Sorry if this is kind of a stupid question, im pretty new to this still. When I bought my 85 the guy have me a free tailgate he had pulled out of a junkyard to replace the slightly beat up one on the car. I'm trying to keep it as stock as possible so i was wondering if there was a way to tell what kind of car the newer tailgate came from.

I am confused...
You do mean that he gave you a tailgate from another el camino, right? You said "what kind of car the newer tailgate came from". Most cars, except for ours, don't have tailgates. I'm not sure that a tailgate from another truck would fit on an el camino. Finally, assuming it is a tailgate from another el camino, it can't be much newer than yours, because they stopped making them in 87....

'85 to '87 were all 5th generation Caminos and I don't think there were any changes in that year range - all made in Mexico. If it looks the same, it is. If it looks different, it's for something else.

'85 to '87 were all 5th generation Caminos and I don't think there were any changes in that year range - all made in Mexico. If it looks the same, it is. If it looks different, it's for something else.


ANY EL CAMINO TAIL GATE 5TH GEN WILL FIT 78-87 LIKE HE SAID ABOVE IF ITS IDENTICAL THEN UR GOOD... IF ITS NOT THEN ITS FOR ANOTHER TRUCK. BUT IM SURE THE PREVIOUS OWNER WOULD GET THE SAME ONE HE NEEDS.. PICS WOULD BE NICE AND HELP ALOT:poke:

I am confused...
You do mean that he gave you a tailgate from another el camino, right? You said "what kind of car the newer tailgate came from". Most cars, except for ours, don't have tailgates. I'm not sure that a tailgate from another truck would fit on an el camino. Finally, assuming it is a tailgate from another el camino, it can't be much newer than yours, because they stopped making them in 87....

He gave me a tailgate he said would fit my 85. I flat out dont know if any other tailgates from any chevy car would fit, so that why I am wondering if it is possible it is from another non-el camino car. Like i said it might be a stupid question and i am pretty new to this stuff. I guess i'm just trying to make sure that only el camino tails gates will fit on an el camino...I hope that makes sense, and sorry for not being very clear...

im pretty new here (having just signed up yesterday) and pretty new to el caminos in general but im pretty sure no other chevy CAR had a tailgate at all

im pretty new here (having just signed up yesterday) and pretty new to el caminos in general but im pretty sure no other chevy CAR had a tailgate at all
Not so fast little grasshopper...have you ever heard of the 78-83 Malibu wagon? Although it looks like a 5th gen Elky tailgate, it won't work.

What's the big mystery here? Does it look the same or not? License plate pocket in the center? Do they have the same dimensions?

87ElCamino

i dont know why i didnt think of the wagon i always liked them.
As far as it fitting i guess you probably kno better than i do.

I guess i have some learnin to do

Open the tailgate that's on it, and lay the new on on the ground behind it, Pretty self evident then if it's the same, which it likely is.....
Get your wrenches out and switch it!:smileyb:

Not so fast little grasshopper...have you ever heard of the 78-83 Malibu wagon? Although it looks like a 5th gen Elky tailgate, it won't work.


Nice, Ernie!

Best Regards,

Tony

It fits fine, i guess i was just worrying over nothing. Thanks for all the responses guys

the only difference that i have seen is that some have the studs on the outer panel to accept the clip for the moulding used on some model trims. if they are there you just have to grind them off. carl