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Budd Stanley photos
Open Sesame - Project Samurai
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Budd Stanley photos
Open Sesame - Project Samurai
As you can see, the kit (part number SEB-LRADH) comes with eight beautifully machined hinge pieces that are anodized black and threaded to accept the four heim joints. Allen key fasteners are also included to replace those crap Philips head bolts I had to grind out of the door.
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Budd Stanley photos
Open Sesame - Project Samurai
If you too are trying to remove the doors off a Samurai, my best tip is to heat the bolt as much as you dare, clear the Philips slots, hammer a #3 size Philips into place, attach an impact driver and go to town. It will either spin out with the utmost of protest or turn the bolt head into a crater. I had about a 40% success record.
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Budd Stanley photos
Open Sesame - Project Samurai
With the old hinges off and the old cracked door straps removed, I could tap the holes that Aqualu predrilled into the body. Aqualu uses two layers of aluminum here for added strength. Take your time and make sure you tap straight; there is no second chances with this body.
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Budd Stanley photos
Open Sesame - Project Samurai
It is easier to pre-assemble the hinge and then install it onto the door while a buddy holds it in place on the vehicle. Get all the bolts onto their respective threads, but don't tighten. Maneuver the door into its ideal location and alignment, then have your buddy hold it steady while you tighten down the bolts for best results.
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Budd Stanley photos
Open Sesame - Project Samurai
With the door solid and in place, simply pull the top pin and lift the lower pin out of the heim joint to remove the door. Simple, only takes a few seconds and no more dealing with stripped bolts.
Story & photos by Budd Stanley
Hard-ass Hinges for Project Samurai
I love machined billet, I am a connoisseur of anything that comes from a CNC machine to be bolted onto any one of my vehicles. With the finely crafted Aqualu aluminum body now in place on the restored frame, bolting the nasty steel door hinges onto the fresh aluminum seemed like sacrilege.
Lucky for me Low Range Off-Road builds a set of beautiful billet aluminum units that will work much better in my situation. Not only are they aluminum, they also make use of heim joints (also known as “Rose Joints or Rod End Bearings”) and pins to produce a hinge that will allow me to remove the doors in a matter of seconds. Maybe not as useful up here in frigid Canada, however with a lot of work planned for project Samurai in the winter months and the odd short haul summer trip into the hills, this luxury will quickly pay for itself.
The installation was simple and straightforward. The door required a little realignment to get a perfect fit, however with so many variables, the doors now close under their own weight. After a few months and a couple good rainstorms, the heim joints are showing a wee bit of rust, however a squirt of WD40 and a little regular maintenance should keep everything looking tiptop. The hinges may be a little bit blingy for a Zuk that will see as much action as mine, but the quality of the craftsmanship and the strength they give to the doors is unparalleled.
Part number SEB-LRADH
Low Range Off-Road - www.lowrangeoffroad.com