L series wagon rear tailgate

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun May 27, 2012 3:42 pm

The tailgate on my L series wagon is very ordinary with dings, body filler cracking with rust underneath, generally very crappy.
It would need a total cut back and repaint or I would be wasting my time trying to fix individual issues.
Due to guessing at best what colour white I have due to the paint label missing I could put just about any white Subaru colour on it and be OK.
Rather than stuff around with paint I can get a choice of 2 complete, replacement, white tailgates from a wrecker in my area for $100.00 each.
I just have to pick which one I want.
Both are in good nick though one is better than the other.
My question is are all L series tailgates the same for all years. Mine is a 92 model so has the extra stop light which shouldnt make a difference.
Both the tailgates at the wreckers are at worst off an 85 model and at best off an 88 model. I cant recall which is which from the two but these are my choices, well locally anyway.
Depending on peoples responses I could go to Newcastle and have a look at wreckers too if needed but this is a 1 to 2 hr trip each way.

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sun May 27, 2012 5:38 pm

From my experience, there are all the same, the only differences are touring wagon vs normal wagon.

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun May 27, 2012 5:52 pm

OK I previously had the option of an 85 touring wagon tailgate too but this car has now gone.
If I was designing Subaru's I would for moulding purposes make all the panels the same.
This means only the body is different meaning the doors were all the same but you never know do you ?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:03 am

Yeah the touring wagon tail gates are taller than the bog standard L series wagon tail gates.

Cliff, I see where you're coming from, but subaru obviously had their reasons for this - the MY touring wagon was the same as the standard MY wagon's rear door, it looked a little odd and maybe this is why subaru changed the rear door on the L series touring wagon - cleaner lines IMO.

I'd be picking the straightest rear door and going from there. From the rear view it really doesn't matter about colour, side on only the side curve of the rear door will show a different colour...

Cheers

Bennie

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:26 pm

Late reply, havent had time to get on here much lately.
Both the doors I was looking at are pre rear stop light fitted so I guess I will have to swap all the wiring over internally from the current door.
For now I will look a bit further afield to see if I can get a door from a later model or in the end go with one of the pre stop light models.
Either way rego is not till November so I have a bit of time.