XXL Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 My '68 520 doesn't have any straps to limit the tailgate. A picture in the owner's manual shows the tailgate laying all the way down... did the trucks not come with any straps to limit the gate? Mine would certainly hit the bumper and get mangled if I let it drop all the way down. If they did come with straps, does anyone know where I could get a pair of decent quality used ones or even new repops? Quote Link to comment
420n620 Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 what I've seen are chains. think the 521's are the same. Few pic's of what I've seen and for reference.. the only different's is the 520's might of not had the wire that keeps the hook from falling off. i sent ya a pm. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 My 520 chains don't have any holes for a wire. Quote Link to comment
420n620 Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Wayno, just checked on a set of 520 chains and yep, they don't have to hole for the wire. Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 I just went to a decent hardware store and bought some medium sized chain and some caribiner like clasps. Cut a bicycle innertube to length and slide it over the chain before hooking it on unless you want it slapping around obnoxiously all the time. Quote Link to comment
XXL Posted February 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 I just went to a decent hardware store and bought some medium sized chain and some caribiner like clasps. Yep. I was just contemplating that... or scavenging some sheathed cable ones from a modern vehicle. Thanks, all. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Get some old garden hose or bicycle inner tube on the chain to cut down the rattle. They'll look so good someone will steal them! Quote Link to comment
XXL Posted February 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Just picked up a pair of 2002-2008 Dodge Ram check straps for cheap. They have a ring on one end and a "slip ring" kind of setup on the other end. I'm going to remove the metal hoops from the tailgate and the bed side and put some PEM nuts in their place so I can bolt these up. The way the Dodge "slip ring" side works, I'll be able to remove them without any tools if, for any reason, I want to drop the gate below horizontal, or if I want to remove the gate. 1 Quote Link to comment
XXL Posted February 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Get some old garden hose or bicycle inner tube on the chain to cut down the rattle. They'll look so good someone will steal them! BTW, as a many-time Chevy stepside owner, the problem with the garden hose or bicycle tube approach is that those collect water, so you end up with gooey rusted chains. The car manufacturers finally figured this out and now all use shielded cable for check straps. Cheap, easy, and effective. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Use galvanized chain..... :lol: good point Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 I cut a hole into the lowest point of the innertubes on mine when folded. First thing I thought of when I made them... Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 My 1947-53 chevy truck came with a rubber tube around the chain with multiple holes in the tube. BTW, how can anyone hear a chain slapping around over the dual SUs and header with the cherry bomb muffler. Quote Link to comment
XXL Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 My 1947-53 chevy truck came with a rubber tube around the chain with multiple holes in the tube. Yeah, GM stepsides through 87' all had the same basic chain setup. The boots were actually optional. What users found is that the moisture against the chain would rust and mung up, and then the rubber would rot away. I've had nearly a dozen C10's over the years (I posted a pic of my current one in my intro thread... there's so many mods to that thing, it doesn't even have a tailgate any more). Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 My 1947-53 chevy truck came with a rubber tube around the chain with multiple holes in the tube.BTW, how can anyone hear a chain slapping around over the dual SUs and header with the cherry bomb muffler. My truck isn't very loud, just a very nice rumble. Any time I'd hit a pothole or a drainage dip at an intersection, especially when making a turn, they would make an obnoxious racket. Quote Link to comment
DatWifey Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 We had these one on our truck when we bought it and just had Jrock powdercoat them And we found these last summer on a '71 in the junkyard. They still have what appears to be the stock rubber tubing (which is clearly super brittle and deteriorating, but still functional. Quote Link to comment
420n620 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 have to make sure I install a rivet. Thanks for posting Jenn. . Quote Link to comment
dotdat Posted February 3, 2013 Report Share Posted February 3, 2013 ********************* Bought a new 521 many years ago. It came with the semi-clear plastic sleeve like shown above. Wish I still had that truck. Quote Link to comment
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