sloppy Hinge

[tudorkeith]

The upper passenger side door hinge on my 47 ford sedan is sloppy. the door wiggles in and out slightly when colosed and when you open it, it drops slightly. it will close and align correctly but you have to use more force than I like. the door used to sag alot, had to make shims for the bottom and slot the holes up top to slide it back. now my front gap is right and the alignment is good but the hinge still has the slop. does anyone know where I can get a new hinge or is it just the hinge pin? and any idea why there would be a big(3/8) gap in the back with a 1/4 inch gap in the front? drivers side door is near perfect. I'm thinking previous repair in the car's 60+ year life? thanks

[pat mccarthy]

it may at a time took hit in the cowl hard to say if gap is small at top of door and big at bottom then the hing or cowl is off the door is droping so you need to start at the hing first by rebuilding check it if loose grab the door and pick up when door is open if you can lift up pins are bad.. you may find a rebuild kit from a dealer in 40s or you may fine a pin that can be made to fit from a newer car /truck get the door back on and work on the door gap with good set of hinges. you can move the cowl on older cars some time s with a shim up under the body mount under the cowl only if needed or make a pull that top part of the cowl will carry the door up any good body shop can help with this .a good machine shop can rebuild the hing or not if its past a pin you want to at lest have a drill press to drill /ream the hing for the over size pin so there will be no slop

[rspears]

Pat, the newer vehicles have a bronze bushing that presses into the hinge hole, sized to fit the pin. Would it be possible to get a hinge pin kit from a newer car that is long enough, and drill out the hinges to fit the bushing? Never done it, but seems like it should work OK if a rebuild kit cannot be found. Am I being too crazy?

[pat mccarthy]

Pat, the newer vehicles have a bronze bushing that presses into the hinge hole, sized to fit the pin. Would it be possible to get a hinge pin kit from a newer car that is long enough, and drill out the hinges to fit the bushing? Never done it, but seems like it should work OK if a rebuild kit cannot be found. Am I being too crazy?

you can get kits in help and use the oiltie bushings and spot face the hing for bushing has the over all may be to wide to get the outer and inner hinges back together .i have done this on old english fords and older chevys

[tudorkeith]

I think I have seen hinge pin kits. and I was a machinist for 13 years and am still friends with a lot of the local shops. the gap problem is forward and back. i can live with the gap a little off as long as I get the slop out of the door. My car is definatly a driver and not a 30k plus vehicle. thanks guys.

[pat mccarthy]

yep take the slop out then there will be no drop then you can move the door gap were you want in then move back the front fender back if that gap is to wide

[sunsetdart]

you may want to try Drakes......they make and carry lots of parts for the older Fords...........just google Paul Drake

[pro70z28]

Paul Drake......Paul Drake........ wasn't he a detective at one time?

[tudorkeith]

Paul Drake......Paul Drake........ wasn't he a detective at one time?

thankfully I knew what he meant. now if only my wife would stop throwing out my drake catologues
update, pins ordered. 2 bucks each and the pin puller 18$ hopefully it is just the pin otherwise it's bushing time. thanks for all the advice