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Post by Avenger on Jul 27, 2023 11:03:19 GMT -5
This is not the minor update I was talking about, although that one may show up in the not-too-distant future as well. Typically chitty GM door hinges have failed bushings, so the driver's door droops. Which means you have to lift it or slam it. Neither is good for anything involved. Fortunately, the design of this car makes it super easy to access the hinges. The clamshell hood uncovers the upper, and the gill vent below it has to be removeable to access the battery, and thus the lower hinge as well. I pulled the upper so we can start figuring out what I need to repair this. As you can see by the booger welds, somebody has attempted this before: I ground the grapes off and the pin was already not secured by the splines as it should be. Once it was apart, I could see one of the upper bushing supports was "wallered" out a bit. Once I get it cleaned up I'll have to see what a hinge repair kit has to offer. I may end up welding material in, or making an oversize bushing. Why isn't anything ever simple?
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Post by yachtsmanwilly on Jul 27, 2023 19:11:10 GMT -5
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Post by Avenger on Jul 27, 2023 21:20:26 GMT -5
Those look like the hinges on the Olds with the coil spring. These are similar, but more like the hinges on the truck with the torsion spring.
Either way I'd like to know what bean-counter at GM decided to use these tiny paper-thin bushings on these things. None of the European cars I've ever owned had door hinge problems. They're even simpler than these, but at least they have a lot of surface area on the pin.
I'm shopping for a kit tomorrow. If it turns out to be what it looks like we'll be getting a slight upgrade.
Stay tuned.
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Post by yachtsmanwilly on Jul 28, 2023 5:53:57 GMT -5
Prolly the same as the Olds... The whole issue is about the fulcrum weight and non lubrication by the owners. Before these they were cast iron made to litterally break off If hit bt an approaching car with your door open. (1950s into the early 60s). Now it tears the jamb out and totals the car. Hm...
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Post by Avenger on Jul 28, 2023 12:12:58 GMT -5
The auto parts didn't have kits in stock. It looks like there are a couple of bushing options that come with the kit. Hopefully one is big enough that we can bore the upper oversize and a thicker wall will take up the difference. It looks like there's about .020"-.025" of oblong on one side of one hole, so it may be feasible.
They ordered me some kits, but I'm hoping to be away for the weekend. So it will all have to wait for now.
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Post by rsmith on Jul 28, 2023 14:27:21 GMT -5
GM door hinges Attachments:
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Post by badhattitude on Jul 28, 2023 17:52:44 GMT -5
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Post by yachtsmanwilly on Jul 29, 2023 5:35:23 GMT -5
That ol' 71 Impala is probably woth 10K as a barn find today!
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Post by yachtsmanwilly on Jul 29, 2023 5:36:59 GMT -5
Any which way you can Scott!
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Post by Avenger on Jul 29, 2023 9:45:23 GMT -5
Title came in the mail today.
Life's better. Not good with all that's going on, not good at all, but this is a little bright spot I really needed.
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