Okay, I am assuming that the original paint scheme for a stock tailgate is white letters regardless of the truck color. However, I have seen at least one truck where the tailgate was the truck color, the rectangle around the word Chevrolet was black and the letters were white. Here's a pic of it. Were there variations? What do you guys who take yours back orig or semi orig usually do? Gater
Gater, believe it or not, the lettering on tailgates were not painted on AD's. They were the same color as the tailgate. But, as Nate has said soooo many times, you're paying the bills so you can do whatever makes you happy!
Just my opinon of course, but I think the letters look kinda tacky painted. Since the lettering is embossed I think the tailgate looks good as is. Just my two cents worth....Chris
Then again... Gater, you could always go with a smooth gate, then you don't need to worry about it. Then you could paint something cool on it like some red primered truck owner did... That's a pretty cool looking back end you posted! Where's the rest of it? You really think the Colts D will give up that much? I see Manning getting them ahead to where the Bears GOTTA throw. That's when the Bears will look like they put KC's Tr-INT Green in their uniform 'cause the Bears will be throwing picks and coughing it up.
The rest of the truck Zig, Here is the rest of the truck. It has been on ebay several times in the last little bit. Based on what I have paid compared to this truck he probably has at least $25K in it. I didn't know that the tailgate letters were not painted. I didn't really want to paint mine anyway so that is good. I could have gone with a smooth gate but I just like the letters. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BEAUTIFUL-1953-CHEVROLET-3100-STEPSIDE-5-WINDOW-PICKUP_W0QQitemZ320075590025QQihZ011QQcategoryZ5348QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I think the game is going to be pretty close. Colts D has only gotten tough late so they have the momentum but the Bears are so hungry (I lived in Chicago in '85 and went to Soldier field to watch Walter Peyton and the Refrigerator Perry). I just think that Peyton is a better QB than Grossman and it will come down to who can hold up under pressure in the 4th. One thing for sure, I will be glued to that set tomorrow night. If the house catches fire they will just have to put me out!
We did a truck for a man that had a smooth gate that he took to an airbrush artist and had a stagecoach (Texas thing) being pulled by six very scantily clad girls (world thing). After losing two to theft the insurance company said, "no more". Yeah, yeah I know, "show pictures". In other words, tailgate theme is your call.
Crystal Ball...Yes! Okay, so my crystal ball missed the very first play of the game. I didn't factor in da Bears returning a touchdown OR the Colts not kicking a field goal at the end. My bad. I've always heard "defense wins championships". Well, a good QB dosen't hurt either, huh? Chicago had a good Tr-INT Green stunt double out there yesterday! Back to trucks- Gater, thanks for that site! That is a pretty good looking ride! Have you been able to drive yours around much? If memory serves me, you stayed stock on everything, right? Get you gate and post more pictures please? Thanks!
Zig, I have to admit I was wanting Grossman to dirive down and score a TD so that my prediction would be closer. I am getting really frustrated waiting on the tailgate to be done. I did take the opportunity to do some things like mirrors and wiring while waiting on the tailgate to come in. Can you belive we order it the first week of Dec. and it hasn't come in yet. I am hamstrung because the painter ordered it and he is paying for it. No, I haven't driven it much yet. I have new brake cylinders for the front and I have the bracket that will allow me to put a dual resevoir master cylinder in the stock location. Also, I have 3 seat belts to install. CP has my steering column rebuild kit on back order so I still have that to do. As you can see I am working on safety stuff now so that I can have peace of mind when I take family members out and about. I hope to have everything done within a week or so. Gater
Hey Gater what vendor are you using for the new tailgate? Let us know about the quality of the part when you get it!
I will try to find out the supplier. It is one of those deals where the painter is buying from a local mom & pop type guy who gets his parts from a bigger distributor. The story was that the tailgate was on site in a shipping container and that they would not break the seal till Jan 1 because of inventroy. I don't know if it had to do with the clerical aspects of having to physically counting it or whether it was an inventory tax thing. Either way it sucks pretty bad when you are that close and can't finish because of a lame excuse. I will let you know about the quality. Gater
QUALITY Bed Parts ! Only Mar-K will do ! you DON'T want a crappy tinfoil Aisian tailgate on your truck ! O.K. , rant over . MY ' tacky ' '49 Ghetto truck is white with the rectangle painted glossy red then I used the decal letters from CD in black because the original tailgate is all bent up and the decals are -so- easy to apply , even I could do it , although I was assisted by David P. of Happy Hoppy's Chop Shop painting them would have been a world better -but- that's well over $150.00 and I'm still just a working schmoe . I also have some old metal City license tags bolted to it and a stupid terrorist hunting permit decal along with other tasteless graphics on it because it's MY TRUCK dammit So do it how you like.....
Surf Green '53 E-pay Truck Nice old truck to be sure , I cannot imagine how he'd get anywhere near $25K into that thng with the dents & warts it shows , original engine ? R.U. kidding ? . lotta self-agrandizing B.S. in that add too . for $25K you can easily get a properly restored one . just my worthless opinion there . -Nate
"Also, I have 3 seat belts to install". speaking of which where are you anchoring the belts. i need to get a set for my truck where are you getting yours? are they just lap belts or has anyone tried the sholder kind? any help would be apprechated GT
GT, I got my belts from CP. They are the standard lap belts. I plan to drill 6 holes in the flat part of the cab behind the seat and use the big reinforcing washers that came with to anchor the belts. I have been warned to resist the temptation to drill only 4 holes for 3 sets of belts cause, in a collision, the center two holes would tend to fail with the weight of all 3 people pulling against them. There are a lot of good posts on this forum that contain info or links to info on lap and shoulder belt attachments in our trucks. Just hit the advanced search and select the 47-54 forum. I know its in here somewhere. Gater
Seatbelt How-To Article Hey mylow53, here is a link to a very informative "how-to" with pictures (i love pictures) about installing seatbelts on AD's. www.speedprint.com/Deves50/seatbeltassembly.php Hope this gives you some ideas. Speaking of pictures, i enjoyed your pictures the other day. One that caught my eye was the Model A pickup. Is that a '30 or '31? Is it yours?
What more could you ask for? That site just got added to my "favorites" for later- when it's spring again.
thanks guys i kind of whish i started my blog on this site the other site is a bit slow.. ill look at the belt link... GT and the only trucks i own are a 1953 and a 2003. something about 3's....
hi,classic parts has a good repro tail gate like the orginal .my body man was suprised how well it was made and the thickness of the material and that it fit perfectly. they also have tailgate letters that stick on very well mines been on for 6 years no promblem my truck is two toned painted so i had the painter paint & clear the letters as they came on a sheet then applied them carefully to the truck they look as if they were hand painted on.
