manta door hinge removal

4444 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by 23473, May 11, 2009

Jeff Pozorski

Discussion Starter · Sep 14, 2005 (Edited)

manta door hinge pin removal

Okay, I have the typical sagging driver's door on my 73 Manta. Being smart, so I thought, I purchased thru JC Whitney their door hinge pin removal tool. Great tool except for one thing: it only removes "solid" hinge pins, not the "hollow" ones that Opel uses on the Manta. I have tried soaking the pins with various lubricants (PB Blaster, WD40, etc) and then tried to drive them out with a solid rod the same size as the hinge opening itself: no luck.
So I have 2 questions: 1) what have the rest of you done to replace the hinge pins (I have new ones from OGTS)? 2) has anyone tried driving a solid pin thru the middle of the old hollow pin to "beef" it up? This idea seems plausible as the solid pin would stretch the hollow pin back into shape and restoring the normal action of the hinge. What do ya'll think?

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MikeyOne

· #2 · Sep 15, 2005

Ouch

My door sags also and you may have the same problem: The hinge pin is not juct 'compressed', it is actually rusted out and collapsed. I cant seem to be able to drive it out because it is broken inside the hinge.

So I did what you are thinking about and put a tight fitting stainless bolt thru the center. Its better but still sags a bit.

I believe that to get the old pin out I may have to fabricate a puller like the manual shows or get a right angle drill and try to drill the pin out from the bottom.

BTW This is a good reason to keep the plastic caps in the top end of the hinge pins.

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IT Manta

· #3 · Sep 16, 2005

I have seen reproduction Opel hinge pin removal tools for Manta doors on ebay before. It may have been on German ebay. Good luck

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Gordy

· #4 · May 10, 2009

Hinge roll pin removal

I've only had 1 previous experience with Opel hinge pin removal. It involved blood, beer, cursing, more beer, more bleeding, and finally sticking a large nail thru the broken pin to keep the door on. That was years ago.
Now in wanting to remove the doors from my Kadett, I;
1. plan ahead better
2. no longer drink
3. look to get the right tool to do the job

I noticed there were a lot of different types of roll pin removers on the market. I took a chance on one and it worked great! I ordered from [email protected] (endeavour tools) in Austrailia. For $36.95 (includes $12.00 air delivery) the tool arrived and worked flawlessly! It is item #DA6871.
Didn't come with instructions but if you look in the Opel FSM, they illustrate an Opel tool being used for hinge pin removal and you'll get the jist of what you need to do. Any questions contact me and I'll be glad to help.
In fact if anyone wants to borrow the tool just let me know and if you pay shipping both ways (I would guess about $5 total) I will be glad to let you use it along with some crude illustrated instructions on how to use it. Gordy

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Aardvaark (R.I.P.)

· #5 · May 10, 2009

I removed the old worn roll pins on my old Ascona with a hammer and long flat ended pin punch roughly the same OD as the pin holes. It was in a Craftsman punch set bought at Sears.
Brought the new roll pins at a hardwear store.

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tomking

· #6 · May 10, 2009

Gordy said:
I've only had 1 previous experience with Opel hinge pin removal. It involved blood, beer, cursing, more beer, more bleeding, and finally sticking a large nail thru the broken pin to keep the door on. That was years ago.
Now in wanting to remove the doors from my Kadett, I;
1. plan ahead better
2. no longer drink
3. look to get the right tool to do the job

I noticed there were a lot of different types of roll pin removers on the market. I took a chance on one and it worked great! I ordered from [email protected] (endeavour tools) in Austrailia. For $36.95 (includes $12.00 air delivery) the tool arrived and worked flawlessly! It is item #DA6871.
Didn't come with instructions but if you look in the Opel FSM, they illustrate an Opel tool being used for hinge pin removal and you'll get the jist of what you need to do. Any questions contact me and I'll be glad to help.
In fact if anyone wants to borrow the tool just let me know and if you pay shipping both ways (I would guess about $5 total) I will be glad to let you use it along with some crude illustrated instructions on how to use it. Gordy

Gordy my advice about the 8mm spring pins is not quite correct. The ones I purchased, and told you about are a little thicker, stronger, tighter than the originals. If you use them, then I suggest taking a hand grinder and opening the slot on the pin. The diameter and strength of the pin versus the original is such that it is too tight a fit. So be careful when you try to install todays metric 8mm pin. Good Opeling.

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Gordy

· #7 · May 11, 2009

Thanx for the headsup Tom. I haven't bought the new pins yet but I've got the old ones to take up to the hardware to compare size etc.
Took the window frames (and vent windows) out of my Kadett today so I can install new window scraper rubber and the inside window track guide rubber. Would be a good time to find better vent window frames with good rubber while it's apart.

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23473

· #8 · May 11, 2009

another method ...

Take a screw (with round head) that has the same (outer) diameter as the pin and place it in the hinge. Now you can punch it out with a hammer and a suitable punch (or screwdriver).

If there is still some play after installing the new pins, than the hinge of the door is worn out. This can be solved by opening (grinding) the 2 hinge slots on the bodyshell. When things haven't worn out too much the original (new) pin can be used otherwise look for an oversize pin.

greetz
bert

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