Tailgate latch replacement

Hi,



When I bought the CJ7 the tailgate latches were already missing, the
tailgate was bolted shut using the holes where the steel cables used to be
fixed. I finally got around to fixing that, and I found why this "fix"
existed. The threads in the tailgate are gone, so the latches cannot be
mounted.

The question: Do you know of a replacement system to keep the tailgate shut
that doesn't use the holes to mount the latches?



Thom.

Thom did pass the time by typing:
> Hi,
>
>
>
> When I bought the CJ7 the tailgate latches were already missing, the
> tailgate was bolted shut using the holes where the steel cables used to be
> fixed. I finally got around to fixing that, and I found why this "fix"
> existed. The threads in the tailgate are gone, so the latches cannot be
> mounted.
>
> The question: Do you know of a replacement system to keep the tailgate shut
> that doesn't use the holes to mount the latches?

Duct tape?



How about fixing the threads? You can either go larger and tap new ones
(metal permitting) or have it filled, drilled, and threaded. Lots of options
for fixing things like that.

Also an option.
But then I would have to find original latches and other stuff I'm missing.
And that stuff probably costs more than I'm willing to spend. I wasn't
unhappy with those bolts you know ;-)
I'm just looking around for possibilities.

"DougW" > wrote in message
news:%NhAd.4170$2_4.2166@okepread06...
> Thom did pass the time by typing:
>> Hi,
>>
>>
>>
>> When I bought the CJ7 the tailgate latches were already missing, the
>> tailgate was bolted shut using the holes where the steel cables used to
>> be
>> fixed. I finally got around to fixing that, and I found why this "fix"
>> existed. The threads in the tailgate are gone, so the latches cannot be
>> mounted.
>>
>> The question: Do you know of a replacement system to keep the tailgate
>> shut
>> that doesn't use the holes to mount the latches?
>
> Duct tape?
>
>
>
> How about fixing the threads? You can either go larger and tap new ones
> (metal permitting) or have it filled, drilled, and threaded. Lots of
> options
> for fixing things like that.
>
>
>
>
>

How about one of those slide latches on each side? The kind they use
for doors with the pin or bar that slides sideways. Something like the
top two here?
http://www.nextag.com/buyer/outpdir....=slid e+latch

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Thom wrote:
>
> Also an option.
> But then I would have to find original latches and other stuff I'm missing.
> And that stuff probably costs more than I'm willing to spend. I wasn't
> unhappy with those bolts you know ;-)
> I'm just looking around for possibilities.
>
> "DougW" > wrote in message
> news:%NhAd.4170$2_4.2166@okepread06...
> > Thom did pass the time by typing:
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> When I bought the CJ7 the tailgate latches were already missing, the
> >> tailgate was bolted shut using the holes where the steel cables used to
> >> be
> >> fixed. I finally got around to fixing that, and I found why this "fix"
> >> existed. The threads in the tailgate are gone, so the latches cannot be
> >> mounted.
> >>
> >> The question: Do you know of a replacement system to keep the tailgate
> >> shut
> >> that doesn't use the holes to mount the latches?
> >
> > Duct tape?
> >
> >
> >
> > How about fixing the threads? You can either go larger and tap new ones
> > (metal permitting) or have it filled, drilled, and threaded. Lots of
> > options
> > for fixing things like that.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

That would be "in budget" ;-)
As usual something else came up an this project is put on the shelf again.

Thanks,
Thom.


"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
> How about one of those slide latches on each side? The kind they use
> for doors with the pin or bar that slides sideways. Something like the
> top two here?
> http://www.nextag.com/buyer/outpdir....=slid e+latch
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Thom wrote:
>>
>> Also an option.
>> But then I would have to find original latches and other stuff I'm
>> missing.
>> And that stuff probably costs more than I'm willing to spend. I wasn't
>> unhappy with those bolts you know ;-)
>> I'm just looking around for possibilities.
>>
>> "DougW" > wrote in message
>> news:%NhAd.4170$2_4.2166@okepread06...
>> > Thom did pass the time by typing:
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> When I bought the CJ7 the tailgate latches were already missing, the
>> >> tailgate was bolted shut using the holes where the steel cables used
>> >> to
>> >> be
>> >> fixed. I finally got around to fixing that, and I found why this "fix"
>> >> existed. The threads in the tailgate are gone, so the latches cannot
>> >> be
>> >> mounted.
>> >>
>> >> The question: Do you know of a replacement system to keep the tailgate
>> >> shut
>> >> that doesn't use the holes to mount the latches?
>> >
>> > Duct tape?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > How about fixing the threads? You can either go larger and tap new
>> > ones
>> > (metal permitting) or have it filled, drilled, and threaded. Lots of
>> > options
>> > for fixing things like that.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >