1973 Door Sag

[racingundertaker]

I am experiencing a sagging door on the driver side of my beautiful 1973 Corvette. I have found out by doing some research that the upper door hinge is probably causing this. It has caused some door jamb paint issues, and I would like to fix this. How difficult a job is changing this upper door hinge? I can see all that needs to be done to access the bolts on the lower hinge.....but have no idea how to get to the connecting bolts on the upper hinge that are inside of the car. Is this type of job better left to a body shop.....or can I do this myself? Any help that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated! I don't want to try to start this project and have it turn into a nightmare. Thanks!

 

[Robin7TFour]

hello, if your good in carpentry(or know someone). you can make a cradle to hold the door while it's in the open position. that makes it easier to remove the door hinge,since the door is supported.
make sure to use good carpet to pad the wood,keep the scratches at bay!

 

[racingundertaker]

Thanks for the reply Robin, not too slick at wood work (much better w/welder) but I think I can "scare up" some wood around the shop and make a cradle. My real question is how do I get to the upper door hinge bolts inside of the car on the driver side? OR.......would I just be better off replacing the door hinge pin and bushing on the two driver side hinges? Would the hinge/bushing replacement repair the sag that I have? Thanks again.............

 

[mike weyman]

bump the pins and bushings out with the hammer and take them with you . if you say corvette you will need your credit card, but if you just ask for "these" it will cost about 10 bucks a door. if you have the bushing hole worn out big there's an oversize that you drill the hole out and put it in. if the pins are a bit longer you can cut them off .

i read here where this fixed a door locking "key" problem. mike

 

[Robin7TFour]

hi, to access the inner half of the hinge, remove the lower kick panel. there's a pocket inside the birdcage that contains the bolts/nuts. make the assembly with paint so you can relocate in the same spot when assmbling.
personally i wouls remove the door since it allows for easier access to all the parts..imho

robin

 

[Bizzy77]

I would avoid removing the hinges off the body or the door. It's more likely than not that you have worn brass pivot bushings at the hinges. The hinge pin resembles an oversized nail. It is much easier to remove the door by removing the hinge pins than it is to remove the hinges themselves. If it is the hinge pin brass bushings, you only need to work on one hinge at a time and replace the two flanged brass bushings and the pin for each door hinge. Corvette parts vendors often carry replacement hinge pins and brass bushings in their inventory as a "kit". Check with Paragon, Dr. Rebuild, Corvette Central, Volunteer Corvettes, etc, etc. Some auto parts stores such as O'Reilly's, NAPA, Pep Boys (!?!?) Autozone may carry the replacement parts in ther "help" section. Hope this helps.

 

[Ken]

Excuse me if I am butting-in where I really don't know my stuff, but seeing as how the July issue of Corvette Fever just had an article where they showed a sagging door as an example of what happens when a core support deteriorates to the point it is in need of replacement. The tech article is entitled: "Core Support Survival Guide - Support for a sagging shark". Judging from the picture it appears as though it might be your problem.

Of course, I could be completely wrong - wouldn't be the first time! :L

 

[trent81]

Of course, I could be completely wrong - wouldn't be the first time! :L

What, you wrong? :eyerole

C'mon Ken, Who are you kidding you"ve never been wrong in your life!!!!

Trent81