Early Bay Front Door Alignment

[Amskeptic]

Hinges are better than just the pin?

How are they attached to the door? Welded? I did so much searching but unable to find any info.

I do oil those hinges at least a couple times a year. I'll bet the PO didn't though. This seems to be an old problem.

I'd imagine both hinges should be replaced, but probably won't know until the door is off.

I deleted the retarded hopeful post preceding yours above. It appears that indeed you are stuck with having to replace pins and bushings.
Colin

[hambone]

Of course I've already emailed a couple vendors lookin' for hinges!

Funny how such a STUPID little hinge can be such an annoyance. Also funny how there is very little precedence for this repair in a bus. The hinges must be unusually durable.

NLA pin and bushing replacements further complicate this. I'm really not sure how to proceed here.

I'm guessing that the best way to proceed would be getting the bushings reamed out to the next size, and somehow finding a slightly larger pin...

From: Ron Bengry [mailto:RBengry@wolfsburgwest.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 12:35 PM
Subject: RE: 1969 bus hinges

I am not aware of a current source for late Bus hinge pins, unfortunately. I think the only option is to have some fabricated (machine shop).

Regards,
Ron

Ron Bengry
Wolfsburg West
2850 Palisades Dr.
Corona, CA 92880
Phone: 888-965-3937
Fax: 951-549-0580
e-mail: rbengry@wolfsburgwest.com

[hambone]

A UK supplier offers hinges and pins, see #4 and 5. Will this work?
http://www.vwheritage.com/vwh/Bus-Parts ... &setCurr=1

[Bookwus]

Hiya Bob,

I'm not sure if the hinge parts in the diagram will fit your application. However VW Heritage gets high marks from the chaps over on EarlyBay. You just might want to make contact over there and see if anybody has gone this route before. No reason to re-invent the wheel.

[Amskeptic]

A UK supplier offers hinges and pins, see #4 and 5. Will this work?
http://www.vwheritage.com/vwh/Bus-Parts ... &setCurr=1

Why not? Drive out your old, drive in your new. They appear to have the right sizes.
Colin

[hambone]

Hi Bob,
Although the hinge half is listed as NLA we still have a limited stock of them. The hinge pins are also in stock. Providing your van is pre 75 and has pre 75 hinges the items you have mentioned will fit.
Regards James

I ordered them, we'll see.

[hambone]

Can I pound out the old pin with the door still attached to the body, or is that a bad idea? It would make things easier at least.

[Amskeptic]

Can I pound out the old pin with the door still attached to the body, or is that a bad idea? It would make things easier at least.

Yes, but please batten down the hatches, no loose good in the interior, make sure the window is rolled all the way up. Drive the pins no more than half way out before you get help to support the door. By then, the impact and difficulty should be slackening so you can be . . . delicate about it.
Colin

[hambone]

Received the parts yesterday, not bad a week from the UK. Hinge 1/2, pin, and 4 capscrews.

The hinge pin is a weird thing, looks like a tube with a plug attached to one end, and a ring to the other. Highly polished. However, I don't see how putting oil into the "tube" will actually oil the hinges, as there is no outlet besides the opening at the end. Curious. Does it oil by bouncing/seeping action? It could be 1 solid piece of steel that was machined, I dunno.

The pin fits somewhat loosely into the hinge 1/2. I thought it would be a interference fit. There is a slight amount of wiggle in fact. The hinge 1/2 welded to the door must be the interference fit section. At least I hope so....but they look to be original and unused parts.

Anyone out there have a source for the little plastic plug caps that go into the top of the pins? yeah good luck.

Funny, I was so excited to find these parts for sale, but they are VERY anticlimactic once held in the hands. Only so much thrill from a hinge! Well hopefully one step closer to a closing door.

[Bookwus]

Hiya Bob,

........Only so much thrill from a hinge!

Ah, yes. Words for the ages, indeed!

[Amskeptic]

However, I don't see how putting oil into the "tube" will actually oil the hinges, as there is no outlet besides the opening at the end.

The pin fits somewhat loosely into the hinge 1/2.
The hinge 1/2 welded to the door must be the interference fit.

You are in uncharted territory here in my experience with VWs.
Is the pin a rolled piece of steel with an imperceptable seam? That would allow oil to permeate the length of the hinge. I have four polished red plastic caps on the Road Warrior, how about if you ask Troy Wical to buy them. You will then have a proud little momento of the Road Warrior that I took inordinate autistic pride in.

I would have hoped for a more snug fit. I am a little confused here, do you mean to say that the pin fit is loose at the body (inner section), but snug at the two outer sections of the door hinge? It would be a no-brainer to assume that the body hinge is wallowed out. You could take it off easily enough and sleeve the hole.
Colin

[hambone]

On the new hinge 1/2 that bolts to the pillar is where the loose fit occurs.

The old hinge is still attached to the bus so I cannot attest to it's fit.

There is no seam along the pin, it is solid.

[Amskeptic]

On the new hinge 1/2 that bolts to the pillar is where the loose fit occurs.

The old hinge is still attached to the bus so I cannot attest to it's fit.

There is no seam along the pin, it is solid.

Contact the supplier and ask about correct fit between the new pin and a new hinge HALF. It may be that a little clearance is necessary to allow the upper and lower hinges to play nice without binding due to variations between the upper and lower door pillar dimensions.
Colin

[hambone]

Here are some pix. I find it odd that there is no oil groove or passage in the pin.

[Amskeptic]

Here are some pix. I find it odd that there is no oil groove or passage in the pin.

Late model buses did away with the oil reservoirs. The BobD just has paint all over the pin and the door hinge "eye".

Slather some good engine assembly lube at installation time, and oil at the crack between the door hinge/body hinge interface. Does your original hinge have a thrust washer or flange between the bodyhinge/door hinge interface?
Colin