my driver's door seems to have sagged a bit and just wondering if there is a bushing on the pin on these old cars thanks

 

YEAR MODEL is needed.

Because it can be MORE than just a door hinge bushing....which is why the year model is needed.

DUB

 

the vette is a 1954 thanks

 

also lifting the door up and down there is a little play

 

Probably a good idea to double check all the hinge/door attachment bolts first, just in case some of them are loose. As for bushings, GM used to sell replacement pins and bushings and I've used them on my 61 and midyears. While they sold two different bushings, I've never had to use the thicker versions. Most times the softer material bushings wear out and if the wear continues, the hole in the hinge arm will start to get egg-shaped. Not sure if 54's used the same pins/bushings as the later models.

Mike T - Prescott AZ

 

Thanks.

If it were me...only because I have yet to have a 54 in my shop. I would have to watch CAREFULLY where I can see any play when I lifted up on the door.

On some year models...which is why I asked for the year of your car. For example a 1966 corvette could actually have problems with the rivets that hold the steel portion of the inner door to the fiberglass housing of the door. SO what appears to be bad bushing is NOT bad bushings...but rather worn out aluminum rivets that are allowing the entire door shell to move on the steel portion that is bolted to the hinges.

Before you jump in and assume anything...please try to make sure that you are correct that the pins and or bushings are worn.

AND if you do find that the pins and or bushing are worn. What you DO NOT want to see is that the pin worn though the bushing and actually began to eat into the metal portion of the hinge that holds the bushing securely. Because if the hole gets egg-shaped....when you put the new bushing in...it will not have the metal needed to support the weight of the door due to this missing steel and the bush MAY fail prematurely.

I only wrote that due to many of the 1968-1982 door hinges that I have replaced were allowed to be used when the bronze bushing was totally wiped out..and the hard pin ate into the steel hinge...thus making the hinge be useless and needed to be replaced.

DUB

 

I don't have a 54 but I agree with DUB. A sagging or loose door can be caused by a lot of things. I my 65 rebuild, I ended up fixing everything. The rivets that hold the door together were all replaced. The hinge pins and bushings were replaced. Still I had some extra play. I ended up discovering that the hinges themselves were worn. I found four good ones and everything is like new now. I also found that all hinge pin and bushing sets are not equal. Some of the replacement parts are not very good and they will have as much slop as worn originals. Again, as DUB said you have to really look at everything to find out where the play is.

Doc

 

on the 53-55 - the door hinge is a two piece alum
They wear and the door sags - completely normal - I havent seen a good orig door hinge - they all wear.... and not a great design.
I have them rebuilt - pin and bushing as the guys above suggest
Paul Mazut does them or if you have a good machine shop around
http://www.paulmazutcorvette.com/ser...rebuild_2.html
Here is what 53-55 door hinges look like

 

csherman,
Thanks for posting the photo of what they look like...and I have to agree....I think GM could ahve taken it to a higher level back then. They do seem to be a bit weak looking.

YEAH..If I had one and need to do the hinges I would machine them out of stainless so I would not need to worry..and I would NOT care about someone looking at it and saying they weren't original.

DUB