left front door hinge

[Jason]

My left front door hinge currently looks like this..

IMG_20140831_131309.jpg

It's my understanding that the part isn't available anywhere.

Does anyone know if a part made out of aluminum would be strong enough? I have a small CNC mill and could machine a new part from aluminum fairly easily. If not aluminum what material would be best?

Also, how would I separate the two hinge pieces? It looks like the hinge shaft is press in. Is the shaft just a single diameter or does it taper or have a cap or something on one end? If I were to try to press it out does the direction matter?

Thanks

- Jason

[David T]

The part may no longer be available NOS but if you look someone will have a good used one.

[Ryan King]

My left front door hinge currently looks like this..

IMG_20140831_131309.jpg

It's my understanding that the part isn't available anywhere.

Does anyone know if a part made out of aluminum would be strong enough? I have a small CNC mill and could machine a new part from aluminum fairly easily. If not aluminum what material would be best?

Also, how would I separate the two hinge pieces? It looks like the hinge shaft is press in. Is the shaft just a single diameter or does it taper or have a cap or something on one end? If I were to try to press it out does the direction matter?

Thanks

- Jason

If I were you, I would find an experienced local metal shop to try and reinforce it/weld it back up for you.

[Nicholas R]

If you think you can make a new one, I'd give it a shot. Thats pretty rough. I'm not sure I'd make it out of aluminum using the same dimensions. The original isn't the best metal to begin with, (pretty sure it's just cast steel), but thats likely a little stronger than aluminum would be. Can you machine something like ASTM A36 steel?

[DMC5180]

I'm guessing a certain vendor will eventually figure a way to reproduce them in SS. But until then there should be a reasonable supply of cars being parted out to find one.

[DMCMW Dave]

I've seen them successfully welded, (it is a steel casting) but a parts car part is your best bet. They are out there.

No real reason to do it in stainless, I think machining something of steel will be the ultimate solution if people stop parting out cars and more break.

At this point in time the need is very low so the supply (parts cars) and demand (stuff that breaks) is about in equilibrium.

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Actually I'm not sure it's steel as I've never seen one rust. Hard to believe it's a nickel alloy (typically not very strong) but that's what it looks like. It would be interesting to know for sure.

[Jason]

If you think you can make a new one, I'd give it a shot. Thats pretty rough. I'm not sure I'd make it out of aluminum using the same dimensions. The original isn't the best metal to begin with, (pretty sure it's just cast steel), but thats likely a little stronger than aluminum would be. Can you machine something like ASTM A36 steel?

This is what I've come up with so far.

hinge.jpg

I added more material where there was clearance.

I could do A36 steel, but it would require a lot more work, and probably cost a lot more, as I never done steel before (other than small holes and slots), so I'd likely mess up the first couple of parts.

[Nicholas R]

I'm guessing a certain vendor will eventually figure a way to reproduce them in SS. But until then there should be a reasonable supply of cars being parted out to find one.

I would not want this part to be made out of stainless. If you replace this this part with a SS replacement, and you don't replace the roof box with stainless, all you're doing is creating a nice electron conduit that will increase the corrosion rate of the roof box every time it rains. I know in my car, every time it rains, water ends up in the torsion bar area; if not from leakage, then just when opening the door. That's all you need for some nice galvanic corrosion. The hinges will last forever, because they have the roof box to act as an anode.

[Jason]

I would not want this part to be made out of stainless. If you replace this this part with a SS replacement, and you don't replace the roof box with stainless, all you're doing is creating a nice electron conduit that will increase the corrosion rate of the roof box every time it rains. I know in my car, every time it rains, water ends up in the torsion bar area; if not from leakage, then just when opening the door. That's all you need for some nice galvanic corrosion. The hinges will last forever, because they have the roof box to act as an anode.

What about 7050 aluminum?

[Delorean Industries]

I would not want this part to be made out of stainless. If you replace this this part with a SS replacement, and you don't replace the roof box with stainless, all you're doing is creating a nice electron conduit that will increase the corrosion rate of the roof box every time it rains. I know in my car, every time it rains, water ends up in the torsion bar area; if not from leakage, then just when opening the door. That's all you need for some nice galvanic corrosion. The hinges will last forever, because they have the roof box to act as an anode.

Challenge accepted.