Attaching stock spare tire carrier to aftermarket tailgate

[SeaVee]

I took my original spare tire carrier of the original tailgate as it was shot. I bought a new Tailgate from Dennis Carpenter . Any tips for reattaching my original spare tire carrier to this new tailgate? I kept the old tailgate.
Starting paint next week. 1977 Ranger.

 

[DirtDonk]

Did you also remove the nut plate from inside the old tailgate? It’s a little bit of a fiddly process, but you only have to take the latch off and reach in, perhaps with a magnet, to remove it.
In lieu of a magnet, you could just tilt the tailgate till it slides towards the opening.
If you already have it out, then you should have everything you need.

You should be able to just measure where the old holes are for the latch and drill holes in the new one.
Seems like that’s all it would be anyway.