Bill - You do not have to cut those bolts out. Just pull the side kick
plates, get a 9/16" wrench (or socket) and remove the nuts. The Chevy Truck
Shop Manual 1955 2nd series, section 1 Cab and Body - Page 1-6 - Fig. 12
Clearly shows these round headed carriage bolts you are describing. This is
the door removal and adjustment section. These are the correct bolts for a
55 2nd but not for a 56 thru 59.
This is the way a 55 2nd original door hinge cage to cowl pillar should be--
l. The upper cage -- top & bottom positions have rounded head carriage bolts.
Center is a normal hex headed bolt which extends
thru the cowl
to the captive nut.
2. The lower cage -- top & bottom positions have rounded head carriage bolts
but the bottom one has a straight slot cut into it
center bolt is installed from the front of the
cowl and the lower
hinge pocket has the captive nut.
Just about everytime I remove one of these doors on a restoration the center
bolt captive nuts break loose and spin (they don't actually break but the 4
tangs spread out and allow the nut to spin). To remove and replace the hinge
correctly now means pulling the front fenders to be able to access the upper
captive nuts for repair.
Regards - John Sutherland - Greensboro, NC
59 Fleets & 55 2nd
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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