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

I tried to adjust my drivers side door, and The Bolts are just spinning I was thinking of putting a come along on the door and welding the Hinge area. I have ratcheted the door so it is flush (with a come along) and with the striker off. I can move the door up and down when it is open..I think you guys know what I mean. Has anyone ever welded this area before ..and does it last. Mike G

I broke three bolts off the hinge that attaches to the door sill on my 42, The reason they broke is because the thread on the bolts that penetrate all the way through the hinge and stick out the other side of the hinge had rusted threads and no way could they come out.
I removed the door by knocking out the hinge pins.
That half hinge wouldn't come out no matter how much I tried to force it.
What I did was to use the cutting disk to make two 1/16" wide horizontal cuts 2" long across the door fram at the upper and lower ends of the hinge and levered back the material inside the cuts, to expose the hinge slot.
With a big Stanley screwdriver, I prised up the metal both sides of the hinge big enoough to pull the hinge out.
After locating a hinge off of a spare door, I made sure the new hinge and its bolts ran freely and gave it a bath of Lanolin-based pressure pack anti-rust.
After I screwed in the three retaining bolts, I straightened the metal tab back to where it should be and neatly welded up the cuts with a Henrob gas torch on low settings to complete the job successfully and without a blemish to the door frame.
I'd tried drilling the broken bolts out before, but that takes hours, an Easyout won't work too good either because the rusted threads were so rusted they were enlarged in diameter..
My way worked for me.
I wouldn't advise welding the hinge on to the cab. The door frame pressed metal is thin, welding would heat and soften it and over time, the hinge and the metal beneath it would tear away. There's no place to go after that.
Good luck mate,
Zacca

Thanks Zacca, I got an idea from another bolter, He drilled straight thru and bolted the door hinge with lock washers..but to be honest, I havent taken a look to see if his idea would work. I think I will pull the door..and just go from there..I think my hinges will come off,its just that someone replaced the door,and stripped the screws...well I mean ratcheted down to much so they spin, I think the threads the screws go in are all stripped out, and i belive when I pull the door and hinges I can get a better idea of what i am up against. I really do appreciate the ideas,I am a rookie at this..Its my first project. Thanks by the way...what ever happened to that group..that sang Do you come from the Land down under??? LOL...gaff

Hehe..THAT group was called "Men at Work" their hit was "The Man from Downunder" when one of our yachting bandits stole the America's Cup at Newport in a yacht called Gretel II.
They had hinges on the modified keel that made it motor along like an old Stovebolt going downhill at 60.
Hinges? I still have another one to do.
Take care.

IF those bolts come out you can drill the holes out and retap oversize and then screw in an original size thread. They're used on stripped head bolts and studs and come in different sizes.
What do you call those thread inserts?

thread inserts = heli-coil's

Wow..I forgot about this thread. So if my hinge screws are spinning,take them out,drill larger holes,re-tape the holes and put larger screws in..(that fit the new tap)..correct?,,oh ya..will I have to pull the door off?

I think my drivers door is doomed for the pile...I want to try one more thing.. and of coarse I would like you guys advice,,(if you think it will work)
I think Bill said I have to get the welder out. My plan is this> I am going to take the door striker off and use a come along and wrench the door flush and tight..Now the top and bottom hinge bolts are spinning,what if I welded the bolts to the hinge while the door is closed tight and flush...that may work..Its Mickey Mouse,but doors are so dam expensive..and all of our bone yards are stripped. The bolts to the cab holding the hinge are fine..they are tight..You guys ever done this? M/G

My drivers door closes now..I had to weld the adjustment screws. I took the striker plate off..and wrenched the door shut. Tack welded 1 screw and opened it, then shut it softly and it was tight and flush. I then welded the bottom 3 screws and finished the top srews. put the plate back on and it shuts real nice. Dont know how long it will last but it was a last resort.