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I have 64', '69 and '75 drivers that my kids and wife have started driving lately. When I was the only driver I would get in there and put the mirror where I wanted it and tightened up the screws and that was it. When my daughter, who is a bit shorter, drives she wants to adjust the mirror of course and it seems you get about 2-3 adjustments before them mirror is just kind of hanging there, swinging in the breeze. All of the mirrors are correct, I got a couple of them from Wilcox. Did I do something wrong or is this what I should expect. Is there any upgrade that would make them amenable to more adjustments?
Let wife drive the 75. Kids get the 69. You drive the mid year. See? Simple.
They all prefer to drive the '92 so maybe I will just let them drive that one (which lets them all adjust the mirror as the see fit with no issues) and I will drive the rest!
Just tell them that the cars are YOURS and from now on, you are to do the following:
When you get in the car and position the seat as needed, you will only LOOK into the side and rearview mirrors and take note of the relative position of the side of the car and of the rear window in the mirrors. Then reset them as you need for your drive.. When you return the car, you will RESET the side mirror and rearview mirror to their original position with the images of the side of the car and the rear window images as best you can.
I think that is just NORMAL COURTESY for how to use/return a borrowed vehicle.
Just tell them that the cars are YOURS and from now on, you are to do the following:
When you get in the car and position the seat as needed, you will only LOOK into the side and rearview mirrors and take note of the relative position of the side of the car and of the rear window in the mirrors. Then reset them as you need for your drive.. When you return the car, you will RESET the side mirror and rearview mirror to their original position with the images of the side of the car and the rear window images as best you can.
I think that is just NORMAL COURTESY for how to use/return a borrowed vehicle.
Im sure there’s a wife somewhere in the US who would receive this edict and not immediately make their husband’s life miserable.
Just tell them that the cars are YOURS and from now on, you are to do the following:
When you get in the car and position the seat as needed, you will only LOOK into the side and rearview mirrors and take note of the relative position of the side of the car and of the rear window in the mirrors. Then reset them as you need for your drive.. When you return the car, you will RESET the side mirror and rearview mirror to their original position with the images of the side of the car and the rear window images as best you can.
I think that is just NORMAL COURTESY for how to use/return a borrowed vehicle.
What planet are you from. They are not going to do that..
I see we are in that time of year when a lot of day drinking happens!
So is there truly no way to make this work? We have 4 drivers in the family, 10 vehicles, 5 of which are vettes. We all jerk around with the mirrors in the non-vettes (and '92 vette) when we drive them any problems, it seems like there should be a way to resolve this in the older vettes?!?!?
The basic design of the pivot system in the stock C3 mirrors is puny....at best. There is a ball mount which is held in place by a thin piece of sheet metal, retained by two Pop-rivets. It has no capability of handling "wear". Every time the mirror is moved, it becomes a little more loose. Now, if that piece of sheet metal was "spring" steel, it would not wear and the retention force would be maintained. Of course, that would cost an extra nickel to make!!
Willcox is a good parts supplier, but they are at the mercy of a sole (foreign) supplier for this stuff. But, I would suggest that you call Willcox to let them know of your problem/concern. They might have new info or offer a way to make the mirror more secure. Good luck.
The basic design of the pivot system in the stock C3 mirrors is puny....at best. There is a ball mount which is held in place by a thin piece of sheet metal, retained by two Pop-rivets. It has no capability of handling "wear". Every time the mirror is moved, it becomes a little more loose. Now, if that piece of sheet metal was "spring" steel, it would not wear and the retention force would be maintained. Of course, that would cost an extra nickel to make!!
Willcox is a good parts supplier, but they are at the mercy of a sole (foreign) supplier for this stuff. But, I would suggest that you call Willcox to let them know of your problem/concern. They might have new info or offer a way to make the mirror more secure. Good luck.
Im sure there’s a wife somewhere in the US who would receive this edict and not immediately make their husband’s life miserable.
All the wives and daughters would band together accros the world and go out every night and change your mirror settings, including the side mirrors. THEN when mankind gives up they will make your live misserable! THEN all the men would go after whoever came up with that stupid idea and sting him up!
I guess the festivities have started early!!!!!! Probably best to search for an answer, the subject has come up before or a few things come to mind.
Replace the mirror, a repop will work better for a while
Disassemble as much as you can clean everything up and reassemble and see if that helps.
Try to slide some floss or something else around the ball to get a tighter grip.
Disassemble and soak the mirror( I think people use acetone but double check ) to allow its removal to gain access to the innards and peen the rivets to tighten their grip.
Buy each one of them their own and don't let them touch yours. (might not be realistic but!!!!)
None of these will probably work long term with that much adjustment so replacement is probably the best. Buy two since they wont last long and SAVE the original!!!!
It's great to see such a family interest in your hobby. Enjoy it while it lasts!!!! Ike
Last edited by general ike; Dec 30, 2019 at 06:25 PM.
When the mirror screw is installed, inside the stem is a square spring tensioner. Did you put this in there before you installed the mirror? If you left this part out the mirror will flop after a few adjustments. It slid in the end of the stem and the screw actually pinched it in the mounting bracket. Take one a part and see if it's inside...
Ernie
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Dec 31, 2019 at 08:35 AM.
When the mirror screw is installed, inside the stem is a square spring tensioner. Did you put this in there before you installed the mirror? If you left this part out the mirror will flop after a few adjustments. It slid in the end of the stem and the screw actually pinched it in the mounting bracket. Take one a part and see if it's inside...
Ernie
Ernie,
Thanks for the reply an Happy New Year! I got this mirror from you a couple years back and yes I have the tensioner in there. My issue seems to be with looseness in the ball joint above, which happens when the ladies check there hair and makeup when they get in/out of the car and move the mirror from left to right. Probably no way to fix that, amirite?
Thanks for the reply an Happy New Year! I got this mirror from you a couple years back and yes I have the tensioner in there. My issue seems to be with looseness in the ball joint above, which happens when the ladies check there hair and makeup when they get in/out of the car and move the mirror from left to right. Probably no way to fix that, amirite?
Scott
Scott,
Check the bracket that is made from pot metal. The retainer slips into two square slots in this bracket and when they break it will not hold tension on the pivot ball.
In this picture you can see the rectangular holes the metal retainer slips into... see if one is cracked. The one below is for a convertible but coupe is the same in how it mounted. If one of the ears is broken you can do all you want to tighten the pivot ball it won't stay put.
Rearview Mirror with multiple drivers
