1971 GMC Baggage Compartment Door Strut mounts and kit information

[1MOFrolla]

HI I am currently new to this forum and have been tasked with researching a solution for the baggage compartment doors on a 1971 GMC 4905A. I have purchased the service manual and replacement hinges and am on door number 1. I now know what I am actually getting myself into and had a question.


I did a search for retrofit kits using struts and mounts for this bus. The links I have found on here are all dead. Could someone point me into the right direction with any relevant links to the struts(tokico?)and what all would be necessary to do one entire door with struts(NEW MOUNTS, ETC?)? I appreciate any and all your assistance. Thanks again!!!
Michael

[1MOFrolla]

And I realize I forgot one important question regarding the lower rubber door hinge. Does the entire bracket need to come off to install the new rubber hinge or can it be done with it in place?(will I hate myself for even attempting this fix?)
Michael

[richard5933]

First - you have to release the tension on the door tension rod by following the instructions in the manual. Nearly impossible to do the repair with tension on the door.

Second - you do not need to remove the bracket assembly. The pieces should slide in place without disassembling the bracket holding the rubber hinge.

[1MOFrolla]

Thanks for the help!!! I did get the tension off and removed the associated pieces. I am currently in cleaning mode(channels) as I got pulled away from the job yesterday. Will keep you posted as I go.

Side Note: I did do some research on those metal hinges everyone was using back in the days. A guy named Serge Trepanier on the GM Buffalo Bus Group(https://www.facebook.com/groups/538013770083500/) has some that he's making and selling from Canada. I might be shifting gears on this project depending on how much time this project eats up.
His email is serge_trepanier@hotmail.com. Only speaks French. I believe he was asking $40 per hinge plus shipping.
Hope this helps anyone looking!!

[richard5933]

My 1974 GMC 4108 still had the original rubber on all but (I think) one of the bay doors. That's 4 decades of use on the rubber.

True, the new rubber is not as good as the old, but it works and will likely outlive your use of the bus. In my book there is no need to switch technologies if the current one is working.

The one thing that I've seen though that can eat through rubber hinges fast, like it did on my 4106, is a bent or warped door. If the door edge and the body are not parallel then the hinge is going to be under much more stress at some point. Check your doors for straightness and adjust as needed before reinstalling.

[1MOFrolla]

Once again thanks for all your help.

I went back and reinventoried all the hardware I had for this door and apparently it's missing a locking bar on one side which coincidentally caused the door to sag and deteriorate the rubber on that side.  I'm going to see if the bar isn't misplaced in another bay or lost before I try sourcing/making a new one. Fingers crossed!