Back Hatch Hinge Broken

[statonbg]

Help! I am new to this whole eagle thing. I have an 84 Sport Wagon I rescued from the dead and have been working on for the past couple of years and making great progress repairing and updating, the info on this forum has been super helpful along with a reprint of the dealer manuals from ebay. Last night while getting groceries out of the car my hatch hinges went south. One broke in two and the other is only hanging on by a thread.

I did not even know this was a weak point on the car and then I started looking on here. I looked through the message board to the best of my ability and haven't really found a reliable source for buying used, NOS or reproduction ones. Maybe a rumor from 2016 about a place that had NOS ones for $185 apiece was all I saw.

Is there anywhere I can find a set? I've set an alert on ebay, I see that they come up on there from time to time. Also checking local scrap yards. If I can get a new one I'd like to reinforce them with JB weld as I have seen online and be more careful this time. I'm looking for new, old or reproduction. Anything that will make my hatch work! I saw a couple members that had success fabricating hinges, but I'd rather get the correct piece even if it is a weak part on the eagles.

[vangremlin]

eBay or the local junk yards are probably your best bet or maybe somebody on the Den or Facebook may have a spare.  We get Eagles in the Denver area junk yards a couple times a year, I can keep an eye out for you.  Good luck, nice looking Eagle!!

[statonbg]

awesome yeah thanks for that, I'll keep looking!

it's been going well up to this point. Loss of that back hatch functionality is kind of heart sinking. I realize my  intuition to immediately throw new props on it was wrong since those pot metal hinges are a common weak point. oh and always close pushing down from the center only

[eaglefreek]

People would make comments about the stick that would hold up the hatch on two of my Wagons. After replacing the struts on my first wagon and having the hinge break shortly after, I realized it's best to use a stick.

[AMC of Houston]

I've found that one of the root issues on hatch breakage is the rubber gaskets shrinking with age.  Then the hinges start scooting around and "rocking" with use until they break (not to mention the hatch alignment getting way off - and sticking out at the bottom about an inch!).  With dry shrunken gaskets, the hinges won't stay in place no matter how tight the bolts.

On my waggie (and a neighbors waggie) I've cut another "shim" gasket from thin rubber sheet to go under the original gasket and "tighten up" the hinge to the body.  Now I have one of the few waggies with a properly-positioned tailgate hatch!   I see repop gaskets on Ebay, but have not tried them (they look like just cut rubber sheet without the original AMC molded edges).  If they are the correct thickness and durometer spec; they could work.

One question; how good-looking of a set of hinges do you want?  I have some functional-but-very-badly-pitted used hinges laying around you could have for postage.   I'm talking way ugly!

[statonbg]

Yeah it sounds like a prop stick might be the way to go. Much easier to find than these hinges are!

Point noted on the gaskets, will take that into consideration. I do see ebay ones available all day.
On mine it looks like the outside LH nut had wiggled loose completely and was floating around inside my headliner, i wasn't aware so it was only a matter of time. I have it somewhat secured via 1 bolt on a broken hinge and the other one about to snap and using the trunk latch as well. I removed the struts and am hoping that the hatch wont fall off the car when i drive now. maybe tape?

i'll be sure to check out the gasket situation when i do this. I found also this video on youtube where a guy recommends reinforcing the cast segments in the back of the hinge with JB Weld or reenforcing epoxy. Does anyone know if this is a good idea or not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3jDa_d1-Og


I absolutely do not care what they look like I just need it them to work!

[AMC of Houston]

PM me your mailing address; and I'll see what postage will be.   Now to actually find them in my mess of a shop.......

[Mitch]

On eBay...

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-auto-parts-and-accessories/city-of-toronto/amc-eagle-parts/1436992151?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[statonbg]

Thanks To AMC of Houston I have a functional set again! Going to install on my 4th of July here.
Thanks for all the responses, you guys are great!