Needing door removal advise

[Steve 82 Elly]

Help please. Whats the best way to remove a door on an El camino. Should I remove the door from the hinge or the hinge from the car?? Igloos pretty easy to remove the door from the hinge but I'm concerned about re-attaching and alignment. You guys give great advice, please help a brother out!!

 

[86CUT]

For me it was easier to take off by the hinge, it made it easier to align it with the paint once I reinstalled it

 

[lilbowtie]

I drilled 1/8 inch holes through the door /hinge before removal and used them to re-align the door on install.

 

[57 Handyman]

Thanks for that tip lilbowtie, I've always wondered how custom shops do that.

Steve, it is always better to keep at least one side of hinge fixed rather than mess with and loosen both. When you loosen both set of screws, that move results in too many variables. Also, if you plan to redo the door hinges, it is an easier job to remove the pins and bushings with the hinges fixed to the body vs. the doors.

Good luck!

 

[Steve 82 Elly]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've got a plan in my head, should a good time tomorrow!

 

[08Malibu]

Just remember that the doors are very heavy.

 

[57 Handyman]

Steve, 08Malibu is right, these doors are quite heavy and unwieldy. I suggest doing it on smooth, level surface that you can easily maneuver a floor jack on. Also, have a helper! Take a look at the tool below.

E-Z Rest Door Hanger

Remove/install door by yourself;fits floor jack with removable saddle

www.eastwood.com

It helps a LOT to keep things steady as you reattach the door.

 

[87National]

Help please. Whats the best way to remove a door on an El camino. Should I remove the door from the hinge or the hinge from the car?? Igloos pretty easy to remove the door from the hinge but I'm concerned about re-attaching and alignment. You guys give great advice, please help a brother out!!

On my square body, I used a cherry picker and a couple of straps. Made it super easy to maneuver the door.....I have not tried this on a g body....but I would think it would be equally effective.

 

[08Malibu]

Steve, 08Malibu is right, these doors are quite heavy and unwieldy. I suggest doing it on smooth, level surface that you can easily maneuver a floor jack on. Also, have a helper! Take a look at the tool below.
When I took the door off of the H/O I was parting out, it slipped off of the jack. The door dropped and slid right under the car. Luckily it was complete garbage, or it would’ve been a bad deal. I wound up dragging it right out to the truck by the wire harness and it was a b*tch to get it up into the bed.

E-Z Rest Door Hanger

Remove/install door by yourself;fits floor jack with removable saddle

www.eastwood.com

It helps a LOT to keep things steady as you reattach the door.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Depends on tools available and skill level. I like to remove the pins, replace the pins and bushings, original alignment undisturbed. Many newer GM vehicles (especially trucks) this is the only way to remove door anyway.