Swap Late Tailgate for Early Tailgate?

[craigy345]

Another Bit of advice needed please!!!!

My van, 87 1.6TD Westfalia club joker is going in for welding and paint next week !!!

My current Late rear tailgate is knackered and I need a replacement.
(My late tailgate 1987 hasn't got a wash wipe hole as its a Club Joker so originally had plastic double glazed windows i.e No wiper)

My body shop has sourced a mint tailgate but its an early one (1985, I think)

HELP/Advice needed PLEASE!!!!........

Any issues with this swap?
I saw the push button is smaller on the early tailgate can I use the late push button mechanism or swap the barrels (so one key)
No Centre VW badge recess on the early tailgate, can I still mount a central badge?
Is everything else the same or not?

Thanks very much in advance

[craigy345]

Guys/Girls, ?

Anyone that can advise re my early tailgate onto a late van dilemma?
Need to let my paint shop know before it goes in! or source a late one!!!
Running out of time......

thanks

[cassandra]

Hi, the tailgate should physically fit on the van. The hinges, lock striker etc are all the same. The only real differences are the badge recess and the hole size/pressing for the push button. Ask the bodyshop to have a good look at the button and latch mounts as they may be able to just open out the hole to suit the later push button. As for the badge, if you want a badge just stick one on. Most later VW tailgate badges are stick on (except the newest 'tip-up to open' badge/handle ones) and are available in a variety of sizes.

Hope this helps

[craigy345]

Hi, the tailgate should physically fit on the van. The hinges, lock striker etc are all the same. The only real differences are the badge recess and the hole size/pressing for the push button. Ask the bodyshop to have a good look at the button and latch mounts as they may be able to just open out the hole to suit the later push button. As for the badge, if you want a badge just stick one on. Most later VW tailgate badges are stick on (except the newest 'tip-up to open' badge/handle ones) and are available in a variety of sizes.

Hope this helps

Cassandra,

That is great, answered everything I wanted to know.
How easy will it be to increase/open the hole up?

thanks very much!!

[cassandra]

Hi, I cannot say for certain that you can open out the hole, it may be possible. The bodyshop should be able to tell once they compare the two tailgates. If not then you can change the tumblers in an early push button to suit your key.

[craigy345]

Hi, I cannot say for certain that you can open out the hole, it may be possible. The bodyshop should be able to tell once they compare the two tailgates. If not then you can change the tumblers in an early push button to suit your key.

Great, thanks Cassandra.
I think I prefer the open the hole up option?
If this is possible and I stick a badge on (I know there is no recess on the early door, so will have to fit the badge flush on the surface?) It will look more original, like a late door?

[R0B]

My tailgate is a late one,it does not have the recess.

I know there is no recess on the early door

[craigy345]

quote="R0B"]My tailgate is a late one,it does not have the recess.

I know there is no recess on the early door

[/quote]

That is odd, My van is an 1987 and has the recess.
Seen in the attached photo, all stripped of badges ready for the body shop on Friday!!!!

IMG_4783.JPG

I thought early= no recess and small lock hole, late= recess and larger lock hole.
Obviously Not !!?

[multisi]

The later style 85- 87 had no badge recess.

[craigy345]

The later style 85- 87 had no badge recess.

Mine must be a cross over year then?
1987 with the badge recess. (seen in photo above)

[Plasticman]

the actual lock (button part) are not interchangeable from early to late and v-versa and unless "you" have actually done it and can give the info then it would be speculation
you will need to source the correct lock and match keys if you have and wish to retain keyed alike luxury,
mm

[craigy345]

the actual lock (button part) are not interchangeable from early to late and v-versa and unless "you" have actually done it and can give the info then it would be speculation
you will need to source the correct lock and match keys if you have and wish to retain keyed alike luxury,
mm

Thanks very much for your input MM, your opinion and experience is very appreciated.

So the van went in Friday......

I spoke to the body shop re the larger and smaller hole diameter and my man is going to work out the best solution.
Having both looked at it together (body shop and I) ......

initially It looks clear, enlarging an earlier door hole to fit the later lock is unlikely to work because of the rolled edge of the hole.
(if that makes sense? it will probably take all the strength out and leave a single skin edge which would rust very easy)

That leaves the strip down and replace of wafers from late lock to early lock.
This I have done in the past (not on a T25 tailgate) and am confident it will work.
Will provide update and how its done in due course if it would benefit others?

[Wizard42]

Hi,

Did you manage to successfully reconfigure your early lock? I have just done the same thing and can't work out how to get into the barrel of the early push button... That came withe new new (old) tail gate.
I don't have the key so have a feeling I'll need to buy a new old style push button and reconfigure that. Be good to know if it's doable though!?

Cheers,
Phil.