1957 door hinges

[Mike N.]

Can anyone tell me a good method for replacing the springs on the door hinges??

How to compress the ribbets??

Thanks,
Mike

[John M.]

Re: 1957 door hinges

Find someone who has a "Mongoose" riveter that is used to install rebound straps. You can use this same tool to install the spring rivets. They are both semi-tubular rivets of the same diameter. There are many who have built one of these rivet tools, and someone would surely lend you one. You can't use a standard semi-tubular rivet set since the rivet is hidden inside the hinge. I would lend you mine, but it is on a tour of 5 people right now that are installing rebound straps, and it may be several weeks before it finds it's way home! I had to grind a little additional clearance in the throat of my Mongoose to get at one of the hinge rivets, but it did not require much to make it clear.

Regards, John McGraw

[Mike N.]

Re: 1957 door hinges

Where were you last year when I tackled my rebound straps????

Jonn, is there any way you can send me a drawing of this MONGOOSE tool........maybe I can build one myself.

I have an idea that I will soon put to the test.............if it works, it'll be an easy fix for these hinges. I will let you know how it works.

Thanks for the help,
Mike

[John M.]

Re: 1957 door hinges

Mike,

There was an article in the restorer years ago telling how to build one. It is basically a KD nutsplitter that has the upper mandrel replaced with a turned down Semi-tubular rivet set, and the lower mandrel ground out concave so that it will fit the rivet heads. Once you get the tool on the rivet, you just tighten the screw to compress and set the rivet. The semi-tubular rivet set is a must. It is shaped so that it will expand and then roll the rivet tail over.
Hopefully, someone can supply a copy of the article from the Restorer for you to work from.

Here is a source of the rivet set.

http://www.rivetsinstock.com/rivet62.htm

Regards, John McGraw