Say it ain't so

[Bonanza]

i've have looked and looked and studied my truck and the Chiltons manual, which isn't much help and the only way I can find to replace the top drivers side door hinge is to take the front fender off.  Is that so?   This is on my 1976 1/2ton Chevrolet p/u.  I can't find a way to take out the top bolt on the hinge which is screwed from the inside out.  All the other bolts can be removed from the outside except this one bolt.  Does that make sense?  Please tell me there is an easier way to replace this hinge.  I tried reaching it from the inside cowl vent but it seems the inner fender blocks access.  I don't think i'll even try to replace it before the winter if this is the case.  Any help is much appreciated.  Thanks

Bret

[Lt.Del]

it ain't so

take the kick panel off where your feet stay.  It is up under the dash.  I hate that one bolt.  Don't take the fender off.  The plastic kick panel, in order to take that off, the aluminum door sill plate must be removed too if i recall correctly.  It is hard to get to that bolt up under the dash.  

[75chevybakers]

I believe the bolt you are talking about is under the dash... Near the area where you would have a puller for your hood, but not on this year... 8" away... you should be able to lay down (where your feet go inside) by the pedals and reach up there, you can feel the hole with your finger. Use a 9/16" with a 3" extension... Dont drop the bolt inside like I did on both sides.


Well, like he already said while I was loading these crappy pics!

[Bonanza]

i'll give it a try but I don't think I can access this bolt.  I have cowl vents in the kick panels which will not come out for anything and I can reach inside the vent and up towards where I would assume the bolt is and cannot feel the head.  It seems like the inner fender is in the way.  I can't see a way to that bolt even up towards the top of the dash.  I'll give it another try though but it's raining right now.  bleh

[frogman68]

You can also take out the guage cluster to access it..

[Blazin]

The vents come out when you take the plastic kick panel out.  Should be one Philips head, and half a dozen 1/4" or 5/16" chrome hex screws.

[Bonanza]

I don't have plastic kickk panels in my truck.  I removed all the hex screws and one phillips and cannot get the cowl vent out.  It has a "flared" lip around it that will bigger than the hole in the metal "kick panel"  I looked and looked again tonight and I just don't see a way to get to that top bolt on the hinge.  I've attached some pics for all to see what i'm working with.  I cannot reach up under the dash and get to the bolt either.  All I can think of it that the bolt head is behind this rubber plug with a wire running through it.  The pics that 75chevy put up looks a lot like my underdash but I don't see the rubber plug and wire.  Anyway, hope these pics help.  Thanks for everyones help and suggestions.  I really appreciate them! 

Bret

[fitz]

Pull that plug and you will find the bolt.

[Bonanza]

yup!  It's there.  now if it would quit raining I could replace it. 

[Bonanza]

Well, there she is in all her glory.  $20 from the junkyard,$8 for some primer and paint and about 30 mins of tweaking, fine tuning and adjusting and now my drivers door stays open.  First time since I have owned the truck, about 5 year or so now.  Thanks for everyones help!  Couldn't have done it you all.  Now i've got to replace the ignition switch.