steve meltzer

The side view mirror on my '66 coupe is wobbly, so I bought a new one, only to find that the front screw in the hold down bracket has wallowed out the threaded hole. Can these be heli-coiled? If so, does anyone know the kit size or number? thanx steve meltzer, now +1 mirror

Nowhere Man

Would be cheaper to get a new bracket

steve meltzer

I'm sorry i didn't do a good job of explaining the problem. The bracket uses two machine screws to hold it into the door's body. The holes in the fiberglass that receive those screws are wallowed out. The previous owner tried a larger screw which probably worked for awhile, but not no more. So, the screw holes (actually, only the front one) needs to be repaired. Alternately, I could move the mirror 1/2" and screw in new
self-tapping screws, but I don't really want to do that. steve

65GGvert

Use a screw with a nut on the inside of the door.

leif.anderson93

Steve,

The bracket that the exterior mirror attaches to is NOT secured to the fiberglass of the door but rather to a metal reinforcement plate on the inside of the door. The holes thru the fiberglass may be wallowed out but that is not the problem. If the mounting screw of the bracket is not grabbing it is because the receiving hole in the reinforcement plate has been wallowed out. A larger screw would work, if and only, if that screw would fit thru the screw hole in the base of the mirror itself. The only way to correctly fix this problem is to replace the reinforcement plate.

Leif

SS409

This is what I would do. Easy fix. Use a self locking nut on the back side with a new screw, put your mirror and bracket on and walk away.

steve meltzer

OK, I have the door panel off and thought about using a nut on the inside, but couldn't get to the back side to place a nut on a bolt through the reinforcement plate. Do some of the door guts come out to allow access to the reinforcement plate? Sorry for the novice question. thanx. s

SS409

Did you roll the window all the way up?

gbvette62

All of the Corvette parts vendors carry "Well Nuts" for installing the passenger side mirror, mainly on 68-79 Corvettes. They can also be used on driver's side doors, when the mirror mount nut plate is missing or stripped.

The Well Nut is a round rubber plug, with a threaded brass insert inside it. They work just like a drywall anchor. You drill the appropriate size hole, push the Well Nut in, and then when you thread the mirror mount screw into it, the Well Nut pulls up tight, securing the mirror mount.

Well Nuts are also used to install 68-77 luggage racks, and the factory used them to install the security shade in 78-82's.

Here's a link to the correct size Well Nuts needed, to install a mirror.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050G~~~

Nowhere Man

Also well nuts were used on all GM cars with voltage regulators

65GGvert

Definitely put the nut on the underside of the mounting bracket inside the door, not on the fiberglass.

steve meltzer

Guys thanx, thanx, thanx! With the window up, I could easily place a nyloc nut on a machine screw. I think i've go it, and will finish this afternoon when my wife can provide the third hand to help me tighten it down. (she just loves helping me in the garage....NOT) thanx again. steve


(the well nuts were also a great idea, which I will file away for the future)

steve meltzer

I'm still struggling with the side view mirror on my '66. The mounting bracket is new and well secured through the fiberglass to the now solid reinforcement plate inside the door. Without the mirror, the mounting bracket is solid, but once the mirror is mounted to the bracket with that socket head set screw, it wobbles all over. New mirror, new mounting bracket and new set screw. Any ideas? thanx again. steve (GM repro)