removing door hinge screws

[sam_w]

I wanted to drive my 73 Thingster around with the doors off. I then realized that with the windshield down, and the doors off, I had no rear view mirrors.
SO I got the stainless modified hinges from TTS and went out to change the front top hinges. I have a super large Phillips screw driver that will take a 10mm wrench to add torque. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the screws to move. I will try WD 40, but I think it needs more. I did fix the screws holding down the hood, and they were greased so that I can remove them when the hood release cable breaks. It happened once, and obviously since I now have a fix, it won't happen again.

So any suggestions to remove the hinge screw that has been untouched for 47 years!

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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

[74 Thing]

Impact driver that you hit with a hammer and the right bit which I think is a P4

https://www.harborfreight.com/impact-screwdriver-set-with-case-37530.html

[sam_w]

Thanks, I need a reason to visit my friendly Harbor Freight, so I'll try that.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

[concpt]

I used the harbor freight head and screwdriver from the impact driver with a 1/2" drive breaker bar worked great

[sam_w]

I bought the impact driver set and no help. I see that It does carry a 1/2" drive so I can try that with a breaker bar.
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

[sam_w]

I took the Thingster round to Greg Noble (campingbox) and he fixed it in a short time. He had a pneumatic chisel that he used like impact driver and loosened the four stubborn screws in no time at all, with no mess!
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

[KAmes]

This is why I have a mirror on the driver side only. I got the driver side screws out with the impact driver and hammer, but after that I was too scared to do the passenger side.

[cellobus1]

I found drilling into the center of the Phillips Head "X" made a certain screwdriver dig in a little better, plus the heat from the drilling helped a bit. You've tried sprinkling Liquid Wrench "like holy water?" Also try tightening a little before loosening.
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1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive

[Metal Twister]

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-screw-buster.html

Ive had great luck with this in the past... worth the investment!
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Change is Opportunity!
Instagram=metaltwister

[sam_w]

I think that is what Greg used to do it in 2 minutes
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63 singlecab
73 thingster
74 Thing

[Metal Twister]

Nothing like the right tool for the job. Work on a lot of antique cars and this is one tool is worth its weight of shipping! LOL
_________________
Change is Opportunity!
Instagram=metaltwister

[Technut27]

I bought one of those screw busters (shake n break in my case) for this same problem but my harbor freight air hammer leaked so badly it it didn't work. For me it was the passenger side.

I finally got mine out when I borrowed my father in laws older than me impact wrench with a #4 bit that came with a manual impact wrench. It still took a lot of hits but the wrench was a tank, my small compressor could only run it for 5-10 seconds at a time.

Similar story, the driver hinge screws came right out, the passenger fought me for months.

There is a plastic body plug on the inside part of the door frame above where the hinges mount. Pop that off and you can spray some penetrating oil on the back side of the screws, that might help, I could feel the screws with my finger. The plug might be painted over.