I am working on a 1976 and both doors the upper hinge J bolts are broke. I have the doors off the car. What is the trick to install these bolts?

When I get them into the slots on the hinge the hinge becomes tight and the bolt pops out of the bottom slot. Also when I put the top into the opening and the slot it drops down to far and doesn't meet the rollers. If I tap it up it then seems to tight and when the hinge moves to the open position it pops out?

Any Ideas?

 

Check out Willcox's web site and YouTube, they have great videos on how to replace them, really easy once you see it done

 

http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...=27616&osCsid=

 

I've tried several times to replace the spring on mine. Gave up for the time being. Watched the video but cant seem to get mine in both the upper and lower slot at the same time.

 

 

Took me several tries. Once you get one in there properly it goes easier the next time. The problem I had was that initially the replacement springs were about 1/16" to 1/8" too long. This is common. I had an old stock one from one of my cars to compare to.

Once I got the replacements ground down to size, the next thing I did incorrectly was to be way too gentle. I'm always afraid of breaking things, and this worked against me here. To get the bottom part of the straight part of the spring into the slot in the hinge you can't be afraid to use the manliness...really have pull it into place fairly hard but carefully. It seems like it will never go, but it will.

Then you have to lever the lower end of the spring into the flat in the hinge with the proper tool or one you've made that is similar, hold it in place there with leverage against the door jam, and tap the bottom of the curve of the spring up into the flat with a hammer. Willcox's video shows this part well.

Corvette Ed, sounds to me like you're not doing the last step...driving the spring into the flat in the hinge. It's like a pocket. This in addition to the upper and lower slots.

Kjr, I'd bet real money that your replacement springs are a little too long like many are. Shave them a little.

Just guesses though. It is nice when they are installed. Good luck.

 

I bent a flat screw driver a bit to get mine in worked great .The hinge was still on the car.

 

Exactly.. the spring should be 2 1/8" long as shown @ the 1.20 mark. That may be his problem.

 

Thanks to everyone.

I wasn't getting it into the D slot. I do have the special tool for it so I will give it another try on Monday.

 

I worked on replacing my drivers side spring several times only to give up and try another day. After watching Willcox's video again it became apparent that the spring was a tad bit to long. I ground a small bit off and it popped right in place.

 

It drives me nuts that there are springs out there made too long... I've sent the manufacturer a comment which fell on deaf ears I suppose. I don't purchase this spring from them but I thought it would solve some issue.

 

I don't remember where I bought a spring - might have been Zip - but I also bought the bent screwdriver tool. I haven't looked at the Willcox video but I'm quite sure they do the install the right way. IIRC I had to have the door closed a little to get the spring to pop into place. The bent screwdriver is bent at exactly the right angle to get the spring seated.

As a side note the bent screwdriver is useful for cleaning out the small hole at the bottom of the toilet when it gets plugged up with sediment.



Rick B.

 

I won't be sharing this with my employees...