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I have a 1966 short box. Is the correct method to remove the tail gate is to remove the two large phillips screws into each side of the box, so the plate comes off with the tailgate?

Yup. But they are often hell to get out because the threads at the end of the bolt have corroded. Some folks access the bolt end thru the taillight opening to clean/oil them. Ive had the best luck with a #4 phillips bit on an impact gun.

I used the #4 on one of those impact hand tools where you hit it with a hammer.

Thanks for confirming the removal.

Remove one side only for tail gate removal if they come out. For reattachment I used 3/8 NC countersunk allens in stainless steel coated in anti seize. They will come out easy with that combo.

I found a near mint tailgate at a local salvage yard and was able to remove it with a #4 screw driver by hand. The one on my truck I had to drill the screws because the tool Wally used wouldn't even budge the screws.

My screws are frozen to the weld nut which is spinning. I will get them out and use stainless csink allen screws as suggested. The box is being completely re-done as the bed is rusted out, the front and rear beams are rusted out too. So there will be a lot of custom sheet metal work in this box.