The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Doors Upper door hinge removal on 54

I just wanted to know if anyone had a secret to removing the upper (sprung) door hinges. It seems like they have some sort of "puzzle box" sequence to get them out. I have started with the hinges both sprung open and closed but they run into obstacles either way. I have had them out and reinstalled before but each time I hope it will be the last There has to be a secret that doesn't involve language that will anger God. Passenger side finally popped out but driver's side is still laughing at me. Thank you.


Update: I got it out again but there has to be a trick to this. When paint is new, I would like to have this secret solved. Hinges are rebuilt and the ones the truck was born with. Nothing is changed that should make them contrary to the original fit. Thanks again for any experience or tips that can be offered.

I had a issue with the door hinges like you have ,when I rebuilt mine I put new springs in and the springs were a little bit taller and would make it difficult to get them in without rubbing on the door frame hinge pocket . If you have an original door spring to compare with that may be something to look at . The springs I got were made in house but I can’t remember which vendor I got them from . My truck is a Canadian truck and there are small differences that may also affect some of the parts .

Here is a picture from a post when I rebuilt my door hinges

Thank you. I will look at that. I believe that I bought some NOS springs but cannot be certain that I used them. It seemed to me that the catch was actually the width of the hinge pieces either contracted or in the expanded setting. They are so close but so tight.

I ran out and took some pictures of the geometry project. The hinges were previously dissembled, blasted, and rebuilt before getting to rust so ignore my work ahead of me de-scaling and painting. One way, width appears o be roughly 2 1/2" factoring in springs. The other way, they appear to grow to 3". The hinge pocket looks like 2" on its best day. It looks like there has to be some sort of contortion project to get them installed. I cannot imagine them having to go through this on the assembly line all day when trucks were built new.Someone knows a secret that I have yet to figure out.

I just employ swift and blinding violence to get them in and out. The hinge will cover the scraped paint once installed.
I am quite certain that the Lord understands and is accepting of swift and blinding violence.
I am absolutely certain that He is not cool with the expanded vocabulary of the neighbor kids as far as three houses over in both directions on both sides of my street with the 'sentence enhancers' which I too frequently use while addressing other aspects of doors.