[punkin]

Good day all,

The passenger door on one of my first gen firebirds is showing early signs of a worn hinge. Door alignment is perfect and body/paint complete so I really don't want to booger anything up. I've been searching for awhile and cannot seem to find where any detailed information on replacing pins/bushing can be done with the door in place.

Anyone done this or is it best done by a body shop?

Thanks

[tooski]

The brass bushings are inserted in the door half of the hinge. The hinge must be separated to r & r the bushings. If the bushing is so far gone that the hinge hole is worn, then the hole must be drilled to accept an oversize bushing. I would suspect that it would be very difficult to do this one hinge at a time. Best to remove the door. The driver's on my first gen was sagging making it difficult to open and close it. Alignment was good with it closed. I remove the pins allowing the door to come free. (I put a blanket around the door, window down, and supported it using two sets of ratchet straps hooked to my engine hoist.) I did not touch any of the hinge bolts. I got lucky that none of the pin holes were worn. I replaced the pins and bushings with a kit. Door opens and closes as it should. Again I got lucky (for a change) that realignment was not needed.

[hojs69]

As said, door removal is almost a must. You will find some online videos but I could not do it.

I just did this and tried without removal. No go.

[Cammer-6]

you may want to invest in a bushing removal tool
Agree not to touch the hinge bolts so as not to upset the alignment.
also buy a spring removal tool

https://www.jbtools.com/steck-21825-...hoCia8QAvD_BwE

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NOE7...ng_dcoe_google

[punkin]

Thanks everyone. I'm risk avoidant when it comes to body and panel alignment. I appreciate the input, I'm going to let a body shop take this on. Thank you!

[MUSLCAH]

Freshly Painted ?

[hojs69]

I was with you, was scared of paint damage. I taped all leading edges off well. All went fine.

I even removed hinges, apply tape around their position on door and/or body. Went back in almost perfect, ever so slight adjustment.

Did top and bottom pins and bushings.

[VCho455]

One of these door supports really helps.

Most body shops will drill a 1/8" hole in each hinge on both sides where it bolts to the door and to the pillar and they use a roll pin or drill blank as an index dowel before removing the hinges to allow them to quickly realign the door after repairing the hinges. However that won't work if the doors were realigned with worn hinges at some time.