How to hinge 70s Chevy/Dodge van doors?

[disabled modeler]

I have never tried to do this but I have a couple of projects where i am wanting to open up the doors on the 70s Chevy and Dodge van doors-front and the cargo doors so they will work and set right when closed???....appreciate any help i want to be able to show the interior off but yet have the hinges pretty much hidden if possible. Mark

Edited April 27, 2014 by disabled modeler

[Ace-Garageguy]

The ace-number-one trick to get any doors (or ANY hinged, opening panel) to fit correctly when closed is to attach the hinges to both the body and the panel with the panel FIRMLY held in EXACTLY the correct CLOSED position. Trying to adjust wonky fitted parts AFTER they're installed is hopeless.

I use small strips of the aluminum duct repair tape (not the woven / silver goo "duct tape") which is rigid enough to hold a part in place while it's being worked on, CAREFULLY applied to the outside of the model. EXTREME care in fitting and making sure your doors line up correctly is critical to getting a perfect fit once they're on the hinges.

Building the hinges themselves has been covered thoroughly elsewhere on this board.

[disabled modeler]

The ace-number-one trick to get any doors (or ANY hinged, opening panel) to fit correctly when closed is to attach the hinges to both the body and the panel with the panel FIRMLY held in EXACTLY the correct CLOSED position. Trying to adjust wonky fitted parts AFTER they're installed is hopeless.

I use small strips of the aluminum duct repair tape (not the woven / silver goo "duct tape") which is rigid enough to hold a part in place while it's being worked on, CAREFULLY applied to the outside of the model. EXTREME care in fitting and making sure your doors line up correctly is critical to getting a perfect fit once they're on the hinges.

Building the hinges themselves has been covered thoroughly elsewhere on this board.

Thanks for the information Bill... I did see the post on hinging doors but the van bodies pose a different hinge style needing to make them as un-noticeable as possible with the door in the open position. I plan on going all out the best I can to detail everything as much as possible inside just need them to be as small as possible.

[Ace-Garageguy]

The cab door hinges would be the same as post-late-'40s passenger car door hinges in concept.

The rear doors, and side doors (if hinged and not the sliding style) would be similar in concept to the external '30s style passenger car door hinges.

[disabled modeler]

The cab door hinges would be the same as post-late-'40s passenger car door hinges in concept.

The rear doors, and side doors (if hinged and not the sliding style) would be similar in concept to the external '30s style passenger car door hinges.

Bill they will be the cargo style doors and not a slider type.