1981 Vette Side View Mirror
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
1981 Vette Side View Mirror
Hello to all. New to the group. Found this site while looking for a solution. Hope someone can help. On my 81, the drivers side mirror head is loose on the supporting arm. The arm is tight against the body just the head is loose and wobbles. I can't see how to resolve this and the parts book does not breakdown the mirror to show how it mounts. I am guessing remove the door panel and attach from the inside but not convinced that is the correct proceedure. Has anyone seen these mirrors apart that can offer advice?
Let me know,
Thanks,
Charles
Let me know,
Thanks,
Charles
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield Texas
Have the xact same problem with My 79 and have been told to remove door panel then remove mirror from door to get to screws
through the bottom of mirrror. Haven't tried it yet because car only
has 15,000 miles on it and I just hate to start taking it apart.
through the bottom of mirrror. Haven't tried it yet because car only
has 15,000 miles on it and I just hate to start taking it apart.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Boston Massachusetts
81 mirror
Hi,
Remove the inner door panel, then you have to remove the mirror to access the screws that hold the mirror head onto the base. As I recall, removing the top bolts that hold the front window track in allows you to get to the bolts that hold the mirror base to the door.
Good luck,
Tom
Remove the inner door panel, then you have to remove the mirror to access the screws that hold the mirror head onto the base. As I recall, removing the top bolts that hold the front window track in allows you to get to the bolts that hold the mirror base to the door.
Good luck,
Tom
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Originally Posted by Toms82
Hi,
Remove the inner door panel, then you have to remove the mirror to access the screws that hold the mirror head onto the base. As I recall, removing the top bolts that hold the front window track in allows you to get to the bolts that hold the mirror base to the door.
Good luck,
Tom
Remove the inner door panel, then you have to remove the mirror to access the screws that hold the mirror head onto the base. As I recall, removing the top bolts that hold the front window track in allows you to get to the bolts that hold the mirror base to the door.
Good luck,
Tom
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
What sucks about taking the mirror off is the having to disturb the adjustment of the door glass to the body when rolled up. If you tackle the job yourself just take real good notice of what and where the door glass adjustments are at. Good luck,,,,A real M'fer of a job to do correctly,,,,Peace,, Moosie
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Tiffin Ohio
I didn't want to take my panel off either so I cut a large O ring and pushed it in the gap.
It tightened up the mirror just fine.
Kind of a "bubba" fix untill I take the door panel off sometime.
You don't even notice it.
It tightened up the mirror just fine.
Kind of a "bubba" fix untill I take the door panel off sometime.
You don't even notice it.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield Texas
Originally Posted by Crash80
Messing around inside the doors of a Vette is about as much fun as open heart surgery in my opinion. It is scary in there! 
disturb all that "stuff" inside the door.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by Crash80
Messing around inside the doors of a Vette is about as much fun as open heart surgery in my opinion. It is scary in there!
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Yea, just changing the door locks and outer handles can be a nightmare. If you screw up the adjustments on your acuator rods you mite end up locking your self out of your car. This happened too me and I was looking around for a cold knife to remove the rear window before I found out that I could take the T-tops off from the outside with a bent butter knife lol. Maybe I should start chopping cars, I can break into a C3 and get it rolling in under 5 minutes now hahaha. I am not positive but I believe that you need to remove the side view mirror from the door then you can tighten the nuts attaching the head too the neck from inside the neck.
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,300
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
if your patient and have gobs of extentions, you can get the mirror on and off without disturbing the window setting. yeah, it's fun, and takes just about as much time as if you did move all the window stuff. anyway, it can be done and the way described above is correct. just remember the position of the rubber grommet thingy between the door and the mirror arm when reassembling. otherwise, your mirrors will be tucked up like the nacelles on the starship enterprise.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by clutchdust
if your patient and have gobs of extentions, you can get the mirror on and off without disturbing the window setting....
You sure can. I did.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
I started
Got the door panel off and everything else. That part is quite easy. Problem is a tool to get in there to the small space. I am on a search for that. Following the procedure in the sevice manual makes it easy. Just need the tool. Should be able to get to the aft mounting bolt by just loosening the rear anti rattle bracket and removing the front one. If I had the right wrench it would have been a 30 minute job.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
It is a pain. With the window in and up, the window mechanism blocks the bolt holes for the mirror base. Down, the window is in the way. You technically may not need to remove the window, but it may help to do so. After you remove the nuts holding on the sport mirror base. Then you can tighten the screws holding the head in place. You might want to put lock tight on the screws, so they don't get loose again.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 552
Likes: 2
From: Waynesboro GA
Took mine off to paint the car. Removing and putting back is easy. I only had to readjust the window. 832 times before it would roll up and down correctly. You can take it off and reinstall with some 1/4" universal sockets and lots of patience..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I'm in the "I had the same problem" club. Driver's side on my 79. For me, the window, and all door hardware came off the door for paint, so therefore the mirror was no problem to take off. For reasons mentioned above, there is no way I will put the old door handles back on, even if I have to borrow money, I will put brand new ones back on when it comes back from paint.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Mirror glass replacement
I’m looking to replace the glass mirror on my 81 vette. But for the life of me I can’t find the glass With the mounting bracket for the electric motor. I really don’t want to silicone it in place. Surely someone knows where to get the glass with the snap bracket on it.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,972
Likes: 6,196
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
You are responding to a post from 15 years ago. Good time to start a new thread.
