Replacing Meteor hinge pin with Bolt

[Dornfelderliebe]

I am currently seeking engineering advice on installing a Mercury S hinge bolt in my project Meteor.

The potential pitfall involves the folded metal breech jaws being unable to cope with a bolt being tightened due to there being a gap between the two pieces of folded over steel.
The factory pin fits through all four and the breech block, and as new the hollow gap is not a problem but as is known, can wear and create a wobbly barrel.

I have read John Bowkett welded up the gap then fitted an HW style bolt. I have a Mercury S hinge bolt. To fit this I need to enlarge the outer wall enough to pass the bolt head and nut through then clamp it down on the inner wall compressing it against the breech block for a tight lock up.
Done as I envisage the bolt would be flush against the outside of the jaws as per the Merc S

I wonder whether the inner wall will be strong enough with this set up assuming the outer walls are a good interference fit against the bolt head and nut.

Guidance from the engineering gurus warmly welcomed.

[trajectory]

Mmmmmmm...?..

How about drilling through the outer jaw & inner jaw with a drill diameter of the bolt, drill the outer jaw a larger diameter to allow a bushing with the diameter of the bolt in it. Cut to desired length & weld in place. The bolt head would be a bit proud but unless you filled the cavity I cant think of a way to countersink the bolt head unless you make it a bigger job by making a big hole in the outer jaw & use a thick walled bush that gives a bit more meat for machining it out to accommodate the head.

Must be other ways but that's my first thoughts.

[Shed tuner]

you will want to weld up the gap between the jaws on the inside of the holes (and then ream to tidy it).
Or use the bush idea as above.

[look no hands]

Would anything like chemical metal be good enough, you could fill the gaps up with that, it can be drilled and taped if needed when fully hard.

[NickG]

How about, if there is room between the jaws for shims , replace them with a top hat style bush that fits from the inside, and braze it in .

[crowbar]

Drill and tap 10mm through pivot hole ,cut two slugs off a 10mm bolt after drilling a pilot hole and glue into jaws,ream through
and tap to finish .