Door hinge pin removal

[Colin]

I would like to replace the worn hinge pins in my Viva HB GT driver's door. I have obtained replacement pins but I'm struggling to find a suitable hinge puller (or pusher) tool for the job.

The closest I have come across appears to be this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231643524831? ... EBIDX%3AIT

But due to the inward curvature of the door skin above the top hinge and below the bottom hinge I don't think there will be sufficient clearance for the 'winding bolt' of this tool.

Does anyone have knowledge of how to go about this job? (unfortunately, I don't have an HB bodywork factory service manual)

Thanks,

Colin

[1972nail]

I can't help you really as I could only get the top pins out of my Firenza doors with a lot of heat and hammering. But if you get the pins out it really is worth while spacing the worn journals out with 8 mm brass washers.

[Colin]

Thanks for that, David.

I seem to remember Adrian Miller advising pulling the hinge pins - since trying to push out the interference fit pins causes further 'interference friction' due to expansion - if that makes sense. The difficulty is finding a suitable puller tool for the job.

I daresay there was specialist tool with a Vsomething tool number back in the day, but finding something now is proving difficult!

[viva boy]

I was given a tool for this job from a fellow who worked at the Luton plant making vivas.
The first tool was a bar with a pin on it about 1/4 inch long that you put on top of the pin and knocked it down. On the other end it had a spot the same diameter as the pin.
You placed the slot arond the pin as the head of the pin was bigger you hammered it down and the pin slid out as you knocked it.
I think they was made in house

[Colin]

Thanks Viva boy,

Yes. That sounds like a Vsomething tool.

Vauxhall used to use a firm called Sykes-Pickervant to make specialist tools for particular applications. For example, an 'S' shaped spanner for reaching the inaccessible bell housing bolt for gearbox removal or the hinge puller you have described. Each tool was given a V number - typically V12345.

There will probably be a picture of the tool in the HB Viva body manual showing it in use. The problem now is finding one!

[droopsnoot]

There's nothing in the HC bodywork manual about it, I had a look - that only talks about marking the body around the hinge before removing the bolts. By HC, the special tools seemed to be by "Riteway" rather than SP.

[rizzo]

Are the HB and HC door pins the same idea but just different for access?

Bill

[viva boy]

The man who I spoke to said that they used the supplied tools but sometimes these were adapted or they had the toolroom remake them so the one I had I seem to remember was handmade.

I'll do a little drawing when I get a minute

[rizzo]

i need my doors off as it happens so thought i would attempt to make a puller, as this subject seems to come up alot, ill put up the results when i get it machined up and tested.

Bill

[viva boy]

Looked a little like this