63 door hinges
12-25-2013, 08:08 AM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
63 door hinges
Replaced all 4 coupe door hinge pins & bushings and replaced the hinges in the door. Marked hinges carefully so they are in their prior locations in each case. The top hinges on both sides are nice and tight with no play when grabbing the hinge and working them up and down vertically. Both lower hinges have a noticeable movement vertically when rocked up and down. Not a horrible amount but more than the top hinges. Remember - all new parts in these hinges.
The doors didn't sag or need to be lifted up to close them before removal - I replaced the hinge parts because I was that far into the car anyway. I can either leave them alone and trust to fate or try to put oversize bushings in the lower hinges or some other fix.
I don't know what amount of movement might be normal/acceptable. Thoughts ?
The doors didn't sag or need to be lifted up to close them before removal - I replaced the hinge parts because I was that far into the car anyway. I can either leave them alone and trust to fate or try to put oversize bushings in the lower hinges or some other fix.
I don't know what amount of movement might be normal/acceptable. Thoughts ?
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 12-25-2013 at 08:11 AM.
12-25-2013, 08:33 AM
#2
Le Mans Master
The new pins and bushings you added have no doubt reduced the amount of free play you had previously so I think you'll be fine. When I did the same to the drivers door on my 66 Coupe, I found there was still a little play to be felt but the door closes better than before and it wouldn't be worth the effort to have the hinges bored out to accommodate the thicker GM bushings seen in the pic below.
Mike T.
Mike T.
12-25-2013, 08:34 AM
#3
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Are you seeing movement in the hing bushings and pin itself or is it in the part that in the door that's riveted
12-25-2013, 09:16 AM
#4
Safety Car
Yes I agree,it may just be those rivets holding the inner reinforcements to the hinges. Worth a peek. It's tricky to see unless you have a helper do the wiggle test while you're looking up close.
12-25-2013, 11:12 AM
#5
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Doors are still off the car guys. I'm testing the hinges by grabbing the exposed hinge arms at the door end.
12-25-2013, 11:17 AM
#6
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Well then you should use the oversized bushings. Your this fair into this project no need to stop now.
12-25-2013, 12:00 PM
#7
Safety Car
Now it's more clear......It's probably not going to be a killer with a little bit of play, but.........Is the play in the bushing to the hinge bar, or the pin to the bushing? If it's the bushing to the bar, I'd remove the bushing and wick a little silver solder on the OD and pound it back in.
Rich
12-25-2013, 12:02 PM
#8
Race Director
Were the holes for the bushings wallowed out so that the bushings were a loose fit? The pins should be sized to the bushings so I don't know what else could be left to allow movement.
12-25-2013, 12:45 PM
#9
Team Owner
Thread Starter
I'll have to look closer tomorrow....has to be hinge-to-bushing fit. None of the bushings were what I would call a loose fit on installation- all required some gentle tapping in with a small hammer.
I read an article on the silver solder trick but I have to believe that's temporary. I've used a LOT of solder over the decades and it's pretty soft stuff.
I read an article on the silver solder trick but I have to believe that's temporary. I've used a LOT of solder over the decades and it's pretty soft stuff.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 12-25-2013 at 12:48 PM.
12-25-2013, 08:48 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
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Frankie, I am really surprised that you are messing with the hinges etc at all. Those doors closed better than a brand new cars doors.........
12-25-2013, 09:15 PM
#12
Team Owner
Thread Starter
I'll PM you l8r on how I got to this point Herb. Little bit of a story there!
12-25-2013, 10:00 PM
#13
Safety Car
But maybe this time you should just leave it as is because you'll never get it done for Kissimmee!
12-26-2013, 07:29 AM
#14
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Yeah - here is the article on that technique but you have to be extra cautious you don't blow the lube out of the Oilite bushings:
http://www.jonesysautoclub.com/rebui...1963-corvette/
12-26-2013, 09:20 AM
#15
Safety Car
Its only an extra day - 2 hour drive to your place; 2 hours to solder the hinge bushings and another 2 hours home - easy peasy
Yeah - here is the article on that technique but you have to be extra cautious you don't blow the lube out of the Oilite bushings:
http://www.jonesysautoclub.com/rebui...1963-corvette/
Yeah - here is the article on that technique but you have to be extra cautious you don't blow the lube out of the Oilite bushings:
http://www.jonesysautoclub.com/rebui...1963-corvette/
That article is exactly what I was talking about.
12-26-2013, 06:44 PM
#16
Race Director
12-26-2013, 10:14 PM
#18
Drifting
Been watching this thread and had to mention that when I took the hinges out of my early '63 convt., the hinge pins installed at the factory were upside down. 
12-27-2013, 06:35 AM
#19
Team Owner
Thread Starter
As noted earlier the passenger side pins were almost always upside down because the hinges are all the same piece built in the same jig and the passenger side hinges are just flipped over when installed...
12-27-2013, 10:58 AM
#20
Race Director
