Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BIGglaSS · 04-19-2016, 01:07 PM

I'm rebuilding some door hinges. This is the kit I have. Question.. Which bushings do I use? The knurled ones or the bronze ones, or both? Do I need to remove the steel sleeve that is in the old hinge, or simply drill it so I can press in the new bushings? The knurled bushing is .488" and the bronze bushing is .420". I feel like it is kind of a dumb question, but it looks like the kit has more bushings than is needed. Thanks.

BIGglaSS · 04-19-2016, 02:13 PM

Is there an easy way to remove/repair the square weld nut on the back side of these hinges? This one is rusted and will not remove. Spent about a half hour trying to grab it with vice grips. Help... Before I do something crazy like cut open the door skin on the other side!

BIGglaSS · 04-19-2016, 07:39 PM

I finally got the vice grips on the weld nut. With some heat, I got that bolt out. Now trying to figure out a way to weld a new nut back in.

mphudak · 04-19-2016, 09:12 PM

Wild guess, but do the knurled ones go in the part that bolts to the cab and the bronze ones on the hinge section that bolts to the door?

How bad of condition is the area where the bolt snapped? Can you use a rivet nut?

ndeep · 04-19-2016, 10:59 PM

Looks like you have the wrong bushings. the old one can be drilled or driven out and the new one can be pressed in, i use a bench vice. back in the day we used the knurled ones to repair hinges that had worn excessively (hole egged). As to your hinge pocket problem you just need to remove the pocket by drilling out the spot welds,repair the pocket and reinstall. Sounds easy if you say it real fast,actually not that bad of a job

MARTINSR · 04-20-2016, 02:03 AM

Here is a "Basics of Basic" on rebuilding hinges that may be of help. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/basi...es-125350.html

Brian

BIGglaSS · 04-21-2016, 01:09 AM

Got it figured out. The old ones were nylon. The smooth ones tap right in, no drilling needed. I think ndeep is right, the knurled ones are for excessive wear.

tmoble · 04-21-2016, 04:38 AM

I'm doing mine now also. My truck is a West Coast built 57, has the plastic bushings. 7 of the 8 were still there, drivers side lower was gone.

dsraven · 04-21-2016, 05:08 PM

those weld nuts are accessible from the front side, are they not? take a fender off and you have access?

Knothead · 04-21-2016, 05:28 PM

There is a part to replace the whole box the hinge bolts to. It requires drilling out spot welds and welding in new piece in the door. Don't remember which vendor carried them ?

dsraven · 04-22-2016, 01:20 AM

sorry about my previous post, I was thinking you meant the door post area. knothead is right, the pocket rusts or cracks and then the door flexes so you can never get it to fit the same after shutting it twice in a row. also check the little web of metal between the inside and outside panels in the area at the bottom rear of the vent window. they crack there and allow flex as well. there is a youtube on repairing the lower hinge pocket on the door.

04-19-2016, 01:07 PM	#1
BIGglaSS Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: ID Posts: 663	Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 I'm rebuilding some door hinges. This is the kit I have. Question.. Which bushings do I use? The knurled ones or the bronze ones, or both? Do I need to remove the steel sleeve that is in the old hinge, or simply drill it so I can press in the new bushings? The knurled bushing is .488" and the bronze bushing is .420". I feel like it is kind of a dumb question, but it looks like the kit has more bushings than is needed. Thanks.

04-19-2016, 02:13 PM	#2
BIGglaSS Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: ID Posts: 663	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 Is there an easy way to remove/repair the square weld nut on the back side of these hinges? This one is rusted and will not remove. Spent about a half hour trying to grab it with vice grips. Help... Before I do something crazy like cut open the door skin on the other side!

04-19-2016, 07:39 PM	#3
BIGglaSS Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: ID Posts: 663	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 I finally got the vice grips on the weld nut. With some heat, I got that bolt out. Now trying to figure out a way to weld a new nut back in.

04-19-2016, 09:12 PM	#4
mphudak Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canton, GA Posts: 196	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 Wild guess, but do the knurled ones go in the part that bolts to the cab and the bronze ones on the hinge section that bolts to the door? How bad of condition is the area where the bolt snapped? Can you use a rivet nut? __________________ 55.1 GMC Suburban Hydramatic

04-19-2016, 10:59 PM	#5
ndeep Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Walnut Hill,Il Posts: 56	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 Looks like you have the wrong bushings. the old one can be drilled or driven out and the new one can be pressed in, i use a bench vice. back in the day we used the knurled ones to repair hinges that had worn excessively (hole egged). As to your hinge pocket problem you just need to remove the pocket by drilling out the spot welds,repair the pocket and reinstall. Sounds easy if you say it real fast,actually not that bad of a job

04-20-2016, 02:03 AM	#6
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 Here is a "Basics of Basic" on rebuilding hinges that may be of help. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/basi...es-125350.html Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

04-21-2016, 01:09 AM	#7
BIGglaSS Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: ID Posts: 663	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 Got it figured out. The old ones were nylon. The smooth ones tap right in, no drilling needed. I think ndeep is right, the knurled ones are for excessive wear.

04-21-2016, 04:38 AM	#8
tmoble Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 1,062	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 I'm doing mine now also. My truck is a West Coast built 57, has the plastic bushings. 7 of the 8 were still there, drivers side lower was gone.

04-21-2016, 05:08 PM	#9
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,347	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 those weld nuts are accessible from the front side, are they not? take a fender off and you have access?

04-21-2016, 05:28 PM	#10
Knothead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: south carolina Posts: 251	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 There is a part to replace the whole box the hinge bolts to. It requires drilling out spot welds and welding in new piece in the door. Don't remember which vendor carried them ? Last edited by Knothead; 04-21-2016 at 05:29 PM. Reason: misspelled word

04-22-2016, 01:20 AM	#11
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,347	Re: Door hinge rebuild 1955-1959 sorry about my previous post, I was thinking you meant the door post area. knothead is right, the pocket rusts or cracks and then the door flexes so you can never get it to fit the same after shutting it twice in a row. also check the little web of metal between the inside and outside panels in the area at the bottom rear of the vent window. they crack there and allow flex as well. there is a youtube on repairing the lower hinge pocket on the door.



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