1986 Door Hinge Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Drums PA
1986 Door Hinge Question
Hi Everyone: On my '86 driver's door, the "spring" that looks like a large "S" on the upper hinge snapped off at the bottom, and now of course, the door no longer stays open by itself. I got a replacement hinge in the same color, and was wondering if I can just transfer the "S" spring over without having to change over the entire hinge. I have never changed a hinge before, and I know the key is to mark the original mounting location to make it easier to get everything correctly lined up. The guy said you may need a special tool to remove the spring? Any suggestions to make this easier will be appreciated.........
Regards, Chris
Regards, Chris
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 277
Likes: 3
Hi Everyone: On my '86 driver's door, the "spring" that looks like a large "S" on the upper hinge snapped off at the bottom, and now of course, the door no longer stays open by itself. I got a replacement hinge in the same color, and was wondering if I can just transfer the "S" spring over without having to change over the entire hinge. I have never changed a hinge before, and I know the key is to mark the original mounting location to make it easier to get everything correctly lined up. The guy said you may need a special tool to remove the spring? Any suggestions to make this easier will be appreciated.........
Regards, Chris
Regards, Chris
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Drums PA
Frank: Thanks, I got the whole hinge for $20, so it looks like I made out OK. Any special suggestions without having the tool, since the original hinge is still on the car? I haven't tried it yet, so maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but just wanted to know what I'm in for before starting the job............
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Here's a video of an S-spring install on a C3 hinge. If you want to use the one on your hinge you have now you just need to use the vise and reverse the install procedure. Rather than separate a good hinge maybe the buy of an S-spring from the vendors is a good idea. I'd be inclined to use the one you've got "in color"! You'll need to either buy a tool or do the bend modification to a fairly large and heavy screw driver of sorts.
I've never done a C4 on the car but I've done others. You should have no issues. You've got the one to practice on in the vice before doing it on the car. It might require a couple modifications to the "bend" to be maybe more practical. A 45° angle is what you see most often.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1581333540-post1.html
I've never done a C4 on the car but I've done others. You should have no issues. You've got the one to practice on in the vice before doing it on the car. It might require a couple modifications to the "bend" to be maybe more practical. A 45° angle is what you see most often.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1581333540-post1.html
Last edited by WVZR-1; Aug 14, 2014 at 09:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Drums PA
Here's a video of an S-spring install on a C3 hinge. If you want to use the one on your hinge you have now you just need to use the vise and reverse the install procedure. Rather than separate a good hinge maybe the buy of an S-spring from the vendors is a good idea. I'd be inclined to use the one you've got "in color"! You'll need to either buy a tool or do the bend modification to a fairly large and heavy screw driver of sorts.
I've never done a C4 on the car but I've done others. You should have no issues. You've got the one to practice on in the vice before doing it on the car. It might require a couple modifications to the "bend" to be maybe more practical. A 45° angle is what you see most often.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1581333540-post1.html
I've never done a C4 on the car but I've done others. You should have no issues. You've got the one to practice on in the vice before doing it on the car. It might require a couple modifications to the "bend" to be maybe more practical. A 45° angle is what you see most often.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1581333540-post1.html
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 277
Likes: 3
Awesome video, thanks. I may practice on the replacement hinge on my work bench first, then try it on the door. I'm guessing the biggest challenge is the limited space with the hinge on the car. If I can't figure out how to bend my own screwdriver, no biggie, since I'm going to Carlisle next week, so I'll see if I can pick one up while I'm there, or try to borrow one if someone may have one with them..........
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Awesome video, thanks. I may practice on the replacement hinge on my work bench first, then try it on the door. I'm guessing the biggest challenge is the limited space with the hinge on the car. If I can't figure out how to bend my own screwdriver, no biggie, since I'm going to Carlisle next week, so I'll see if I can pick one up while I'm there, or try to borrow one if someone may have one with them..........
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Drums PA
Will do; do you have to heat up a screwdriver in order to bend it, or can you do the bending in a vice as well?
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 605
From: Minneapolis Mn
Tool
Sounds like you're looking for something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece...set-69281.html
There also was something called brake spoons (from what I remember) that were used to back off the starwheels in drum brake cars and had a similar shape from what I remember. Something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/231266122889?lpid=82or one of these: https://www.google.com/search?q=brak...w=1069&bih=746
Hope that helps.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece...set-69281.html
There also was something called brake spoons (from what I remember) that were used to back off the starwheels in drum brake cars and had a similar shape from what I remember. Something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/231266122889?lpid=82or one of these: https://www.google.com/search?q=brak...w=1069&bih=746
Hope that helps.
Last edited by hcbph; Aug 14, 2014 at 11:28 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Drums PA
Sounds like you're looking for something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece...set-69281.html
There also was something called brake spoons (from what I remember) that were used to back off the starwheels in drum brake cars and had a similar shape from what I remember. Something like this:
9" Brake Spoon Adjusting Tool Drum Shoe Adjuster Wrench New | eBay
or one of these: https://www.google.com/search?q=brak...w=1069&bih=746
Hope that helps.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece...set-69281.html
There also was something called brake spoons (from what I remember) that were used to back off the starwheels in drum brake cars and had a similar shape from what I remember. Something like this:
9" Brake Spoon Adjusting Tool Drum Shoe Adjuster Wrench New | eBay
or one of these: https://www.google.com/search?q=brak...w=1069&bih=746
Hope that helps.
