I got a kit with all the pins and bushings to hopefully fix my sagging door. Does anyone have any tips on how to do it? Maybe an easy way? Thanks for the help

With the door still on the car I can't help you with an easy way. But I did have to drill out 3 of the 4 holes for the bushings on each side. I used a 31/64 drill bit, and then used a bolt and nut get the bushings into the holes. For some reason from the factory 1 hole is larger then the rest, at least on my 82.

It's really not a hard job to do. I just did my drivers door last week-end and it took 1 hour, out in the yard. I found it best/easiest to take the door off, support the bottom ( I used a cinder block and some 2x4's). Mark the position of the hinges on the door. Unbolt the hinges from the DOOR and remove. I didn't have any electical going to the door, but if you do, I think you should be able to swing the door out far enough to continue. Then you can cut/grind the pin off in the middle and replace the bushings. Take this time to pack the detent/roller with a little grease, I happened to have some LubriPlate handy, and if your spring follower is worn at the hinge (my spring fell out a week before) heat and reset the 'rivet'. Putting the spring back in can be a bear but, like I said, the whole job only took 1 hour. It will help to have someone hold the door up while rebolting and aligning. Hope this helps. Go for it and save a few bucks.

I got a kit with all the pins and bushings to hopefully fix my sagging door. Does anyone have any tips on how to do it? Maybe an easy way? Thanks for the help
Arrrgghhhh!!!!!!

First read this:
http://elcaminocentral.com/postt150.html

Then read this:
http://elcaminocentral.com/postt1802.html

:mrgreen:

Arrrgghhhh!!!!!!


Now, now Ernie....take a deep breath...count to 10 :cool:

Hinge pins and bushings just plain suck. A trick I learned on the spring is if you can compress it in a vise and "wire it" with bailing wire on opposite sides, the process goes easier. Once the hinge is assembled, you can cut the bailing wire to "free" it into place.

For those who do not know - check the parts books, I believe the hinges on a 5th gen Elky hinges are exactly the same as the front door hinges on any four-door Malibu (and all the other GM clones of the Malibu). It is not difficult to find a good used pair in the junkyard as these hinges have been holding only half the weight all their life . . . . .

I believe the hinges on a 5th gen Elky hinges are exactly the same as the front door hinges on any four-door Malibu (and all the other GM clones of the Malibu).
Only the upper hinges from the front doors of the four door 78-87 A/G-body RWD sedan or station wagon will fit on a 5th gen El Camino. The lower hinges are different. Here is a complete list of possible four door donor cars for upper hinges:

78-81 Buick Century 4dr
82-84 Buick Regal 4dr
78-87 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4dr
78-81 Pontiac LeMans 4dr
78-83 Chevrolet Malibu 4dr
82-86 Pontiac Bonneville 4dr

:mrgreen:

I did it last year. It was not hard to do at all if you have two people. I cut the old pins in half & drove them out of both ends. My bushings were shot. Do the lower then the upper. Have the other guy line it up while you install the pins.

I just tried replacing the hinges on the drivers side of my 86 Elky and after alot of trying to pry the top hinge off come to find out it was welded to the body on the top front side. Has anyone esle run into this?

Eddie

I don't have to the hinges because all I needed was bushings & pins but I just looked in my 78, they are bolted on.

Mine were bolted on my 85 and were beyond pins and bushings.. BE CAREFUL the mechanic that replaced mine lost part of a finger.

If the hinge was welded to the body it must have been done by a real hack. All 5th gen Elky door hinges were bolted in.

:mrgreen:

This was done at the factory. All the factory seam sealer was still in place and never broken none at all what so ever. The paint on the bolts was never even scratched till I tried to remove it. We have a 79 also and they where not welded anywhere at all. The welded part was only like 1/2 to 3/4 inchs just on the very corner.
Eddie

The welded part was only like 1/2 to 3/4 inchs just on the very corner.
After the door hinges were off of my 87 I noticed the same weld at the same location on the top hinge. I'd never seen a door hinge welded to the body in addition to having the normal three bolts. I guess the later 5th gen Elkys got the weld and the earlier years didn't. I wonder why?