Help with Tailgate Latch

Didn't you already inquire about this in your other post (Door Latch Connections). Duplicate threads are confusing for folks to follow, It's best if you post an inquiry only once, and that way, all responses are in one place. You may want to delete this question in the other thread and keep this one, since it's different than the door latch thread.

Deleted the other post. Didn't realize until after posting that it was the wrong one (I had forgotten to post this one after completing. )
The holes in the latch are too small to take the plastic clips typically used to secure these types of rods. The LMC Truck site shows 2 rod insulators that go in the middle of the rods. I only had one. Maybe this limits the movement of the rod so that it can't come loose?

DougE said:

Deleted the other post. Didn't realize until after posting that it was the wrong one (I had forgotten to post this one after completing. )
The holes in the latch are too small to take the plastic clips typically used to secure these types of rods. The LMC Truck site shows 2 rod insulators that go in the middle of the rods. I only had one. Maybe this limits the movement of the rod so that it can't come loose?

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While this isn't a Blazer, the attachment of the rods should be the same.

DougE said:

There is just a little metal sleeve

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id pull those sleeves out and replace with the plastic ones like shown at 6:52 on the video above

No one knows the correct factory installation?

DougE said:

No one knows the correct factory installation?

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You may want to review the LMC parts diagram again - it looks like the clips you seek are labeled part 7 (# 30-1650) in the diagram. Tailgate and Components. The info shows it as a metal clip, but without a picture of it or a cross reference, it's hard to say what it actually looks like. After some serious digging, here's a part that may be what you need: 12337864, but I can't be certain since it's only a diagram. IF that is correct, here's an eBay listing that has a photo of that part: OEM # 12337864 Genuine GM AC DELCO new tail gate latch lock rod retainer CLIP | eBay. I don't think the insulators you mentioned are for maintaining the rods' positions in the handle, but again, without a picture I am not sure. Perhaps a call to a nearby Chevy dealership could provide some more information and/ or the part number confirmation.

The rod has a groove on the end that goes into the handle. The factory manual shows no clip other than the metal sleeve. I suspect the metal sleeve has a retaining tab that doesn't survive disassembly so must always be replaced. I'm trying to find a clip with the part number that aitch gave otherwise I'll have to modify the handle to take one of the plastic clips.