GM tailgate reproduction parts Beware

[cucvrus]

I was doing some repairs to a 1984 M1028 truck several months ago for a guy and he wanted a new tail gate. I offered to sell him one of my new ones in the box and he declined. He said he can buy them from LMC genuine GM for 1/2 that price. I begged to differ and left him go. I told him to call them and I wanted to know what they said. I did the repairs to his truck and he left with it. They were repairs not related to his tailgate. His tailgate was OK but bowed quite a bit and he did not like it. It was a 1984 M1028 and it did not have a tail gate when it was original. He had picked one up along the way and I painted it for him a couple years back. It is a very nice truck. He came back today with the LMC gate. It is an import that is made in ROC and made by a licensed GM parts restorer. What a shame. He was not happy at all about that. I just wanted to let people know that they are buying imported parts even when it says GM authorized restoration parts. He wanted to trade me the import new gate and cash for mine and I declined. I told him I have the plans to make a bench out of truck tailgates. He should use the new one on his truck and use the old one for a bench. On another note there is a dealer that has a Genuine GM tailgate for an M1009 in California. It was over $500. If anyone is interested I can look up the number again. Good Luck with your projects

 

[Kaiser67M715]

I kind of went through this with the '85 GMC (non-CUCV) I picked up. Tailgate was not rusty but nearly bent in two, and very flimsy, well I scored a deal on a very nice used one, what a difference, the used one weighed almost twice as much, and didn't sound tinny like the one that came with the truck. which pretty much confirmed it was reproduction trash

 

[sweetk30]

was just watching shop the other day on amd metal dirst for the mopar / gm resto guys . they showed there plant they control to there exact specs in china if I recall.

its were all there stuff gets stamped . but they did show a bit on how they control / tweek and use same or better thickness metal over original or cheep aftermarket .

last few gm o.e.m used tailgates I have scored for whole trucks from down south for 500-700 bucks already up here . or 2 I got from a guys barn raftors for $75.00 each like new . . .

 

[JUNKYARDJOHN]

Most people that are attracted to Chineez sheetmetal because of price, have to learn that lesson for themselves. Others are lucky enough to learn from other peoples mistakes. I've found that you are lucky to get as much as you pay for. (Esspecially from china, where they've never seen a chevy truck) . If something seems too good to be true..... well you know. Good no cheap...... Cheap no good. John

 

[Lonnie]

Licensed parts & genuine parts are 2 totally different things.

Had a similar issue with generic bedsides... you could put your knee on them getting something out of the bed & dent them.
Unfortunately the original stuff is getting hard to come by.

 

[cucvrus]

1 M1009 gate was still available in the US. Connell Chevrolet in California. May I post the phone number? $526.60 for the M1009 gate. There were zero of the new truck gates available. I found this out yesterday when I was searching the GM parts site. I was not that far off when I told the guy $800. for the new GM truck gate in the box. I thought it was realistic. I have seen what they bring at Carlisle. I am painting the knock off for him. Just as well.

 

[goldneagle]

I bought a replacement tailgate for my M1008 pickup. Mine was bent and had cracks in it. When I got the part in I noticed how cheezy it was made. They incorporated the hinge as part of the door from the same thin sheet-metal. When I installed it the fit was lousy. I also ended up with two dents in the metal from where the palms of my hands pushed it shut. Needless to say it went back tot he parts warehouse and I received a refund. I ended up fixing the original one I had.

 

[nyoffroad]

After 20 years doing auto body work I got a job selling aftermarket parts and body shop supplies. There were parts that I and a few others just would not sell such as fiberglass Mustang hoods and truck TAILGATES! I remember one that I had put on a Dodge truck, after fitting and painting it, the owner opened it and then sat on it and the 'spot welds' popped and the gate folded almost in half! I'm sure glad it was owner provided! The box sides don't fit well either and many have a large bow in the center right over the wheel well, where they are clamped wrong and then welded. Things may be different now but then again who knows?

 

[CUCVLOVER]

You just can't find good new parts anymore.

 

[nyoffroad]

You just can't find good new parts anymore.

Sure you can, there out there you just need to look for them and have the money to pay for it.
I have a new in the box GM door and a like new Blazer power tailgate in my garage, if I have them others do too. Sorry the're not for sale at this time!

 

[CUCVLOVER]

Sure you can, there out there you just need to look for them and have the money to pay for it.
I have a new in the box GM door and a like new Blazer power tailgate in my garage, if I have them others do too. Sorry the're not for sale at this time!

Now I feel stupid.

 

[JUNKYARDJOHN]

I lived in Nevada for about 12 years before moving out of the high desert, & back where it's green in the summer. After living in Michigan for 35 years where on a calm night you could hear the cars rust, I was amazed at all of the rust free sheet metal. You could slide under a 40 year old truck in the boneyard, & unbolt parts from a rust free vehical. The last year I was there they had 7 inches of precipitation. I got kinda spoiled by not working on rust bucket projects. It's pretty hard to beat parts made right here in the good old U.S.A.

 

[Assel]

over here in germany people say: if you buy cheap, you buy twice.

I found out thats true, the tools I buy are never the cheap ones...same goes for spare parts etc.

 

[cucvrus]

This is a comparison of the GM 1995 stock and the licensed GM 2015 reproduction restoration parts. The green is a NOS CARC painted GM right fender. The right is a new GM official restoration fender. Check out the stretch marks in the fender where it was formed. I looked at a lot of the old fenders and never saw that type of metal striations. The company that is forming these fenders has not a care in the world for the fit and finish. I did dry fit it and think I can get by with it. The quality of the imports has improved some what over the years. This fender is actually spot welded together and has a decent amount of welds and they are the 3/16" spot welds like the OEM fender has. I wanted a new left OEM fender but they are getting hard to come by. Thanks for looking.

 

[cucvrus]

Keep that Genuine CUCV feeling with Genuine CUCV parts. I have been making rust repair panels from other CUCV's and other GM trucks. The metal is better/thicker and it is cheaper for me since it is right here on my scrap pile. I just cut this hood for repairing the trunk floor in a 1972 Chevrolet Malibu. Man are they strange / ugly looking cars in this day and age. I hate the looks of them now.Back in the day I thought they were the cat meow. Now not so much. it has a vinyl top and the tires are like 1 foot under the sides of the car when I followed it back to my shop. The hood above that I cut up had a nice OEM hood seal on it and the spring and safety catch.

 

[cucvrus]

I made a Upullit score. Cheap but I paid in blood for this score.I scored a Genuine GM right inner fender for $10. US. This still had the sticker on it. I cut my hand on one of the edges that they put in the apron. The bottom corner was like a razor blade. Cut right thru my Mechanics glove.

 

[cucvrus]

I needed the front brake caliper attaching hardware for Mr Rusty. I had been getting as many parts I could from the GM dealer but I do use many Autozone parts with great success. I have fielded many of these parts on other people vehicles as well as my own. I had put brakes on my work M1008 and the shoes rattled. I took it apart and the small tin tension spring was gone. I went and purchased 4 Dorman springs and broke everyone trying to install the spring on the inside brake pad. I went to the GM dealer and they made and still offered a kit for servicing both sides and it was less then $20. I ordered it AC Delco 18K229X GM # 19261238. It arrived I went and picked it up at the GMC / Chevrolet dealership parts department. Guess what? Made in China. A C Delco DuraStop Genuine GM Brake Parts. How sad?? We can not make small brake hardware in the US anymore. I just wanted to share that. Not to depress you but to amuse you. I see it more and more with every parts purchase I make no matter which parts house I go to. Have a good day. Keep your OEM parts and get everyone you can get your hands on. Used US parts are better then new Chinese parts. Unless you have to use them then just be cautious.