grassroots 1930s door hinges?

Most 1930s cars came with door hinges that stuck out beyond the door and body. I was thinking about using these cabinet hinges from Lowe's They're cheap, but they are not the right shape/size. (Too narrow and too long).

Would you use them, or find something else? What other cheap options can you think of?

Don't think those will hold the weight of the door.
I'm sure there are hinges designed for what you're trying to do. At work and can't google it.
Or find a car with the type hinges you want and use those.

I would worry about the ability to hold up to abuse. Perhaps find a specialty vendor that could get the right size/shape/durability options? Maybe some artisan type brands? Try mcmaster yet?

Good thought.

How about some off of a wrangler?

VW beetle? (AC)

Hmmm, what about the hinges off of the tail gate of a smaller truck? Ranger etc.

Might want to wander through a wrecking yard if you have one near by... you may look at the neighbors truck, but don't touch... I know how you are partial to things your neighbors leave outside.

You need to pick up a copy of Street Rodder magazine and start browsing the vendors. They still make all that kind of stuff, and most of it (the non-polished, non-billet stuff anyways) is actually really affordable.

mad_machine wrote: VW beetle? (AC)

That was my first thought.

Any skilled metal guy can make up any kind of hinge you want. Gate guys have to support a lot more weight than your doors, might have something laying around. I have made a large bunch of hinges, but not now.

Check out hinges at your local tractor Supply or similar farm implement store. They usually have some beefier stuff that might fot the bill.

Give me two friends, the contents of a Tractor Supply store and a Radio Shack, and a week - and I can put you on the moon. Okay, maybe 10 days.

mad_machine wrote: VW beetle? (AC)

This. Much more durable than anything you'll find at a home improvement place, and should be cheap and easy to find to boot.

Speedway motors budget door hinges to the rescue

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Budget-Hinges,3402.html

Javelin wrote: You need to pick up a copy of Street Rodder magazine and start browsing the vendors. They still make all that kind of stuff, and most of it (the non-polished, non-billet stuff anyways) is actually really affordable.

I get Street Rodder (although I sometimes wonder why), and I know that SpeedwayMotors sells these: I also know that I was hoping to not spend $100+shipping.

Junkyard Jeep, VW or Truck parts sound like more of a challenge-friendly price. I headed out to the pick and pull after work, but got there too late to go into the yard....they did say that they have a Jeep on the premises, though. I may be heading out there again later this week.

Jeep may be a good choice too.. though, I think those hinges are designed to come apart

I'll probably still visit the pick and pull, but I just went to TSC where I got this Now I need to use a band saw and welder to try to turn it into this

aircooled wrote: you may look at the neighbors truck, but don't touch... I know how you are partial to things your neighbors leave outside.

Well, here goes nothing...

Before (left) and After (right) I'll call that a proof of concept....I rushed, got sloppy, and it didn't turn out well enough to use, but I still think the idea has potential. The hinge is made from the center of the old hinge. The outer portion (washer, flat rod, nut) is supposed to be the retainer on the hinge. Again, here's the real datsun hinge for comparison:

the classifieds section @ www.thesamba.com should be your friend here..............your pic looks a lot like a VW Type 1 hinge.........

Your "original" picture shows a 3 knuckle hinge. The Speedway Motors version is a 5 knuckle hinge.

The cabinet hinge will never work. Waaay too lightweight. Your fabricated one is closer to what you will need, although strap hinges are notoriously sloppy and made of very cheap components- they rust easily.

Don't forget the offset. The center of the hinge pin is set away from the body of the car so the door can open without the curve of the door or body colliding.

Picture the entire weight of the door hanging on the hinge when it is 90* to the car. With a kid hanging on it. Weak components or sloppy hinge pins won't work. You will also need good weldability (strap hinges might be questionable). That's why the Speedway Motors version is beefed up.

The orphan is right about VW hinges.

SVreX wrote: although strap hinges are notoriously sloppy and made of very cheap components- they rust easily.

My second attempt came out more sloppy than the original strap hinge. It's WAY better than the last one that I built, though. I think a nylon washer would be enough to get rid of the play and fix it up nicely.

Picture the entire weight of the door hanging on the hinge when it is 90* to the car. With a kid hanging on it. Weak components or sloppy hinge pins won't work.

Definitely true for when I set it up for the street. This might work for a challenge-budget situation.

Early ford broncos - last I looked were about $18/hinge or rebuild kits are something like 7-8 bucks/hinge

I was thinking hinges off old trucks. Or even the old 70s vans with the split side doors. Don't early Suburbans have that style hinge as well. Also, Aerostar vans with the liftgate rear have them.

Looks like there are an awful lot of options on fleabay:

529 options