Save this rusted Mopar tailgate or buy a Chinese copy?

Vtx531

TJ Addict
Joined
Nov 17, 2020
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1,661
Location
Kalamazoo, MI
I discovered my factory tailgate has some rust on the bottom seam.

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I hit it with the needle scaler. Seems pretty solid.

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Think I should sandblast and keep it or get a knockoff replacement tailgate? Will be getting a complete paintjob either way.
 
wire wheel it, apply whatever coatings you used elsewhere on the project, and send it. I'd swap it out only if it were bent or mechanically jacked up.
 
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I would not invest any time in that tailgate. Davey’s Jeeps in Salem, Ohio has an entire rack of them used, solid as a rock. I would easily go that way first. Second choice, I would get a new reproduction tailgate. I’ve done a reproduction tailgate already and it was not bad at all. Fit was near perfect…
 
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What Pman meant to say is Chineese stuff is junk. Id say keep it.

Get another one from a wrecking yard.

Keep it. Address/kill the rust, paint the inside with Eastwoods internal frame coating spray the inside with Fluid Film, then paint the exterior.

Live with it till you find a good used one preferably the same color

I would not invest any time in that tailgate. Davey’s Jeeps in Salem, Ohio has an entire rack of them used, solid as a rock. I would easily go that way first. Second choice, I would get a new reproduction tailgate. I’ve done a reproduction tailgate already and it was not bad at all. Fit was near perfect… Anything else JEEPCJTJ hits "Reply" to.

There's my version of what should be done with some minor changes as needed. Add "spray the inside with Fluid Film" to all of it.
 
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I would not invest any time in that tailgate. Davey’s Jeeps in Salem, Ohio has an entire rack of them used, solid as a rock. I would easily go that way first. Second choice, I would get a new reproduction tailgate. I’ve done a reproduction tailgate already and it was not bad at all. Fit was near perfect…

Near perfect? So better than from factory? :p
 
Near perfect? So better than from factory? :p

Yeah for real. I was shocked how well it worked out fit and finish wise. When I was done you couldn’t tell, except for one bolt hole, that it wasn’t a factory tailgate…
 
Absolutely save that. It is far from a goner. Nothing better than restoring the original parts of you vehicle and bringing them new life. I say keep as many original parts of your vehicle as you can. Things like wheels and suspension ok I can see changing those but doors, factor lights, factory interior ,etc. restore it and you'll be happy you did.
 
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Thanks everyone. I think I'll keep it.

I contacted Davey's Jeeps and he doesn't have any of those tailgates.

I sanded and cleaned up the bottom of the tailgate a little bit and the bottom edge actually seems like it is in pretty good shape even though the inside seam is not pretty.

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