It is rare that you find a good tailgate in a junk yard. I did this Summer, but it was just a stroke of luck. No matter where you get one there is a way to prevent the rust problem. I took the one from the junkyard and emptied the guts out, cut a couple of extra holes in the bottom for drainage, treated any spots that had rust showing,(used Picklex to treat any rusty surface
http://www.picklex.com/products.html ), coated the inside with POR15, (
http://www.por15.com ), and then covered that with undercoat. Make sure that all seams are absolutely filled with POR15 to keep moisture out of those areas. Stand it on the bottom edge and make sure the crevice between the outer skin and inner frame is filled, then let it stand over night to dry. Then stand it on it's side and repeat the process for each side edge between the skin and inner frame. Just try not to get too much on the outer skin, it will have to be removed before priming and painting. There4 is a small floating plate in the bottom that the tail gate bolts go into. Mine got stuck and I had to mount the hinge and give it whack sideways, one whack did it. Also clean the bolt holes in the mounting plates with a 1/4 20 tap, if you are reusing old bolts clean the threads with a 1/4 20 die. It would be best to use new bolts, and brush a small amount of anti seize on the threads.
Good luck,
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Oh yah, all tailgates 78 - 96 are the same, just things like latches and window shape are different. I have a 92 tailgate on my 83.
