Extending Sliding Door Hinge

[crazymilk]

Hi there
Looking at extending the door hinge on my 1985 T25 to accommodate wider wheels

I think I read somewhere once that it can be done on late hinges but not early hinges (or the other way round)!! Anyways could somebody confirm and also if 1985 would be late or early

Thanks

[R0B]

My van is an 1991 and has a extended hinge.1985 was a crossover year.early vans had a longer sliding door handle,so it depends on how long yours is.

[Ian Hulley]

so it depends on how long yours is.

I say ! Steady on old chap !

[R0B]

[crazymilk]

so it depends on how long yours is.

I say ! Steady on old chap !

download.jpg

Thanks R0B, so you are saying the early (pre '85 I think) had longer hinge brackets anyway?
Later post '85 need the extended hinge for wider wheels but alot more work on the late version thank the early ones?

???

[R0B]

No that's not what I am saying.Early vans had a longer door handle,not hinge.That is how you tell if your van is early or late.

[Plasticman]

I beg to differ what with folk swapping handles etc. Sure way to tell is striker on c post ,either way neither are much if an issue to do. And both require work to the runner itself

mm

[crazymilk]

Arr got ya!

So long handle means early.
OK next question, how long is a long handle

[R0B]

Measure the length of yours.and post its length.

[crazymilk]

I beg to differ what with folk swapping handles etc. Sure way to tell is striker on c post ,either way neither are much if an issue to do. And both require work to the runner itself

mm

So lots of opinions here

Basically I was on the understanding that if I have an early hinge set up then it only requires the U shaped part of the hinge to be extended?
If I have a late hinge set up then you do the same however there is more work/welding to do?

Is that right?

I will check at the weekend which I have and then I will ask how to go about the procedure.
I also found this which shows the difference on early and late hinges.

Early Hinge

early_mech_1_700.jpg

Late Hinge

late_sliding_mech_1_700.jpg

[R0B]

Mike are you saying the longer early handle fits into the handle recess on later doors.?

[boatbuilder]

My 84 has a chrome bay window handle wedged on to it so have to sort it out sometime.
There are a few plastic spacer things needed behind the handles and I think they are also different early/late

[Plasticman]

no not exactly Rob. but i often find short fitted to long and long cut and fitted to short, ok most of us will know this but the O/P does not hence his (or her) questions,
and unless you have the other handle to compare then he would be hard pushed which is why to enable the correct answer to hinge issues I/we need to know which runner assembly is fitted, so
if this is you C post

then its Late and the corresponding runner is

and in your pickies the lower ie;late fits the picks above.
regards cutting etc, there are practical limits to how much you extend without other problems arising , with respect to the late ones then 20-25mm is the max as you have to cut the front of the runner off and refit by the corresponding amount ,
You have to do the same with the early runner but easier to go with a bigger cut though frankly i think it would look silly if the rear wheels stuck out and were that wide but each to their own
mm

[crazymilk]

So it turns out I have the later hinge.

Anybody got a DIY or how to??

Thanks

[Plasticman]

Well first fit the wheel/tyre you need to clear then slide door up to it and measure , also post a picky if this
mm