Have any of you guys come up with a good alternative for those rubber hinge bushings? Besides the fact that they cost a poopload, I am looking for a cleaner look. Has anyone tried to make a sheet metal cover? What about some kind of backer rod and seam sealer. I'd love to have something I could paint the body color.
+2
Digz
samsvan
6 posters
Hinge bushings
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
- Post n°1
Hinge bushings
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
- Post n°2
Re: Hinge bushings
Mid Dodges and I think the early ones just use some kind of sealer. Should work Ok I'd think. Early Chevys didn't use a grommet on the front doors, at least some. I wish I had filled mine before paint. Maybe next re-do.
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
- Post n°3
Re: Hinge bushings
The gap seems really big and hollow to just try to fill with seam sealer. Even a backer looks tricky to keep in place. I'll check out the other vans for some ideas.
m1dadio- Chevy Guru
- Number of posts : 1778
Location : north saanich
Registration date : 2008-10-06
- Post n°4
Re: Hinge bushings
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
- Post n°5
Re: Hinge bushings
M1, did you use anything behind the caulk for a backer? Also, when I get to paint, do you think I should fit and seal the doors before paint or paint the doors off the van and then hang and seal them and touch up the caulk later?
m1dadio- Chevy Guru
- Number of posts : 1778
Location : north saanich
Registration date : 2008-10-06
- Post n°6
Re: Hinge bushings
if your going with the caulking , I didnt use anything behind it and its been there years. do the caulking with the doors installed and adjusted with new hinge pins, then paint. Its alot more work to paint the doors off the van and then install them.
in the factory they installed the rubber gaskets and doors and then painted over it all.
in the factory they installed the rubber gaskets and doors and then painted over it all.
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
- Post n°7
Re: Hinge bushings
Thanks. I'm going to go the caulk rout as you said. Thanks for the input.
Sam
Sam
m1dadio- Chevy Guru
- Number of posts : 1778
Location : north saanich
Registration date : 2008-10-06
- Post n°8
Re: Hinge bushings
I used paintable automotive body sealer
Lazarusvan- Number of posts : 1293
Location : Charleston, South Carolina
Age : 51
Registration date : 2011-02-22
- Post n°9
Re: Hinge bushings
M1D,
Are you seeing any cracking around the seam sealer? Mine was seam sealed previously and had some cracking. I don't really love the hinge rubber, either. Even painted, it won't look as clean, but definitely don't want the paint cracking.
Are you seeing any cracking around the seam sealer? Mine was seam sealed previously and had some cracking. I don't really love the hinge rubber, either. Even painted, it won't look as clean, but definitely don't want the paint cracking.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°10
Re: Hinge bushings
Here is an old post on gaskets,,,,,,,,but I am thinking doing a search for GM 12337944 will find something for like $2.50,,,,,,,,and cutting one to slip on the hinge and gluing it on is going to turn out better than adding sealer in the hole,,,,,,,,,
https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t18627-window-seals-and-windshield-seal
https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t18627-window-seals-and-windshield-seal
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°11
Re: Hinge bushings
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
- Post n°12
Re: Hinge bushings
Thanks for that link. I think the price of the grommets at Steele Rubber has come down since that was written but they're still $240 for enough to do the whole van. The ones on that link look like a good fit so I'll have to see what they cost and if they're still available.
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
- Post n°13
Re: Hinge bushings
Well lookie here!
http://parts.royaloakschevy.com/p/GROMMET-Door-Hinge/47113715/12337944.html
Maybe I didn't get my math right on the Steele Rubber ones but these are under $70 for the whole set. There is 24 needed for the whole job, right?
http://parts.royaloakschevy.com/p/GROMMET-Door-Hinge/47113715/12337944.html
Maybe I didn't get my math right on the Steele Rubber ones but these are under $70 for the whole set. There is 24 needed for the whole job, right?
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
- Post n°14
Re: Hinge bushings
Remember the front hinges are narrower.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°15
Re: Hinge bushings
These stupid rubber pieces are the most valuable pieces on a van,,,,,,,,once water gets in past them it sits in the bottom of the doors and rusts them out,,,,,,,,the side and rear hinges are wider than the fronts, so you really need 2 1/2" wide gaskets to fit both types,,,,,,the originals are grommets,,,,snap in the hole,,,,,,HOWEVER,,,,,,,the insides on mine were like brand new, so I sliced them and used the insides to make gaskets to glue onto the outsides,,,,,I could never make seam sealer or caulk look pretty,,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
- Post n°16
Re: Hinge bushings
I think I might seen some Fords like vans or Explorers in the wrecking yard that had gaskets that might just fit into a guys pocket,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or I mean part of the $2 admission fee for Pick a Part,,,,,
Vantasia- Number of posts : 1412
Location : New Jersey
Age : 69
Registration date : 2013-08-18
- Post n°17
Re: Hinge bushings
I just caulked mine as neat as possible with silicone bathtub caulk, easy choice since van is white and it matches, seam sealer would also work pre-paint. And yes, the 1st Gens did not have rubber gaskets, the shop manual clearly shows "sealer" around the hinges in the exploded body diagrams. But its funny that every 1st gen van I've seen never has any remnants of this sealer left around the hinges?? maybe they left the factory without it, these vans weren't designed to be around for 50 years! LOL The shop manual also shows a mysterious fan shroud on the first gens too....
samsvan- Number of posts : 672
Location : Sarasota, Fl.
Age : 61
Registration date : 2014-09-04
- Post n°18
Re: Hinge bushings
My '66 had the old rubber ones still in it but they disintegrated when I tried to get them out. I wish the site that has those replacements had a picture of what they have.