Brenton --

The short answer is, unbolt the old hatch, remove it, position the new hatch, bolt it up.

In there somewhere you gotta fiddle with the wires.

If the replacement is from a late-'80s wagon, everything should work. The harnesses unplug easily under the headliner.

If you're successful, keep some stuff off your old tailgate, such as the glass, wiper motor, key lock barrel (so your original key will work), wiper pivot 'n linkage, latch mechanism, handle, electric door lock actuator.

Also keep the gas pistons.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)