Club 80-90 Forums

I am changing my tailgate due to the old being rotten. The problem is I can only get the later tailgates and the boot lock is different.

My question is will the mechanism fit the later type lock it self ??

I know that the earlier lock sits pround and the later lock is flush with the lid....but will my older mechaism fit the later type lock ??

Is your van an early van? I thought later tailgates don't fit early vans?

My van is a 1981...A/C

I am restoring it at the moment. My tailgate is rusting along the bottom edge like most do. The tailgate (new one) was thrown in with the new high top roof that I have fitted.
What is different on the old to the new aside the lock / wiper holes etc ?

Not sure. I'm sure someone will enlighten us.

If you fill in your location on your profile someoen near to you may have an early tailgate and may want your late tailgate.

Maybe you could chop of the bit you need from the late tailgate and weld it onto the early one??

early and late tailgates fit either van, the locks are the same, its just the keylock that are different......

Mocki wrote:early and late tailgates fit either van, the locks are the same, its just the keylock that are different......

Well you learn something new every day. Maybe I was getting mixed up with the sliding door?

yep, they are age different........

Marvellous !!

Thanks gents....

the early lock push is a lot smaller than the late.so the hole in the door on later models is a lot bigger..you can not put an early lock onto a late tailgate.

Thanks for that..

I wanted to be sure that the mechs fitted before i order a new lock from JK....AS THEIR £34...

Does the rubber sealing ring come with it ??

Or do I need to order this from VW Commercials ?

i would try VW first before JK, and before that a breaker......

I have a late van fitted with an early tailgate so here's the proof The locks are different though. Incidently, I have a spare tailgate lock for an early vehicle going for free (smaller barrel type) but doesnt have a key. There's a serial number on it so maybe able to buy key from VW dealers??

Dribble some vactan rust treatment inside new tailgate before you fit it, or after from inside if already fitted) - mine seems to have remained rust free since I did it. A bit of prevention is no bad idea.

Can you put an early barrel into a late lock?

lhd wrote:Can you put an early barrel into a late lock?

The answer to that is no. Early tailgate, early lock. Late tailgate, late lock. You can fit a complete early tailgate (including lock) onto a late van and vice versa. Early and late locks are very different. Late locks have a much bigger barrel than the early lock.