This weekend i'm planning on swapping out my damaged 64 convertible drivers door with a clean hardtop door. I know I have to swap out all of the internals and glass into the new door but how in the hell do you take off those big Philips screws holding the hinge to the jamb. I'm guessing taking off the front fender and using an impact screwdriver...(which I don't have.. Maybe buy or rent one for this job)

Anyone have any comments or tips??

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve

You are right, though I never use impact drivers, I use an air impact. Be sure you get the right size driver, it WILL break if you don't. You could take the hinges loose at the cowl by the way, those are just bolts. 1/2" heads if I remember.
Look for the post a few days ago "Basic panel alignment" for help on aligning your "new" door. You will also need to take your "bumper", I don't know what else to call them. But only convertibles have these little rubbing blocks on the door jamb, above the latch.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Martinsr..


Thanks for your reply. I didn't know about the "bumpers" you spoke of but I will have to check them out on Saturday when I plan to start removing the door. I will also check out the bolts that hold the hinge to the door and see if that may be a little easier.
Thanks,
Steve

I'd start soaking the hinge bolts NOW - they can be rusted and very tight.
I used an "obstruction wrench" (actually made my own) to remove the hinge bolts from the jamb so that the entire hinge came off with the door. This way I didn't need to remove the fender - tedious, but easily done with patience.

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Make it the way you like it, forget what the other guys say!
http://chevelles.com/showroom/alelcaminofront.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/al4/alcamino64/index.html

Maybe the '64 didn't have them, '65 does. They are small rubbing blocks at the top of the doors. They are attached with two phillips head screws. There is a near matching one on the body, right near the quarter window seal in the jamb. They hit each other when you close the door.

------------------
1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Maybe the '64 didn't have them, '65 does. They are small rubbing blocks at the top of the doors. They are attached with two phillips head screws. There is a near matching one on the body, right near the quarter window seal in the jamb. They hit each other when you close the door.

------------------
1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"