Tail Gate Cap

[agoody68]

I am putting a Silverado tail gate cap on my GMC. Has anyone else done this before ? I have all the factory hardware, but not sure how these new nuts and bolts work. The nuts are special, and I am not sure if they are the spreading type ? I know I need to drill holes for the bolts, but is there a way to get to the inside of the tail gate to put the nuts on ? Help

[MemphisDoug]

I am putting a Silverado tail gate cap on my GMC.  Has anyone else done this before ?  I have all the factory hardware, but not sure how these new nuts and bolts work.  The nuts are special, and I am not sure if they are the spreading type ? I know I need to drill holes for the bolts, but is there a way to get to the inside of the tail gate to put the nuts on ?  Help

 

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I am guessing that the "nuts" that you have are what is known as rivnuts. These are installed in the proper size hole with a special tool that expands them like a pop rivet. There is no need to get inside the tailgate, it is all done from the outside. Like I said, though, you need the special tool to expand the nut so it remains tight in the hole and doesn't spin. Do the nuts you have look like oversized pop rivets but with a threaded hole instead of a stem?

 

Do you have the stick on cap now? Have you taken it off yet and checked for holes already in your tailgate. I had to get a new gate for my truck and the holes were already in it. They just got covered over by the stick on cap.

[agoody68]

I am putting a Silverado tail gate cap on my GMC.  Has anyone else done this before ?  I have all the factory hardware, but not sure how these new nuts and bolts work.  The nuts are special, and I am not sure if they are the spreading type ? I know I need to drill holes for the bolts, but is there a way to get to the inside of the tail gate to put the nuts on ?  Help

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I am guessing that the "nuts" that you have are what is known as rivnuts. These are installed in the proper size hole with a special tool that expands them like a pop rivet. There is no need to get inside the tailgate, it is all done from the outside. Like I said, though, you need the special tool to expand the nut so it remains tight in the hole and doesn't spin. Do the nuts you have look like oversized pop rivets but with a threaded hole instead of a stem?

 

Do you have the stick on cap now? Have you taken it off yet and checked for holes already in your tailgate. I had to get a new gate for my truck and the holes were already in it. They just got covered over by the stick on cap.

 

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Thank you very much for the reply. You answered my questions. I'll let you know once I get the old cap off just what is all there.

[steve summers]

I am putting a Silverado tail gate cap on my GMC.  Has anyone else done this before ?  I have all the factory hardware, but not sure how these new nuts and bolts work.  The nuts are special, and I am not sure if they are the spreading type ? I know I need to drill holes for the bolts, but is there a way to get to the inside of the tail gate to put the nuts on ?  Help

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I am guessing that the "nuts" that you have are what is known as rivnuts. These are installed in the proper size hole with a special tool that expands them like a pop rivet. There is no need to get inside the tailgate, it is all done from the outside. Like I said, though, you need the special tool to expand the nut so it remains tight in the hole and doesn't spin. Do the nuts you have look like oversized pop rivets but with a threaded hole instead of a stem?

 

Do you have the stick on cap now? Have you taken it off yet and checked for holes already in your tailgate. I had to get a new gate for my truck and the holes were already in it. They just got covered over by the stick on cap.

 

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I've done this a number of times.

 

The factory hardware is a rivnut, the holes should already be in the tailgate.

 

I did this on 3 different trucks without the special tool, the rivnuts collapse behind the surface of the tailgate to hold them in place. I used a 6mm allen bolt, a 6mm nut and a washer. The rivnuts are cheap so you might test one before you install it in the tailgate. thread the nut onto the bolt, then slide the washer on, thread it into the rivnut until the head of the rivnut hits the washer. Make sure the bolt goes all the way to the end of the rivnut at a minimum. Insert the rivnut in the tailgate, hold the bolt with an allen wrench and turn the 6mm nut with a 10mm wrench. This will pull the back side of the rivnut towards the surface collapsing it. The trick is to get the insert tight enough, without over tightening it.

 

 

 

 

Thank you very much for the reply. You answered my questions. I'll let you know once I get the old cap off just what is all there.

 

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[agoody68]

Well, I put the new cap on last night. The holes were already there, you were right. It was very easy to do. The worst part was getting the old adhesive off the tail gate. The Chevy cap looks much better (beefy) than my old GMC one. Thanks for your help guys.

[curly]

I am pricing a Chevy tailgate cap right now.... it does look alot better than the factory one that GMC installs on their trucks. Did you need the special tool to install it that was mentioned above?

[agoody68]

Yes, I work at a dealership, and we have the special tool. It works great. Very easy to use. I am sure you could find someone with one. You will be much happier with the looks of the new cap. Our cost on the cap was like $50 some bucks, and the special insert nuts, and screws were another $15 or so. I recomend all factory parts. It worked slick. Good luck.

[steve summers]

I am pricing a Chevy tailgate cap right now.... it does look alot better than the factory one that GMC installs on their trucks. Did you need the special tool to install it that was mentioned above?

 

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As I said in my previous post, I can get you a take off cap and bolts locally from the Line-X Dealer for $20. I can't imagine it would cost more than $25 to ship it. The retail on the bolts alone is about $4 each. I would be happy to get one and ship it with the bolts for forum members that want one.

[curly]

I am pricing a Chevy tailgate cap right now.... it does look alot better than the factory one that GMC installs on their trucks. Did you need the special tool to install it that was mentioned above?

 

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As I said in my previous post, I can get you a take off cap and bolts locally from the Line-X Dealer for $20. I can't imagine it would cost more than $25 to ship it. The retail on the bolts alone is about $4 each. I would be happy to get one and ship it with the bolts for forum members that want one.

 

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I didn't see the other post on this.... check your PM's. Thanks .