Is there an easy way to remove the tailgate off of the '86 Custom Cruiser wagons? One showed up in a junkyard and I'd kind of like to grab it so I'd have a spare of all the internals and glass. I own a Buick ('88 Electra Estate) but I know parts like that are similar. I bought the chilton and Haynes books but it was hard to follow along with their instructions. Also, since they don't show up that often are there any parts I should grab? Like grab this little doohickey because when they break it's impossible to find another. I'm trying to restore mine and I'd like to build up a spare parts inventory.

 

You can unbolt the hinges behind the storage compartment panel, then open it like a door. It will fall in your hands, so be careful. I would remove the tension spring from the body with the gate open as a door, first. Disconnect the wiring and boot, feeding the wiring through the hole in the body, Then remove the nuts that hold the hinges, allowing one or two of the nuts to remain on the stud(s) as a safety factor. Take a friend along, because it is heavy. The hinges are probably "painted" on the body, and my need a little encouragement to come off.

As far as what to remove for your stash, all plastic clips for trim, steering column, seat tracks, nice interior panels, switch panels, exterior door, and fender trim, front door window regulators, dash pad if perfect, gauge cluster, AC head unit, electric antenna, marker lights, tail lights, If you can get the quarter glass out (both sides not available anywhere). That would be a good starter list.

 

Thank you so much! I couldn't of gotten the tailgate without you. I got one side of the glass and a lot of the trim pieces I could before time ran out. I couldn't get much of the front though. It was pretty picked over.

 

You can go back another day to get more.