BURNEDORANGE620 Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 I wanted to make my tail gate not only for butt-friendly to sit on, but more practical like when loading my motorcycle into my truck. I started by buying some 1/2" X 1" rectangular (not square) steel tubing. I used my 4" grinder and Dremel tool to shape my supports as seen in this picture. I added four supports somewhat evenly spaced. And, I bought some diamond plate aluminum, 1/8th or 3/16" inch thick and had the industrial metal supply shop cut it 1/4" smaller in length and width than my tail gate measurement. After welding in the supports, I planned where I was going to position the screws and then drilled through the aluminum plate and into the frame of the tailgate and into the supports I had just welded in. I then tapped each hole in the tailgate. I meticulously countersunk each hole in the aluminum plate and used stainless steel countersunk Allen head screws to fasten down the aluminum plate. It is solid, strong, good-looking and practical. Total cost, about $100, mostly the cost of the aluminum diamond plate. 6 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Factory inner gate liner was a factory option from May '75. It was just to protect the outer skin from dents caused from loose cargo. It came with two extra supports as well as the one already on the tailgate. I doubt it would stand up to motorcycles being loaded like yours. Can we move this to the 620 section? 2 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Looks great! Nice work! 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 I agree, looks nice! 1 Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Wow, that looks bitchen, nice job! And it is well thought out. Can I ask what kind of bed liner that is? and does it hold up well?Thx, 2 Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 You should be aware that in the future you will have intermetalic corrosion between the Aluminum plate and the steel structure. Probably but not exclusively at the screws to Aluminum plate interface. The USAF found out the hard way and prescribed a specific sequence of metalic washers for every Copper bus bar to Aluminum aircraft structure. Yes you have Aluminum to steel, not Copper to Aluminum! No I don't have a copy of that Tech Order, but any High School Chemistry or Phisics text books has a table called "The Electromotive Sequence of Metals", the rule of thumb is "No more that 0.25 volts difference between adjoining metals." The refurbishment of the Statue of Liberty ran into similar problems with the steel to Copper skin panels. 4 Quote Link to comment
Jester Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Factory inner gate liner was a factory option from May '75 I would like to see proof of that statement. As they were only on the 1979 kiing cab. Cool gate cover. I thought about making one as well. I have a factory one but I want to cut in beer holders. I can't bring myself to cut the factory piece, even if it is bent. 1 Quote Link to comment
Rick-rat Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Excellent job 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 I would like to see proof of that statement. As they were only on the 1979 kiing cab. 93420-B5105 is what I have up until 06 '78 then the number changes to 93420-B9800 for the '79 model year. Have Nissan look that up. 1 Quote Link to comment
Jester Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Cool. I'll PM that to LorenO and have him check that out. I was told that was a just a KC thing and only for the '79 model year. I have been wrong in the past you know............. Thanks Mike 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 I heard '79 also. 1 Quote Link to comment
Jester Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 FutoFab has some cool stuff to help out too. CHECK IT OUT. 1 Quote Link to comment
Pacific coast Datsun Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Clean mod well done !! 1 Quote Link to comment
BURNEDORANGE620 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Factory inner gate liner was a factory option from May '75. It was just to protect the outer skin from dents caused from loose cargo. It came with two extra supports as well as the one already on the tailgate. I doubt it would stand up to motorcycles being loaded like yours. Can we move this to the 620 section? 1 Quote Link to comment
BURNEDORANGE620 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Yes, of course! I messed up! 1 Quote Link to comment
BURNEDORANGE620 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Wow, that looks bitchen, nice job! And it is well thought out. Can I ask what kind of bed liner that is? and does it hold up well?Thx, 1 Quote Link to comment
BURNEDORANGE620 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Thanks! That's a professionally sprayed on textured bed liner. It's very tough stuff, but a little pricey at $500 and I had to grind off all the rust before they'd touch it...it's called Linex. 2 Quote Link to comment
BURNEDORANGE620 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 You should be aware that in the future you will have intermetalic corrosion between the Aluminum plate and the steel structure. Probably but not exclusively at the screws to Aluminum plate interface. The USAF found out the hard way and prescribed a specific sequence of metalic washers for every Copper bus bar to Aluminum aircraft structure. Yes you have Aluminum to steel, not Copper to Aluminum! No I don't have a copy of that Tech Order, but any High School Chemistry or Phisics text books has a table called "The Electromotive Sequence of Metals", the rule of thumb is "No more that 0.25 volts difference between adjoining metals." The refurbishment of the Statue of Liberty ran into similar problems with the steel to Copper skin panels. 1 Quote Link to comment
BURNEDORANGE620 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 What would have been a better option? Just zinc-plated screws? 1 Quote Link to comment
fritzdixxon Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 A steel plate would have also been an option. What about a gasket between the surfaces? Throw a hinge on and make a small toolbox in the cavity, I haven't seen that yet but will be trying it if I ever get a 620. 3 Quote Link to comment
sanyantho Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Looks good, and useful.. good job 2 Quote Link to comment
DaBlist Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Throw a hinge on and make a small toolbox in the cavity 1 Quote Link to comment
sebpv Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 hummmm...what exactly is pictured here? I think my eyes are fooling me... 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Gotta be drugs. Who would go to that much effort? 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Without a doubt, drugs. Or bacon. 3 Quote Link to comment
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