I brought the replacement tailgate into the shop last night and began stripping it. It started out easy, but ended up a battle of wills. I got it stripped of all latches, rods, catches, handles, and gaskets. By the end, I looked like I was in a hatchet fight, as my forearms were all chewed up from having them stuffed up inside of the gate.
It began to snow outside and the temperature dropped quickly so I finished up and ran back into the house. I couldn’t get the phillip head screws that hold the hinges onto the tailgate to budge, so I sprayed them down with some PB Blaster and am hoping it will work its way into the threads and loosen them up.
Ranchwagon's Blog 
You are so right about hassling with tailgates. I’m guessing those Phillips screw heads are the big ones #3 I think. On my 63 Comet wagon they were a bear until I lucked into finding the right tool. I found a special screwdriver at the local flea market. It has a flat cut along the edge so you can clamp a vice grip to it and get the extra leverage you need. If you have the right size Phillips you could probably grind a flat spot out of it to make the tool you need. Let me know if you need a photo, and good luck!
You are correct Uncle Atom. Those pain in the neck #3 screws. I think I know what kind of tool you mentioned and will be going to search for one soon. Thanks for the advice, I think I’m going to need alot of leverage to get those screws to turn. I guess if we sat in the same spot for 53 years we would be a little hard to move as well!