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Smooth skin for the tailgate

T

Tank1102

New Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2004
Messages
4
Fellas,
Does anyone know where to find a smooth skin to replace the one that has chevrolet on it. The ext skin fits but the lines do not match up. Maybe someone knows a fabricator. My truck is being customized as we speak and I really want to replace he tailgate skin
HELP!
Many thanks
Dave
 
The EXT skin is the one people Use. The caddie handel cover is also needed I believe.

THIS IS AN AV IN THE PIC
 

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  • ext_tgate2.jpg
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looks fine on the Avalanche in the picture above. Aside from flilling holes for the emblem and the handel cover. This is the first I've herd of this can't work. I have seen/herd of dozens of ext skins used on AV's......??????
 
Hmmmm Id think it would be one hell a lot easier to make that line disappear than any other options you don't have.......LOL
 
go to this thread.....
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=48;action=display;threadid=16532

There is a guy that posted on the front page that has the EXT tailgate on his WBH.
 
(y)

fromtheback.jpg
 
I like what Noose did, but I wouldn't do that. I want to keep the top piece of the tailgate as cladded (his is painted) I'd paint the bezel SOM...this is definitely a work in progress... :rolleyes:
 
Another thing you might consider trying is to just shave the letters off the original gate. I will be doing that myself in the future. If you have body and fab skills it would not be that hard. You would need to cut out the letter section in a rectangle and replace with a smooth section. I was thinking about this the other day. 93-98 Fbody doors can be had dirt cheap. They are made of similar material as or gates. You cut out and graft in a section out for the door that most resembles the contour of the gate.

Shouldn't be but a days work for a good custom guy.
 
I am in currently in the process of doing that. The only thing I am waiting for is the lower EXT molding for the tailgate and the Cadillac crest for the tailgate. I already have the EXT skin, handle,bezel. I will most likely have this mod done by the end of next week. The GM part number for the skin is 88944303.
 
Shaving is a loose term in this case. The process consists of cutting out a big rectangle. Measure the hole and cut a piece of scrap to match the hole. Now glass the patch panel in place flush with the surface and finsh the body prep.

Its basicly the same as welding up a big patch panel in an old car. You are just working with different material. The concept is all the same.
 
I had to replace my tailgate skin a long time ago. I wish I had thought of using the ext skin myself back then. The panel was not very expensive. maybe the best solution is still to buy The EXT skin and carve it up to replace the Chevrolet lettering. The panel at its thickest is 3/16 or so, just 1/8 overall. The Chevrolet is pressed in the panel so you see the reverse from behind. I wonder if that EXT line is thick enough to be sanded out.

I hope I'm not rambling to much.
 
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