I took apart the tailgate on my '88 740 wagon again. I figured some things out, and still others are confusing me.

The problem with the lock mechanism is that it is completely rusted and seized. It's beyond repair.

I've been looking in the Haynes manual, and I finally got the license plate light/door handle off. The lock is wedged in there, and I don't think I'll get it out any too easily. I've been bathing it in WD-40 trying to get it so that I can move the pieces a little, perhaps to actually activate the release mechanism that I can see is rusted in. A lot of the connecting rods between the latch and the various mechanisms are pretty rotted, too.

I was thinking of trying to buy a "new" setup at the junkyard. (unless one of you good folks had something that might work) Does anybody know what years are compatible with the '88? I'm not too concerned about hooking the power lock up to this, if that makes it any easier, but I do want to be able to open and close with the handle, and to lock and unlock with a key. It does not have to be the same key that operates the rest of the locks.