I haven't found much regarding this little pain in the ass task on the interwebs...

I can get the parts, easy... but how does one do the spring removal? I don't want that spring to hurt me or the car!

There is a tool for the spring.

http://www.mamotorworks.com/Corvette/ ... nstallation-tool-626104-1

Some people remove the door completely, some people leave it on and grind off the top of the old pin and drive it out.

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c ... 4324-door-hinge-pins.html

yea... found the same stuff. it's all C3 related.

Nothing specific to the C4.

nada on C4 search...

I think the door will have to come off. hate that idea.

thanks!

The one link I posted is a c4. It has input from Willcox and another guy who did it the other way. Willcox recommends door removal, the other guy said he prefers to grind the hinge pin head off while it's still on the car.

If you remove the door, I'd recommend using a marker for witness marks around the hinge, although you might need to realign it anyway.

I will use a marker.

As for the link, that was for a C3...

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I apologize. I had about 6 windows open and I copied the wrong link. Now I can't find the right link. I will have to look for it again later. Essentially they talked about the two methods, either remove the door completely (willcox) or do it on the car (another guy).

Willcox said you can have the door off in an hour and then you don't run the risk of slipping with a grinder and messing something up. Off the car you can use a sawzall or whatever to remove the pin, then you can use a press to put it back in (guys report a tight fit with new pins).

Other guys say they've used a dremel or similar to cut the pin while on the car and had good success.

Not the thread I was talking about, but this has a couple of pictures:

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c ... onna-give-this-a-try.html

This is a C3 but shows the tool in action:

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/tech- ... ement-handle-flap-repair/

When I had that '86, I had to put a spring in. The old one had broken and was gone before I got the car.
I used an adjustable wrench to put the new spring in. If you take a look at it, the spring needs to be pulled up to disengage one end, and it should then come out rather easily. Re-installing it, put it into place a little high, use the wrench to grip the spring and twist it into place and tap as needed to get it to engage properly. That should do it.
I hope I've remembered this correctly so it helps out.

I will check... first off, ordering the pins and bushings via RockAuto. Seriously not easy to reach!

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If I remember, I think I did it with the hood up, and the door was open or closed depending what I was doing at each moment.
Hope it helps.

I have always had luck using a drill to remove the end of a door pin. Start with a decent pilot bit, and drill through the side of the pin. Then step it up to one bigger than the pin.