hinge plates in a post

[Matt Tomkins]

Hi all,
I'm going to be repairing the passenger inner wing and the bottom of the sill on the traveller before long.
the doors were off when i bought the car, and a bit of poking around at the bottom of the sill with a screwdriver saw not only a hole develop, but the threaded, shaped plate from the bottom door hinge fell out too!

my question to you all... what is the best way to put this back in? obviously i know i want some movement in it to adjust the door.
i have access to the rear of that a post now, as i have the bottom piece of both the hinge pillar and inner wing nearly off for repair and captive nuts for the inner wing welding in.

I did ponder simply bolting the plate back on with the door bolts, and not letting it go, but it's a big risk!!!

any advice gratefully recieved

[chickenjohn]

The hinge plate is usually held in place with folded metal tabs that allow some movement but prevent the thread plates dropping. This will have rusted away allowing the plate to drop. If you remove the lower hinge a pillar cover then you cAn clean up the area of rust and fold up new tabs of thickish steel 1.2mm etc and weld these below the hinge pillar holes to prevent the plate from dropping. If the door was bolted in place you could drill a small hole between the bolt holes in a pillar and additionally keep the plate located onto the a pillar with a self tapping screw. Or I have some 5/16 BSF studs I made up to hold the plate with door off. The studs also have a slot cut in for a screwdriver. Enables easier mounting of the door.

[Matt Tomkins]

thanks for that![frame][/frame][frame][/frame]