. I wouldn't be surprised if this was another PO "fix". There is signs of pretty sloppy welding on the outer edges of the panel. The old frame also had lots of extra welds, patches, holes, broken shock mounts, etc...

 

Why would you cut it out?

What little I know about body work says ... straighten it with it in place. Make a jig to hold each side, and push on the panel in the opposite direction of the original bending force. This looks kinda ok to me - should be easy to fix.

Undoing bends follows that principle every time - undo the bending forces and the metal will go back to its original shape. Read about fixing bends and dents here - http://www.eastwood.com/key-to-metal-bumping-book.html - this book is available lots of places.

You may be right about the back panel being different. The few pictures I can find on the internet show construction similar to what you have, in that era.

Someplace like JeepForum.com has a lot more owners of these late edition Jeeps online. You could go there and ask for pictures of the back panel. The parts book shows a lot of development from 1974 to 1978, and the lower cutout may have gone away altogether. Looks to me like what you have is 100% original.

 

Also, if you want advice on straightening that panel, ask on this forum http://www.autobody101.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=5 Post up several shots of what you have.

 

May be as easy as putting the spare tire bracket on, and pulling on it with your come-along. Make some props to hold the panel where it meets the body. Dimensional lumber is cheap and very strong in lengthwise compression.

Body shops have anchors built into their concrete floors for just this purpose.

 

I don't want to remove it if I don't have to, but the valance / tailgate support on the bottom is rusted badly on the inside and flaking away undearneath. My guess the lower portion where the back panel touches the valance is also rusted. If I can leave it in place, the come-along is a great idea. The upper support channel should come off easily enough and straighten out.

 

Sounds like a plan.

JMO - I would straighten first with the support channel in place to see if I could straighten both parts at the same time.

I guess by the valence you mean the bottom edge of the panel where it meets the floor. The usual approach, especially on these flat panels, is to take your cutoff tool and cut out a rectangular section that removes the rust. Then make a patch panel using a cardboard pattern and butt weld it to the good steel. There's a lot of discussion about how to make this kind of a repair on the internet. Again JMO - I think it would be much more work to try and free the entire panel from the body than it would be to cut out the sections that have rust and replace them.

 

the bottom edge is the angle i mentioned 74 still had the cutout as far as i know. the bottom edge would be a flange of sheetmetal not an overlapped angle. it could be a chunk of flat stock without seeing the bottom cant be sure. if you want to straighten it out bolt the tub down to the frame first. it is impossible to straighten something that is not secured to a solid object. depending on the bend it may be necessary to block the frame level and then pull or push to get the bow out. Ive done autobody for better than 20 years and made many mistakes along the way...

 

Mmmm. Dunno.



I found a few examples that look similar. I'm sure the indent at the bottom of the panel was gone by the late 70s. It was only there to accommodate the pintle hook on the older body style.

The flange you see at the bottom here appears to be present in other examples from this era. Unfortunately I can't find the good example that I found earlier today. So my conclusion was that the OP's Jeep is original, since another Jeep out there had the same appearance. the only reason someone would add another piece of metal there would be cover some rust-through. The factory might have added that piece to reinfoce the bottom of the spare tire mount? Or where the rear floor attaches to the body? Close inspection should show whether it's original or not.

 

Here are some closer photos. The valance I was referring to is called the "tailgate end support" on the Classic Ent website, comes with and without holes for tailgate hinges. For now, I'll plan on dealing with the tailgate last. With the tire carrier and spare installed, you can't even notice it unless you know to look for it.