Big gap in tail gate

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PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2020 7:29 pm
Started welding patch panels on my truck this week. There are two rust holes on the bottom corners of the tail gate from a large gap between the skin and the structure of the gate itself on the backside. For whatever reason they did not see this as a problem from factory, so I’m not sure if coating seam sealer on the 1/2 inch gap would prevent debris from getting in there again, or if I need to fab up a piece of metal in place on both sides.
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PostPosted: Fri May 15, 2020 9:22 am
I guess no one else is gonna chime in for you, I was hoping.....

That hole you cut for a Patch, The internal rust in between the panels Goes far beyond what your looking at! those panels should be disassembled and the metal cleaned of all rust and the metal treated OR better yet replace the Panels all together. Cars rust from inside out! what you patch today will rust out in another area very soon after painting down the road if not dealt with now properly. Please watch this video look at the rust hole he is repairing and then the internal rust once panel is removed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUIjDbZJwkI
Trev is a Good guy shares a lot in his Blog he is very talented auto restorer and Metal man.

I do not recognize the Make of the Truck your working on but I have been very successful getting panels for Trucks from suppliers like Tuckers for Chevys and others. I can get any piece I want for a Tail gate including a whole new Gate.

The Large gap the Factory gave you could be filled with square tubeing available from a steel supply stores available in many different sizes. 1/8'',1/4'',1/2'' etc. Or if you have access to a Metal break you could make a Piece from sheet metal to fit.
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.



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PostPosted: Sun May 17, 2020 5:02 pm
Doright wrote:I guess no one else is gonna chime in for you, I was hoping.....

That hole you cut for a Patch, The internal rust in between the panels Goes far beyond what your looking at! those panels should be disassembled and the metal cleaned of all rust and the metal treated OR better yet replace the Panels all together. Cars rust from inside out! what you patch today will rust out in another area very soon after painting down the road if not dealt with now properly. Please watch this video look at the rust hole he is repairing and then the internal rust once panel is removed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUIjDbZJwkI
Trev is a Good guy shares a lot in his Blog he is very talented auto restorer and Metal man.

I do not recognize the Make of the Truck your working on but I have been very successful getting panels for Trucks from suppliers like Tuckers for Chevys and others. I can get any piece I want for a Tail gate including a whole new Gate.

The Large gap the Factory gave you could be filled with square tubeing available from a steel supply stores available in many different sizes. 1/8'',1/4'',1/2'' etc. Or if you have access to a Metal break you could make a Piece from sheet metal to fit.


Thanks again for getting back to me Doright. I’ll have to treat the rust and weld in the new panel.



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PostPosted: Mon May 18, 2020 1:17 pm
Use Phosphoric acid based products to treat rust with after blasting.
I use a Cold Galvanizing products to stop rust one of them by Axalta previously Dupont 5717s cleaner and 5718S metal conditioner But I found that PPG also sells and recommends there own Cold Galvanizing compounds as well,

PPG SX579 Metal cleaner & SX520 metal conditioner.
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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