The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Doors Door Hinge Pins

Has anyone installed new door hinge pins? I got some from Jim Carter and they say that they are a little oversize. I'm wondering if I need to drill out the pin hole to match the pin. Not sure if I can pound that oversize pin in the original hole without makeing it larger. Anyone done this? Cecil........

51Jimmy, I am interested in the SAME question here as I am doing the same thing on my 52. If there is no answer here I think I will "mic" one of the old ones and then compare to the new ones. Unless the new ones "fall in the hole" it's worth taking a minute or two to figure out the best coarse of action to prevent problems with alignments etc. One thing to keep in mind is the top part of the pin is knurled to keep it tight and from easily working its way out of the hinge. Lets see what others have done. The ones that have "been there,done that".

If I remember right, you do need to ream hinge some to install the bushings. I didn't know if the bushings were oversized or the hinge was that corroded. I have a bit set that is in 1/64 increments and I just kept drilling until the bushings installed with light force. Then I suppose you could do the same with the bushing to pin clearance too. There's what I did or would do, which ever the case maybe,
Scott

I don't recall any bushing. Of course I could have destroyed it trying to get the old pin out. Cecil......

Well, my hinges were from a 64, I haven't done an AD yet. I suppose the same technique would work as long as you didn't ream too much at a time.
Good luck,
Scott

I believe my panel is/was original and it did not have bushings in the pins. That is why the pins were "knurled" up at the top. If they had bushings the bushings would work out. I guess the later models had bushings due to the earlier ones giving a problem. But as 48bigtrucks says we may end up doing what we have to do. I know American Classic list the pins for the rear panel doors for 2.75 and says oversized. But looking at the picture I wonder if they mean oversize in length?? as they look longer. That would be easy to fix but for sure they probably mean diameter. So, we can buy new pins and "do what we have to do"!!!

I finally got around to measuring my pins that I believe to be original. They measure 343 thousandths (if i remember correctly) but the equivilent is 11/64th. I couldn't believe my own figuring so like a big dummy I ran a 3/8 bit through one of my hinge pieces,rather than a piece of scrap, and it is TOO BIG. I finally dug arond and found a 11/64 bit and drilled them out "straight" on my drill press and they seem to be fine. I figure the "oversize" ones may be a 3/8th...or at least that is what I'm hoping as I will probably never find another hinge and my 52 panel did not have any bushings. (guess I could use some!!) I checked the size where they are knurled under the head and what keeps them from "working out" and the measurement is .005 bigger there. This still doesn't answer the question of just what size it the repop's!! Maybe someone else has the other half of the question?! I might add here that if anyones "pins" are even the slightest bent they will be contrary to get in and work properly.

There is a good writeup on this at the OldGMCtrucks site, under the Metal Shop. It is written by Ray "Metalman'. Here are some of the main points, AD hinges only:

The pins are supposed to move within the hinge strap, not the hinge body. Usually they seize in the strap and end up turning in the frame instead. If they are seized in the strap use a cutoff wheel or other tool to cut the pins between the strap and the frame/body. Then using heat, drive the pin from the strap. Fabricate the bottom and top pin mounts out of bar stock and replace the old ones. The new mounts should be drilled to fit the new pin and the knurled portion on top should secure it at the top. If the strap holes are worn, you will need to drill them out for the next size pin. The kits that are supplied are usually a way oversize and the bushing are not useful for this application.

I was lucky to have Ray do my hinges and he did a really nice job. I don't think that he does them too much anymore but I could be wrong.

couldn't find the metal shop on the site, ya got a link trucker?
Denny Graham

Denny,
you have to sign into the site which is:

http://oldgmctrucks.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=272004236

If you haven't signed in before, then you have to register first. There is a forum called metal Shop and the article is on page 2.

Fred




Fred