View Full Version : BILLET DOOR HINGES for 67-69 camaro
I was wondering if there are any companies that are working on making billet or just plain nicer door hinges? if not why not? They made hood and trunk hinges that are ever so slick... so why did they miss the doors. Too much r&d to make one that would hold up? i am looking for an alternative to having the door hinges chromed.
i am thinking that the chrome will probably peel off after some normal use. im sure there would be a market for this right?
what are my other options.. powder coat or annodize the stockers to match the polished look of the hood hinge, latch, and trunk hinges?
lets take a poll is there a market??
would be cool but the COST could scare you!!, remember each year camaro 67-68-69 all have different hinges they are not interchangeable!!:Alchy:
Rhino
11-23-2010, 08:43 AM
I can understand hood hinges, due to everyone looking in the engine compartment. However, I don't know that I'd want to draw attention to my door jams. A ton of additional cost for no benefit.
You could polish, then clear powder coat the stockers if you felt inclined.
IMO, the billet craze on these cars is rivaling that of the traditional street rod. I'll be happy when that dies down.
wmhjr
11-23-2010, 09:11 AM
Forged would be crazy expensive, and I'd worry that billet wouldn't hold up well. Trunks and hoods don't get as much use, and probably not as much stress I'm guessing. Could be wrong.
Bryce
11-23-2010, 09:14 AM
Doors also need to be able to hold up to factory safety for side impact. DOT will not allow you to remove weight by removing structure in a door. So if you ever sold the car and there was an accident you could be help liable if the new owner was not made aware and still you may be held liable.
wellis77
11-23-2010, 09:16 AM
I could be mistaken but didn't Cris at JCG design a set of hinges for a project? Not sure if they were produced. I think I saw read the post on Lat-g.
Rhino
11-23-2010, 11:14 AM
I could be mistaken but didn't Cris at JCG design a set of hinges for a project? Not sure if they were produced. I think I saw read the post on Lat-g.
Strangely enough, I just ran across a set he designed for a second gen. https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?63721-Some-Great-2010-news-and-Project-WarPath&p=682227#post682227
Jim Nilsen
11-24-2010, 04:42 PM
Billet hinges would have to be larger to hold up to the stress making them hard to make look good. Steel is real.
Now if someone wanted to make a better steel lower hinge for 67 F bodies it would be a good thing, the old cast style with the tapered screw really get to be a pain to work with and is good reason the 68-9's were made better.
I painted mine black and used polished stainless harware and they look great and some people actually notice them. Otherwise who looks at door hinges?
The WidowMaker
11-24-2010, 07:53 PM
it would be the absolute last thing id buy, even if i had the money. are billet seat tracks next? hood hinges make sense, but i dont leave my doors open long enough to matter. if they serve a purpose to replace a weak factory part than my opinion would change pretty fast.
I emailed chris and am waiting for a response. it is thanks giving and all...
if you've looked at the poll, some people have some interest in the hinges. Im the type of person that if i go that far i want every thing to match. like i intend on my firewall being the same color as my car and maybe even the undercarrage. For me it's not so much if every body else notices its when i get in the car what do i see when i open the door. im sure we all spend a lot of time under the hood. i can even see people with detailed trunks (music and custom carpets) wanting the trunk hinges.
lets be rational for just a second. once you get you vehicle to driving and you arent wrenching every time you drive around the block... you will se the door hinges more.
ok maybe billet isnt the answer. what about stamped or tig welded polished stainless... anybody else have some suggestions. i saw polish and clear annodize. i wondered if the powdercoat would chip or rub off near the pin area.
on the safety aspect. i have no intentions on cutting up the doors on my car and im sure that if you make a hinge that is sturdy enough it should be able to hold the door on just like stamped steel could in a collision. ive seen forged and billet stuff crack and i could see how this could be a problem.
i guess if all esle fails i could paint them gloss black to stand out. from the paint on the car. i just want the detailed look
gearheads78
11-26-2010, 07:39 PM
.
IMO, the billet craze on these cars is rivaling that of the traditional street rod. I'll be happy when that dies down.
I've been saying that for a couple years now and could not agree more.
DarkoNova
11-26-2010, 11:30 PM
If it improved on the design and/or added features over the stock design, I'd buy them. If it's basically just a stock hinge but made out of a chunk of billet, I don't see the need.
Northeast Rod Run
11-27-2010, 01:06 PM
it would be the absolute last thing id buy, even if i had the money. are billet seat tracks next? hood hinges make sense, but i dont leave my doors open long enough to matter. if they serve a purpose to replace a weak factory part than my opinion would change pretty fast.
Pretty much sums it up for me
Cris@JCG
11-27-2010, 03:44 PM
Just lately I have been asked about these door hinges we designed a while back... I never went forward with them cause to machine prototypes was expensive.. I could not justify it @ the time...
We currently rebuild the stock hinges with the pin design you see in the model.. The nice thing about the rebuild kit I do for my hinges is that we thread one end & use a locking nut to adjust the play out of them & keeps the hinge from losing up.. & pins are made from stainless material..
IMO... I would stock with stock door hinges!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/06/70BilletHingeAssembly2JPG-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/06/70BilletHingeAssembly-1.jpg
Bowtie racing
11-28-2010, 10:06 AM
..We currently rebuild the stock hinges with the pin design you see in the model.. The nice thing about the rebuild kit I do for my hinges is that we thread one end & use a locking nut to adjust the play out of them & keeps the hinge from losing up.. & pins are made from stainless material..
Chris do you sell those pins as an kit? I have set of NOS hinges in my 69 camaro and drivers side i all ready loose!
nekkidhillbilly
11-28-2010, 12:57 PM
powder coat em
Cris@JCG
11-29-2010, 09:36 AM
I am putting a request today to machine a few sets to replenish my stock.. Used my last set up a few weeks ago.. I will PM you when available..
Chris do you sell those pins as an kit? I have set of NOS hinges in my 69 camaro and drivers side i all ready loose!
Northeast Rod Run
11-29-2010, 09:28 PM
Just lately I have been asked about these door hinges we designed a while back... I never went forward with them cause to machine prototypes was expensive.. I could not justify it @ the time...
We currently rebuild the stock hinges with the pin design you see in the model.. The nice thing about the rebuild kit I do for my hinges is that we thread one end & use a locking nut to adjust the play out of them & keeps the hinge from losing up.. & pins are made from stainless material..
IMO... I would stock with stock door hinges!
The prototypes were too expensive? Not that I like the idea of the billet hinges, but if you gave someone a model of each half of the hinge separately, the biggest half could be machined in just 3 separate set-ups. Probably 2 hours of set-up time and 1 hour of machine time, per piece, would be on the high side. It's also only aluminum so tooling costs would be minimal.
Man.... I've got to get myself some access to a small CNC miller again!!!!
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