looking for some information on the fit of the tail gate on a 70 el camino. we put the catches on the new tail gate and it seems to have some play after it is locked.

I think 68-72 should be the same. Mine "69" is tight no rattles or movement when closed.

Does the catches on the verticle bed styles have the rubber bushing inside were the tailgate latches meet?

yes the rubber bushing are on the bed catches.

My 70 has no movement anywhere when closed.
Bob

Been awhile since I fixed mine but if I remember correctly you just loosen the big phillups head bolts and you can adjust the position of the latches on the bed(not the tailgate).

thats going fun since the latches have never been moved. ill have to lube up the screws and hope i can get them losen.

thats going fun since the latches have never been moved. ill have to lube up the screws and hope i can get them losen.

It's not that hard but DO invest in the proper size bit before you even attempt it. I got one for a 3/8 drive rachet from NAPA and had no trouble getting them loose. I thick it's a #3 but could be a number 4, like this

http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=J99720&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=J5242&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO

here is a little video of the tail gate http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/?action=view&current=b9c62bd0.flv . here are some pics of the body catches and the gap around the tail gate http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/044.jpg http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/045.jpg http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/046.jpg http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/047.jpg

Is that an aftermarket tailgate?

The fit on the sides is way off vertically on the driver side, and, I think the latch parts on the tailgate itself must be way off for it to be that loose!!!:confused:

it is an aftermarket tailgate. as the the latches on the tailgate we cant change them as there is no sloted holes in the tail gate. the ones on the body has been moved by someone else. the latch on the drivers side is almost touching the bed area where the passager side isn't touching at all. as for the gap being off vertically on the drivers side i don't know why as that area wasn't touched. could the tailgate be that far off?

The part of the latches on the tailgate are not supposed to be adjustable, only the ones on the bed.

I have seen many elkies where the tailgate wasn't centered between the bed sides but I haven't seen any with a vertical alignment problem like that. I would compare the sides of the tailgate to see if they are parallel/square, if they are then the tailgate should be ok. If the tailgate sides are paralell/square it looks like the bottom of the tailgate is too close to the driver side bed and it needs to be shimmed or otherwise tweeked toward the passenger side.

Check the bed sides to see if they are parallel/square too!!! Maybe the driver side quarter has been replaced at some point in time and was not correctly installed.

At any rate you've got some work to do to match everthing up!!!

both quarters were done we did them and used full quarters. would the shims go on the tail gate where the hinge bolts on or on the bed side of the hinge? this is the first el camino we have done so thats why all the questions

both quarters were done we did them and used full quarters. would the shims go on the tail gate where the hinge bolts on or on the bed side of the hinge? this is the first el camino we have done so thats why all the questions

I put them behind the hinge bracket on the bed side of the hinge. I also had to heat and beat the bracket on the oposite side a bit to get it perfect.