I found a guy that has a 48-52 f2/f3 tailgate and it is almost perfect. He said a farmer took it off his truck and put it in the barn. Straight with original paint. The only rust is where it was in the dirt of the barn. (just surface rust on 3 inches of one end) What is is worth? I know they are hard items to find..

 

I paid $450 for mine maybe six years ago. Same perfect condition. Stu

 

I had two at one time. One had some rust through at the bottom roll and needed to be straightened. I finally sold it locally for $175. I also have another one that's solid, but needs to be straightened in several areas. I'm trying to sell it for $275-250 and having a hard time.

If the one you found is perfect, Stu is right on the money. The issue is finding someone who is willing to spend that kind of money on a tailgate for a truck model that is not as popular as the F1. For comparison, repro F1 tailgates are now in the $300 range. I usually sell a decently used F1 tailgate for $125-150.

 

Guess I made out like a bandit as I paid $75 for my 1951/52 Mercury tailgate. It not perfect but it is straight and better than my other one missing the Mercury name. I also got a 1948-50 Ford one for free but there isn't any paint left on that one.

 

I sold an entire F2 -3 bed, fenders, tailgate axle etc for 550? IIrc
( it was a trailer) and in nearly perfect shape.
Guy drove up from vegas to get it. He was pretty happy with it.

 

Jordan has it on eBay now. Stu

 

Looks to be an early ('48 - early '50) style, based on the chain attachment, although I'm not sure how that worked for the bigger trucks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1948-1949-1950-1951-1952-ford-truck-pickup-f2-f3-3-4-ton-tailgate-tail-gate-/281110106649?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item417377d219&vxp=mtr

 

The beds didn't change design on the bigger trucks like they did on the half tons. Ford parts catalog confirms same gate for F2/3 fits 44-52, and possibly earlier but that is the limit of scope of the catalog I have.

 

If you find another one of those, let me know please.

 

Dang you guys are on it!! Ebay scouts! haha wish me luck!

 

I've looked through everything I've got (three versions of the Chassis Catalog/Green Bible/and body manual) and can't find a part number for the Express bed tail gate. I've got a whisper in the back of my head saying it's the same as used on the 47 and earlier tonners, but can't prove it. Anybody have a reference? Stu

 

Sure, Stu,
From the 44-52 Ford Body Parts Catalog, Jan. 1952 edition (the real book, not a repro or a cd) 81Y 830700. Fits 44-52 D83, Y83. As I said in my earlier post, it's very likely it fits earlier trucks, but this is the limits of the scope of this catalog.

 

There's your answer. But what frustrates me is I have the same reference, same original 1/52 published book, but that's not in mine. Mine is silent to the beds of either of the pickups, whether 6.5' or 8'. The last section in it is the carpet section, #67516/7. No apparent missing pages. Wonder what gives.

Edit - and sorry I overlooked your earlier mention of it. Stu

 

I started with the alphabetical index at the front of the book, page XI. It's segmented by section of vehicle, and this is the "back" section. Looking for tailgate I find tailgates for cars (station wagons), and both sizes of pickups. Shows model Y83, one ton pickup as group number 0700. Finding group # 0700 in the text pages, it's page 7. In the center of page 7, I have group 0700 Gate Assy. (tail), where it shows the application we're looking for.

 

Hmmm. In the front of the book, you say!! I'll look again, but I'll have to walk out to the shop to do that. I'll be back. Stu

Edit - well I'll be. There it is. I also then went back through the Green Bible and still don't find that section or part number. Thanks Wayne. Stu