drmonstaa

So after a year of letting my vette collect dust due to school, I finally got back to working on it.

One of the issues that had to be addressed was the really bad visibility of the sport mirrors on the '76. It must be more of an issue for short people like me as i only found threads asking how to convert from chromes to sport... (why do i have to be 5'5" )

That being said, i shall inquire about the opposite, how much better is the visibility of chrome mirrors vs sport mirrors, and is it worth it to switch? How about sticking on convex mirrors?
thanks in advance

gbvette62

The 75-79 so called "large head" mirrors, will give slightly better rearward visibility. They stand up a little bit taller, and have quite a bit more mirror surface. Even so, the rear fender bulges still dominate the view, when using the mirrors.

79C3tnd

Try adjusting your mirrors as suggested in the article below. Have an open mind. Then get out on a highway and try it out. Simply amazing! I was skeptical at first, but after driving with my mirrors this way for a few years, I have no idea how I used to drive the "old" way. Your 'humps" won't be filling up your mirrors if they are properly adjusted...

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots

theandies

I agree, if you can see the side of your car in the mirror it's not properly adjusted. Next time your sitting at a light with cars next to you (in any car you own) adjust the right mirror (or left if there are cars to that side) so you can see the car to the right and behind you. When you see that car in your mirror your mirror is adjusted correctly.

72downunder

Totally. any driver training course will tell you the same. Thats how I have my mirror and I'm a left drive in a driving on the lefthand side of the road country.

Alan 71

Hi II,
The 68-74 mirror is designed in an interesting way… the 'stalk' doesn't mount to the center of the mirror…. it's off-set.
This off-set allows the mirror to pivot 360 degrees which varies how high/low it is and also how close/far from the door it is.
Might this degree of adjustment be of some help to you?
Regards,
Alan

drmonstaa

Thank you all for your inputs, i think i'll try the mirror config in that link, and if that doesn't work out i'll go to the chromes.

theandies

Also notice the "small" side of the up/down offset is at the bottom. Even though the mirror can be rotated 360 degrees the "small" side should be down. This raises up the mirror. I've seen some pictures of member's cars that have it up-side-down. If it's up-side-down it will be too low and all you'll see is the rear fender hump.

army

What about getting a backup camera? I'm thinking about it myself. I really like the cam in my wife's Edge.

theandies

Ya, my wife's Explorer has one. It's nice but to be honest I forget it's even there most of the time. Call me old school.

Do you plan on keeping it on all the time? Also backup cams don't really show you the blind spot.

Robert Thomas

The side view mirrors in my '78 only let me know that the rear fenders are still attached. The inside mirrors verifies the retention of the roll bar and the rear spoiler. I bought a backup camera and 5" monitor from Amazon for $30. The camera is mounted on the back of the roll bar and since it's wide-angle the rear vision is very good.

Scottd

How about you turn your neck and look?

Momma taught me to check the mirrors first....look over my shoulder....mirrors again.....then move.

I do this in my Corvette, my motorcycle and in 10 Ton armored vehicles.

Adjust the mirrors.....but ALWAYS look. Mom was never wrong.

TheSkunkWorks

Several years ago I approached a company (I forget the name) which once made a high quality stick-on driver's side convex mirror for the C4 about doing a run for the "big" C3 sports. Unfortunately, they weren't interested enough to even site how many would be necessary for a minimum order. If anyone might know of a source offering that fitment today, please fill me in.

However...

army

I have a bunch of antique tractors and golf carts and a bone stock flathead V8 `50 Ford F47 pickup so I'm somewhat old school myself. I'd like a backup cam for the truck too but I don't see them as a replacement for side mirrors. More like an extra point of view. I'd leave it on all the time not just when I'm in reverse.