Lower Rear Tailgate

I'm having probs. sourcing a new rear lower tailgate : my existing one is fine except the bottom edge which is going with rust.
While searching e-bay I saw one from ( I think) a Vogue : it had what looked like a chequered plate along the bottom edge. Has anybody tried repairing the lower edge with a weld/fold ?

IMO please don't do it, if you are unhappy with a bit of corrosion, change the tailgate there will be loads on ebay right colour, £50 plus carriage, or buy a rattle can and sand it down prime, paint and clear coat.

Lower tailgate skin is alloy, frame is steel, you can't weld the two together.
I tip oil in mine on a regular basis which stops the electrolytic corrosion.

That's a good tip, is there some sort of isolating strip between the 2 layers that breaks down over time? when i replace my front wings found fibre washers under each bolting contact point.

benthomas said:

That's a good tip, is there some sort of isolating strip between the 2 layers that breaks down over time? when i replace my front wings found fibre washers under each bolting contact point.

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There should be but there isn't

Datatek said:

Lower tailgate skin is alloy, frame is steel, you can't weld the two together.
I tip oil in mine on a regular basis which stops the electrolytic corrosion.

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I've left it too late I'm afraid. I'm on the hunt for a new lower tailgate : I've got a top. I'll treat it as soon as I unwrap.

Ive seen a couple on e-bay in Alveston for around £50, that is your colour right? my last P38 was Alveston.

could be rioja red

Datatek said:

Lower tailgate skin is alloy, frame is steel, you can't weld the two together.
I tip oil in mine on a regular basis which stops the electrolytic corrosion.

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Sorry Data, just using your reply for stage 2 !
I've now got my tailgate : it's in for painting and I'm preparing for fitting. You need to remove the RH luggage cover support to undo the harness running to the tailgate : it looks like just spring clips holding the plastic luggage cover support ( screwnails undone) : I don't want to force it in case I break the plastic.
Is it just a brute force push up or is there a tchnique to getting it out of the clips ?
Thanks

TAKdriver said:

Sorry Data, just using your reply for stage 2 !
I've now got my tailgate : it's in for painting and I'm preparing for fitting. You need to remove the RH luggage cover support to undo the harness running to the tailgate : it looks like just spring clips holding the plastic luggage cover support ( screwnails undone) : I don't want to force it in case I break the plastic.
Is it just a brute force push up or is there a tchnique to getting it out of the clips ?
Thanks

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Sorry, no idea, I've never removed it.

Cover support is held by one Phillips screw and three plastic trim plugs, then you get hold of it and lift, it is held by spring clips along the window edge.

Datatek said:

Sorry, no idea, I've never removed it.

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Just got it off but snapped a corner of plastic in the process....hopefully not too noticeable.
Thanks.

benthomas said:

That's a good tip, is there some sort of isolating strip between the 2 layers that breaks down over time? when i replace my front wings found fibre washers under each bolting contact point.

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I have now fitted a new lower tailgate : there were various places where bi-metal reaction had fused stuff including, surprisingly one of the bolts for the rear light cluster.
I'm about to scrap the original : anybody needing hinges or the top plastic strip....or anything else off it for that matter before I scrap it ? Postage only, obviously.
Incidentally thanks to Data I have sprayed interior with oil....as well as waxoil and run some engine oil down through the bottom seam.

If it was the top half I'd have taken the lower plastic strip!

domino said:

If it was the top half I'd have taken the lower plastic strip!

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I've got a new top half : I won't be getting around to doing it for a couple of months but I'll keep you in mind for the lower plastc strip when I take the top half off.