Hood Hinge Play
 

I sandblasted one of my hood hinges today and when I was through I noticed there was alot of play from the pivot pins when I finished. I am guessing the sand loosened up the rust because there was no play there when I started. Can this be pressed to take out the play or is the hinge shot?:mad: I'm afraid to do the other hinge.

Sure you can, if you have a press. Just be careful not to overdo it ;)

Do you mean you see play between the staked pin end and the arm just under it? That staking is supposed to hold the pin tight in that arm, with the other piece under it free to turn on the pin. On the hinges I just did, three pins were fine, but I could see the fourth one sometimes turn in the arm. I used an anvil and a dull chisel and hammer to stake it tight again.
If you do actually have "play" of the free piece on the pin, then you will need new hinges to correct the play.

If I would bolt it to the fender I would end up with play going fender to fender. Hope I explained that right.

So... with the hinge bolted to the fender, you'd have sideways play? Or, in other words, there's endplay of the part that rotates on the pin you circled? If so, then the question is- how much is okay. Even new hinges have some endplay built into those pivots. I doubt that it's a concern, but maybe you could get your hands on a new one to compare with?

In any case, there's no reason to re-stake that pin unless it's turning in the part that it's not supposed to turn in. It's a shouldered pin- the staking merely holds the shoulder tightly against the other side of the piece.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input.