[dmosko]

Hey,
Check out the placement of my striker plate.
I have a pic from someone else's whose striker is reversed. They can be attached either L or R, which would mean one is upside down.
Please check yours and either post a pic, or let me know if mine is correct or not.
Thank you!!

Dave

 

[pbr400]

Both of mine are mounted like your picture-tab thing up.

Patrick

 

[VinnyD]

Both of mine are facing down.
I have a very stock/original car. I still have original paint and I have very good reason to believe many things have never been apart on my elky.
With the tabs facing down they offer some covering for the bolts for the tailgate straps.
I also see that on your right side you have what looks like a frontend alignment shim in there. That should not be there.

 

[pbr400]

Good to know! I was rear ended a decade ago and the damage was to both the tailgate and right rear quarter. If the body shim isn’t there, the tailgate latch pin only barely catches. I knew that was ‘off’ but live with it but never thought the latches might be upside down.
However—there was no need to remove the left side hardware for the repair, and a quick google search shows a bunch of low mile examples mounted with the tab up. (And the tab being up seems to match the contour of the metal). GM does list left and right, 9618051 as left, 9618050 as right, but I can’t find an image of either number and the parts manual image isn’t clear. Anyone? Bueller?
Patrick

 

[EL S ONE]

My tabs are down. I'm the original owner.😮

 

[1hellhound!]

tabs down on mine,,2nd owner never been apart or repainted

 

[pbr400]

The super low mile one discussed last year is ‘tabs down’, and one online vendor shows original GM ones oriented down based upon the R/L numbers. Could be factory or body shop mistake on mine, factory mistake on others like mine. Very interesting!!
Patrick

1987 Chevrolet El Camino Conquista

Bid for the chance to own a 1987 Chevrolet El Camino Conquista at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #45,030.

bringatrailer.com

 

[1hellhound!]

you have the parts and illustration catalog image ? if not when my wife gets home i will post a photo from that..lol it's showing the inside view but you can see a line which is probably the top of that tab facing down

 

[dmosko]

Thank you all for your time!!
I wanted to know if the tab should orient down or up. It appears the downs have it. )
It seems with the tabs down, the cable travel is limited.
I am curious though what the catalogue illustration shows. Please post a photo when your wife comes home @1hellbound!

Dave

 

[pbr400]

It’s not really clear in the catalog…

 

[dmosko]

It’s not really clear in the catalog…

I see that.
Crude drawing.

Thanks Patrick

 

[Karadjgne]

From my perspective, tab should be down. Preventative measure to stop the cable from sticking out 90° from its mount and getting tangled/stuck in the gate when it lifted to close position.

 

[EL S ONE]

X2 on the cable tangling/stuck reasoning. 😮

 

[dmosko]

Tabs down makes perfect sense in keeping cables from lifting / binding, and what prompted me to inquire.

 

[elcodude]

That is how mine was mounted.

Although, I added a bumper to eliminate the "tailgate rattle".

 

[pbr400]

You should have the rubber gaskets on the vertical edges.
Patrick

 

[1hellhound!]

the spring holds/keeps the cable down and i don't see the spring in any of the photos ??

 

[VinnyD]

Yes, there is a spring that holds the cable down so it lays properly when closing the tailgate.

 

[pbr400]

Spring mounts on the tailgate end if the cable and hooks into a small hole in the gate.

 

[1hellhound!]

thats right,,i had to clean off the snow and look