Hi all,

The reflective red plastic "FORD" strip on my tailgate fell off. Fortunately my truck held onto it somehow right until I backed into my driveway (good girl!).

This piece attaches to a grey plastic strip which is still attached but is cracked and looks like it may have been re-glued on by the previous owner.

A few questions:

1) Can anyone suggest a good adhesive for reattaching this plastic reflective "FORD" strip?

2) Or alternatively, does anyone know what is underneath the silver colored metal plate that covers the central 80% of my tailgate? Are the letters "F O R D" stamped into the tailgate under there? If so, I might consider trying to just remove the metal plate.

Thanks!

 

There are holes drilled through the tailgate.

 

Yes, that WAS a good girl.

That particular tailgate trim moulding is not reproduced, and there are none left from Ford. They were about $400.00 new. That style was only available for the 1985 - 1986 model years, so they are extremely hard to locate.

Yes, the "F O R D" letters should be stamped into the tailgate underneath. But like Fordzilla said, there are going to be a bunch of holes to fill up because your truck has the optional XLT Lariat aluminum tailgate panel.

 

Clean both surfaces with alcohol (don't waste your drink). Then use the two-sided 3M gray tape (trim tape) with the red plastic backer. Press fairly hard to set. It'll never come off again.
When I got my truck, that strip was missing, so I just cut a piece of aluminum and used that tape. I can't get it back off now, and I want to.

 

3M tape with red backing - got it. Considering your skills 81ChopTop, that's all the recomendation I need. Thanks guys!

 

That stuff works quite well. Used it to attach a missing piece of trim on my RX7. Finding the missing piece was the trick, as that particular piece was almost always the first to fall off, since it went right under the fuel filler.......


As for getting something back off, a razor blade carefully used to cut the foam between the sticky stuff, is the only way I've ever seen work. Then you have to carefully work at removing the remnents.......

 

...

What? You asked!

 

I had to fix two rotten fence posts a few weeks ago. Whoever set the posts before just set them in without concrete or anything, and the posts weren't pressure treated. When I put my new pressure treated posts in, I used two bags of concrete per post. Neither of them are going anywhere.

 

I was thinking this instead....





Hey, it won't come off....

 

You want me to BURY my tailgate strip in my back yard or something? Funny.

I'm gonna try to use the grey 3M tape. My biggest worry is that I won't get the piece back on perfectly straight/level, and then won't be able to remove and correct it! I'm already mentally hand-wringing about it...

 

Might I suggest selling it? You can get a lot of lead kit to fill the holes and still get some change from a $400+ sale!

If I offend, forgive please.

 

There is some stuff called Amazing Goop available at many auto parts stores that works pretty well.

 

OK - anyone want to give me $400 for this thing? Anyone? Anyone?

 

Too late! You missed your chance. I just taped it back on carefully using the recomended 3M "Super Strength Molding Tape". It does seem to really be solidly attached.

 

Like others said, glue all the way.

Check the link in my sig. I have a tailgate like yours with the whole thing missing. I have a bare bones truck, so it was probably swapped. But, it was nasty. Different color under the plastic, rusty, 9 holes in it, and bent. I'd think about unscrewing the plastic to see how your metal is before you glue the red back on. But yes, keep it if at all possible.