36 front door hinges

[mrtexas]

The front door hinge bolts on my 36 woodie are different top and bottom:





Any comments?

[39wdy]

Hi, Can you explain the difference you are seeing? Woodie hinges are sort of in their own world because one set of machine screws goes into the metal fasteners that are often reinforced inside the cowl (these may be removable nuts, captured nuts, or even nut plates). They are often reinforced because of the additional weight of a Woodie door. The machine screws that go into the door may go into a polished blind nut (where it shows), or a captured barrel type nut that has claws that are imbedded in the wood (to keep the nut from turning), and in some cases these hinges may have just a simple wood screw for further reinforcement. It is not surprising that these hinges have several different types of fasteners; however, if you have Phillips head fasteners in any of these locations they have probably been replaced over the years as these doors probably got a lot of heavy use. All the fasteners, I believe, should be slotted head (mostly fine thread) machine screws with an occasional wood screw. The length of these fasteners may vary considerably depending on their location but most of my machine screws on my 39 Woodie front door hinges were, as I recall, 5/16ths -24 thread. I hope this helps. Toby Lampert

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by 39wdy

Hi, Can you explain the difference you are seeing? Woodie hinges are sort of in their own world because one set of machine screws goes into the metal fasteners that are often reinforced inside the cowl (these may be removable nuts, captured nuts, or even nut plates). They are often reinforced because of the additional weight of a Woodie door. The machine screws that go into the door may go into a polished blind nut (where it shows), or a captured barrel type nut that has claws that are imbedded in the wood (to keep the nut from turning), and in some cases these hinges may have just a simple wood screw for further reinforcement. It is not surprising that these hinges have several different types of fasteners; however, if you have Phillips head fasteners in any of these locations they have probably been replaced over the years as these doors probably got a lot of heavy use. All the fasteners, I believe, should be slotted head (mostly fine thread) machine screws with an occasional wood screw. The length of these fasteners may vary considerably depending on their location but most of my machine screws on my 39 Woodie front door hinges were, as I recall, 5/16ths -24 thread. I hope this helps. Toby Lampert

I understand about the wood doors being heavy. I'm wondering whether the hinges bolts pictured which are on the cowl are original or have been replace?

My woodie wood is held together with 5/16 -18 countersunk slotted screws with stainless steel covered t nuts on the other side. The hinges on the wooden front door has special small headed 5/16-24 slotted screws. Of course there are several hundred wood screws as well and I am replacing them all with stainless steel.

[39wdy]

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Hi, Yes those small headed 5/16ths -24 thread machine screws are correct for your hinges. I was never able to find those in stainless steel, but I believe Ed Clarke (the Woodieologist) has them in a blackened finish. I would just clean them up real well, run them through a die, paint them, and cover the threads with bees wax ( a good cheap source for this wax is a toilet sealing ring from the hardware store) before re-installing. That way the next restorer will have a chance to get this car apart 75 years from now. I did not see the pictures of your hinges, but I would be curious to know if they are the same as 39 front door hinges. In the 1940 Woodie Ford changed the hinge design. I have some of this earlier Woodie hardware as I've been collecting it for years, but it always amazes me how much there is to learn. Best wishes, Toby Lampert