Cheap and Easy Classic Car Door Hinge Rebuild

Stock Ford Shoebox door hinges are usually shot and in need of work. Saggy doors ain’t cool.

As far as I know, rebuild kits are not available, probably because the original hinges didn’t use bushings, just steel pins.

Some folks offer door hinge rebuild services for $160 to $300.

I figured that there was surely a readily available pin and bushing kit that would do the job, so I went to the parts store and started measuring.

Turns out, mid 70’s GM hinge kits fit the bill nicely…

Dorman HELP! Part number 38391

Remove and Rebuild Old Worn Door Hinges

First, remove your stock hinges.

This may or may not be an easy job, the stock Phillips head screws can be a real pain to remove.

Next, take a hacksaw and saw through the hinge pin at the top and bottom joint.

And remove what is left of the original hinge pin.

Chock up an 11/32 bit in your drill press, and drill thru both the top and bottom tabs of the female hinge. Do this as straight as possible.

Drill the male hinge with the same bit, again, as straight as possible.

Next, chuck up a 13/32 bit, and drill down about 1/4″ into the top and bottom of the male hinge, just enough to fit the new bushings.

Install the new bushings to the top and bottom of the male hinge.

You may need to grind just a little from the top and bottom of the female hinge, in order for the pin clip to fit.

Install the hinge pin and clip, and your done.

Nice, tight, smooth operating hinges.

Article and Photos by the-rodster aka Rich