Shoebox Door Hinge Rebuild - Cheap and Easy
by the-rodster aka Rich
Stock shoebox door hinges are usually shot and in need of work.
Saggy doors aint 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.
HELP! Part number 38391
![hinge-rebuild01](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild01.jpg)
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.
![hinge-rebuild02](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild02.jpg)
Next, take a hacksaw and saw through the hinge pin at the top and bottom joint.
![hinge-rebuild03](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild03.jpg)
![hinge-rebuild04](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild04.jpg)
And remove what is left of the original hinge pin.
![hinge-rebuild05](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild05.jpg)
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.
![hinge-rebuild06](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild06.jpg)
Drill the male hinge with the same bit, again, as straight as possible.
![hinge-rebuild07](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild07.jpg)
Next, chock 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.
![hinge-rebuild08](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild08.jpg)
![hinge-rebuild09](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild09.jpg)
Install the new bushings to the top and bottom of the male hinge.
![hinge-rebuild10](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild10.jpg)
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.
![hinge-rebuild11](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild11.jpg)
Install the hinge pin and clip, and your done.
Nice, tight, smooth operating hinges.
![hinge-rebuild12](http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/images/hinge-rebuild12.jpg)
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