adding right hand mirror??
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 12
From: wichita kansas
adding right hand mirror??
has anyone here added a right hand mirror to a chrome bumper C3? were you happy with the results? i'm thinking of doing it while restoring my 68' coupe. (i know it was a dealer installed option, and maybe not even available til closer to 73', but i suppose some of the earlier car owners could have gone back to get one installed, or installed one themselves)
i have a template that came with a r/h mirror and it says to drill 3/8" holes???? that seems rather large to me, and would i have to drill and tap the steel for the bolts that hold the bracket in place? any input would be appreciated, thanks, Rick
i have a template that came with a r/h mirror and it says to drill 3/8" holes???? that seems rather large to me, and would i have to drill and tap the steel for the bolts that hold the bracket in place? any input would be appreciated, thanks, Rick
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 337
From: "ɹǝpunuʍop", Adelaide, South Australia
here in australia we have to have a rh mirror
it is held on by "well nuts" which go in the 3/8" holes
they expand at the back when pushed thru the fiberglass and the screw is tightened on the gasket and bracket
it is held on by "well nuts" which go in the 3/8" holes
they expand at the back when pushed thru the fiberglass and the screw is tightened on the gasket and bracket
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 297
From: Midlothian VA
Last edited by Hammerhead Fred; Dec 30, 2012 at 09:11 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 64
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I did this to my 69 years ago. No problems, the mirror is still tight. Great addition for safety.
You will drill 3/8th in holes for the well nuts. Check the pattern that came with the kit with the driver door. The early 68s had the mirror in a different location than latter ones or the 69s.
Tape the area with painters tape, layout the holes and start with a smaller bit. A step drill is great for fiberglass, but I am not sure if there is a lot of room inside of the door.
It is scary to go drilling in a perfectly good door skin, but you will like the results.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 54
I've had right side mirrors for the past 20 years. But be aware there's still a HUGE blind spot with these relatively small flat-glass mirrors.
If anyone knows of a source for a convex, or convex replacement glass, it would be a much needed improvement. I've been searching off and on for years but found nothing.
If anyone knows of a source for a convex, or convex replacement glass, it would be a much needed improvement. I've been searching off and on for years but found nothing.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,097
Likes: 1,220
From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I put one on my '68 BB last fall.
I did it right after my friend scraped his '65 on his garage getting out.
He was sick after that.
I think a R/S mirror would have helped.
I of course did not offer that advise when he told me.
Kinda felt like it would've been adding insult to injury.
I did learn from his error.
I also think the car looks more symetrical from the front.
Its like a luggage rack, owner preference I guess.
The installation was easy.
I did not use the 3/8" well nuts.
I drilled 2 very small hole and used two srews for the base.
I then used the blue locktite for the mirror mounting screw.
The brass base has never loosened up on me but I have
had to retighten the chrome mirror mount screw
ever so slightly due to vibration.
Vibes get telegraphed through the mirror at idle.
Hell it's a big block what ya expect
Marshal
I did it right after my friend scraped his '65 on his garage getting out.
He was sick after that.
I think a R/S mirror would have helped.
I of course did not offer that advise when he told me.
Kinda felt like it would've been adding insult to injury.
I did learn from his error.
I also think the car looks more symetrical from the front.
Its like a luggage rack, owner preference I guess.
The installation was easy.
I did not use the 3/8" well nuts.
I drilled 2 very small hole and used two srews for the base.
I then used the blue locktite for the mirror mounting screw.
The brass base has never loosened up on me but I have
had to retighten the chrome mirror mount screw
ever so slightly due to vibration.
Vibes get telegraphed through the mirror at idle.
Hell it's a big block what ya expect
Marshal
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,097
Likes: 1,220
From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Safety Note!!!!!!
PS: ROLL UP THE WINDOW GLASS BEFORE DRILLING.
LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS HAVE TO FIND AN ASTRO
VENTALATION MARKED WINDOW
Marshal
LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS HAVE TO FIND AN ASTRO
VENTALATION MARKED WINDOW
Marshal
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Last edited by Paul L; Dec 30, 2012 at 11:37 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
I have a right-hand mirror. It is much better than having NO right-hand mirror. But, I am absolutely SHOCKED that no vendor sells an original-looking early 70's right-side unit with a convex mirror so that it can actually see much!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 12
From: wichita kansas
thanks for all the responses and pics! NOW i understand why the 3/8" diameter holes were to be drilled. my left door doesn't have holes at all either, (new skin i guess).....do they offer the same mounting kit for the left door also? or is this a different process? btw, i think the dual mirrors look great on the pics posted! thanks, Rick
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,097
Likes: 1,220
From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
7T1Vette,
Amen, I 'm with you.
I have to crane my neck to use the passenger side mirror.
It is alot better than nothing and guess work.
My friend w/ the 65 used guess work and gouged the s..t out of his passenger front fender.
I have the seat all the way back minus a few inchess so I'm not jamming the seat back against the water fall bulkhead.
The drivers mirror allows me to look down the side of the car and a fairly
good perriferal view.
The passenger mirror, I copy and pasted the same measurements as the drivers side.
The angle makes it so I have a great line of site perriferally to the frost line on the roadway but I can only see the very edge of the car.
A convex lens would absolutely allow me to have a fish eyes view along the passenger side.
But I make it work.
Marshal
Amen
, I 'm with you.I have to crane my neck to use the passenger side mirror.
It is alot better than nothing and guess work.
My friend w/ the 65 used guess work and gouged the s..t out of his passenger front fender.
I have the seat all the way back minus a few inchess so I'm not jamming the seat back against the water fall bulkhead.
The drivers mirror allows me to look down the side of the car and a fairly
good perriferal view.
The passenger mirror, I copy and pasted the same measurements as the drivers side.
The angle makes it so I have a great line of site perriferally to the frost line on the roadway but I can only see the very edge of the car.
A convex lens would absolutely allow me to have a fish eyes view along the passenger side.
But I make it work.
Marshal
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 164
Likes: 4
From: Riverside CA
FYI If you don't already have the mirror..... Corvette central has mirrors that are date stamped. you look at the glass part on your drivers side and you will see a small marking showing a date code. You can special order one to match that code for the passenger side.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Last edited by Paul L; Dec 30, 2012 at 07:16 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Are you hearing this, Corvette Vendors?? 
Whomever sells 'correct' right-side mirrors with convex (wide-view) glass will get ALL THE BUISNESS on sales of this part. The right-side mirror is going to get deductions anyway, if you get it judged by NCRS anyway. It didn't come from the factory...only installed by the dealers...and [for some unintelligible reason] that doesn't count!
MAKE IT and we will buy.
Whomever sells 'correct' right-side mirrors with convex (wide-view) glass will get ALL THE BUISNESS on sales of this part. The right-side mirror is going to get deductions anyway, if you get it judged by NCRS anyway. It didn't come from the factory...only installed by the dealers...and [for some unintelligible reason] that doesn't count!
MAKE IT and we will buy.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Dec 31, 2012 at 01:00 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,638
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 12
From: wichita kansas
so do the well nuts need to be glued/epoxied into place or do they just fit snug,and allow the machine bolt to snug them up tightly? Rick
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
The tension on the well-nut will keep it and the luggage rack (and any "luggage") in place. Once the tension is removed, the well-nut should also be removable; if very old, it may retain its shape and be more difficult. But, there shouldn't be any need to glue it in place. Those on my rack are glued...and they're 40+ years old and doing fine.
Also, follow directions for well-nut installation. It doesn't take a lot of torque to lock one in place. A 1/2" (body diameter) Well-nut only needs 10-12 inch-pounds of torque to retain a load of nearly 500 pounds [tensile]. That's about 0.5 foot-pounds.
Since you tighten the well-nut by inserting the attaching screw for whatever you are mounting, just use an appropriately sized screwdriver and tighten only by hand to just a "firm" tighten. That's all it needs.
Also, follow directions for well-nut installation. It doesn't take a lot of torque to lock one in place. A 1/2" (body diameter) Well-nut only needs 10-12 inch-pounds of torque to retain a load of nearly 500 pounds [tensile]. That's about 0.5 foot-pounds.
Since you tighten the well-nut by inserting the attaching screw for whatever you are mounting, just use an appropriately sized screwdriver and tighten only by hand to just a "firm" tighten. That's all it needs.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jan 1, 2013 at 06:43 AM.