A '54 named Busty

[6DoF]

that's a great picture on the left, she's got a great look

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 8man

And.....

don't put pressure on me, lol

[Gregski]

looks a bit wavy but it's just on there for trial fitment since I still have to make the handle, I'll hammer the rubber trim molding on flat laters

[Gregski]

I am blown away at the quality of the door handle pieces and how well the chrome held up, I mean they are nearly 70 years old

using 0000 steel wool to give them a bit of spit shine

[8man]

Nice work!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 8man

Nice work!

thanks, so two things left

1. hinges

2. weather stripping

difficult to see in the pics, but there is a difference between the top hinge which has a bracket that seems perpendicular and the bottom hinge which has a bracket that is slightly at an angle

[Gregski]

so this is interesting I can't get neither the top or the bottom hinge out of the door frame, great!

also the top one was missing one of the circle springs that keeps the door from opening too far and staying opened (common I guess) and it also is missing the narrow vertical strip on the outside (where I point) but the hinge seems solid and has no wiggle play in it

the juice running down the A pilar is sum WD-40 I sprayed in there to get some unstuckness going

[Gregski]

the bottom hinge appears to be intact (no circle springs come on this one) but there is significant up and down wiggability play in it (may require a new oversize pin or bushings)

[8man]

I rebuilt the hinges on the 48. Getting them out on the 54 was a bear, the tops didn't want to come out. I did finally work them out. Have fun!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 8man

I rebuilt the hinges on the 48. Getting them out on the 54 was a bear, the tops didn't want to come out. I did finally work them out. Have fun!

thanks Robert, I appreciate the feedback, I'm gonna take the passenger door off today and see if those hinges will be willing to come out

[layinrocker65]

When I rebuilt all my hinges, I got new pins, springs and cover plates from the filling station. I actually took pictures of the whole process if you want me to text you the pics. One of my hinges wouldn’t come out because the factory pin was pulled out enough to stop it. I had to cut the pin off. It was a big pain. There is also a bolt hole on the inside of the hinge the factory didn’t use but there were bolts in mine.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by layinrocker65

When I rebuilt all my hinges, I got new pins, springs and cover plates from the filling station. I actually took pictures of the whole process if you want me to text you the pics. One of my hinges wouldn’t come out because the factory pin was pulled out enough to stop it. I had to cut the pin off. It was a big pain. There is also a bolt hole on the inside of the hinge the factory didn’t use but there were bolts in mine.

thanks, I am following Jerry Kassis video Chevrolet Pickup Door Hinge Restoration

and I ordered my pins and circle springs from the Filling Station as well, to show my appreciation and support.

[Gregski]

reason #54 why I love working on trucks

[Gregski]

we had better luck with the texter side hinges, they pretty much fell out

however on this side the door sheet metal was catching on the hinge brackets where it was bolted to them but nothing a gentle pry with a flat screw driver couldn't fix, also I strongly recommend using some mayo to help the metal slide out easier

[Gregski]

so this is what the empty hinge cavities look like

[Gregski]

and this is the top hinge in the wild

Note the missing circular springs both ones were absent

[Gregski]

and the bottom one

[Gregski]

well folks, git yer pitch forks there's gonna be a hangin'

it looks like the PO (Previous Owner) somehow welded the hinges to the inside cavity sheet metal, it's bugger welded so maybe they used a stick welder cause I honestly don't see how they would have jammed a MIG in there but who knows

anyway now I have to order longer burs for my die grinder to see if I can grind them out

lower hinge shown below

Cuss Level = Expert!

[Father&son56project]

I’m with you on this one, Gregski. Stick welders are a great way to spew messy blobs of weld into deep, inaccessible spots. My truck had a dozen of those fixes and some of them were challenging to remove, but seeing how you have overcome all the other problems you have encountered we will watch and learn something as you attack those hinge pockets. In the meantime, my pitchfork stands ready!

[Cautrell05]

How did you get to edit your older posts? I thought they turned off that feature a while ago.

[8man]

On the 54 I have one that I had to file out a little of the cab to get the hinge spring to go into the hole. So that looks familiar.

On the drivers side, welding a hinge like that is just, well add all the adjectives you can think of and then say BAD.

I hope the die grinder will cut out the weld so you can repair that hinge correctly.

I too used Jerry and the Filling Station. I asked a question and he responded personally. A really nice guy.

[6DoF]

holy sh!t!! that suuuuuuuuxxxxx

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Cautrell05

How did you get to edit your older posts? I thought they turned off that feature a while ago.

I am a paying member of the forum so I think maybe that is what allows me to do so.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

holy sh!t!! that suuuuuuuuxxxxx

ah yup, the gift that keeps on giving, as much as I luv this rig, it is by far the toughest "build" I have ever done did! it will be a sad day the day I decide to let her go

[6DoF]

Originally Posted by Gregski

it will be a sad day the day I decide to let her go

um ... then don't