Right side passenger side view mirror
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
Right side passenger side view mirror
Hi i was just wondering your opinion on putting a right side passenger side view mirror on a c3 that did not come with one originally. Would u or would you not. My 68 does not have it. My 69 did not have it either but before it was sold i did put it on. But there were a few who came to see my 69 and said i should of NEVER put one on. I did like it on the 69 as it really made it look symmetrical plus i really did use it in backing out of my driveway and changing lanes. But i am really leaning not to do it on my 68. Its such a hard decision. omg. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,235
Likes: 4,326
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MR,
A person interested in the car being in the configuration that 68 cars were originally wouldn't want the mirror to be there.
A person not interested in the original configuration might find the mirror helpful.
I'm not sure that being symmetrical would normally play much part in someone's decision.
Regards,
Alan
A person interested in the car being in the configuration that 68 cars were originally wouldn't want the mirror to be there.
A person not interested in the original configuration might find the mirror helpful.
I'm not sure that being symmetrical would normally play much part in someone's decision.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
I wouldn't do it. I have a 69 and wouldn't think of drilling holes in the door to install something that is hard to adjust from the left side and always seems to be out of adjustment when you actually want to use it. The mirror is not protected by a fixed outer housing like later cars so if anything or anybody even touches it, it's useless until you lean across, roll down the window and make multiple attempts to get it right again.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 520
From: McClellandtown, Pa.
I agree with all the safety of having the right side mirror, and the that it makes the car look completely balanced. I just cant see myself drilling holes into my 68 as i did with my 69. Plus the body on the 69 that i sold was not as nice as the body on my current 68. Its a very very hard decision...
If you are thinking that hard about doing it, don't put one one. You know from your own personal experience with your '69 what most will think about it, and make comments whether for or against. A previous owner installed one on my '73 in the 70's. These became a GM dealer installed item later on in the '73 run. If I ever have my car completely repainted, the right side mirror will be removed, only because it wasn't on the car when it left the factory. Do I use the mirror? Yes!
Funny thing, I recently had the chance to speak with a previous owner of my car, he was the second owner, bought it in 75. He told me one of the first things he had done was to have the Chevy dealer put the right side mirror on it. Get this...... " He said he likes things to be symmetrical!!".
Just my thoughts
Have a great day!
Tooch
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
I wouldn't do it. I have a 69 and wouldn't think of drilling holes in the door to install something that is hard to adjust from the left side and always seems to be out of adjustment when you actually want to use it. The mirror is not protected by a fixed outer housing like later cars so if anything or anybody even touches it, it's useless until you lean across, roll down the window and make multiple attempts to get it right again.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
Hi Mike,
If you are thinking that hard about doing it, don't put one one. You know from your own personal experience with your '69 what most will think about it, and make comments whether for or against. A previous owner installed one on my '73 in the 70's. These became a GM dealer installed item later on in the '73 run. If I ever have my car completely repainted, the right side mirror will be removed, only because it wasn't on the car when it left the factory. Do I use the mirror? Yes!
Funny thing, I recently had the chance to speak with a previous owner of my car, he was the second owner, bought it in 75. He told me one of the first things he had done was to have the Chevy dealer put the right side mirror on it. Get this...... " He said he likes things to be symmetrical!!".
Just my thoughts
Have a great day!
Tooch
If you are thinking that hard about doing it, don't put one one. You know from your own personal experience with your '69 what most will think about it, and make comments whether for or against. A previous owner installed one on my '73 in the 70's. These became a GM dealer installed item later on in the '73 run. If I ever have my car completely repainted, the right side mirror will be removed, only because it wasn't on the car when it left the factory. Do I use the mirror? Yes!
Funny thing, I recently had the chance to speak with a previous owner of my car, he was the second owner, bought it in 75. He told me one of the first things he had done was to have the Chevy dealer put the right side mirror on it. Get this...... " He said he likes things to be symmetrical!!".
Just my thoughts
Have a great day!
Tooch
Last edited by MikesRed68; Apr 1, 2017 at 11:55 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
I hear ya but the real problem aint keeping the mirror in place or even rolling down the window to adjust it , ITS THE HOLES IN THE DOOR THAT WILL BE PERMANENT if i decide i dont want it there no more..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
I dont know what u mean by alot of crap. All the ones i saw and the one i used on my 69 it looked and felt exactly like the left stock mirror. The only thing i was alittle concerned about was the mounting hardware. It came with a template and you would tape the template on the door were it goes. The template is exactly right on the money. The only thing is was concerned was after u drill into the outside of the door u put 2 plugs in then the mounting bracket for the mirror and then u screw the mirror onto the mounting bracket with the hex screw. It seemed to hold pretty well. But for how long ?? Who knows .. oh btw the one i bought was from Ecklers.
Last edited by MikesRed68; Apr 1, 2017 at 01:14 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,235
Likes: 4,326
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
The original mirrors used a nut plate bonded to the inner surface of the door skin.
The replacements depend on well nuts to secure them in place unless you take the door apart so you can reach the plate's location to install it.
Regards,
Alan
The original mirrors used a nut plate bonded to the inner surface of the door skin.
The replacements depend on well nuts to secure them in place unless you take the door apart so you can reach the plate's location to install it.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Apr 1, 2017 at 01:25 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 720
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Agree
I put a right hand mirror on my 68. I swore I never would do that on my 68 which has new paint and is all original except for the drive train. However, for me, driving it to shows and a number of places convinced me not having that RH mirror was a real safety risk. With the top off (it is a roadster), of course I could see great, but once the soft or hard top was on, it felt like I had a real uncomfortable blind spot. My 68 is an early Nov build with the mirror a little more forward, so I got a RH mirror from one of the better Corvette vendors, sucked it up, measured 20 times and drilled the holes to match the LF mirror location. Alan is right, I was hoping to match the LF OEM mirror install, but you can not do that due to the way the door is built, so I used the vender supplied rubber expanding anchors. For me, I was glad I installed the RH mirror and use it. One viewpoint anyway.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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My buddy pin striped his passenger side front fender on the garage opening on a gorgeous 65 Nassau blue roadster.
I was just as sick when I saw it as him.
I put a R/S mirror on shortly there after.
Two holes or a paint job your choice.
Marshal
I was just as sick when I saw it as him.
I put a R/S mirror on shortly there after.
Two holes or a paint job your choice.
Marshal
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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I just got one in the mail. Its going on my 68 as soon as the weather clears enough to make all the measurements without freezing. Finding the correct spot will be hard
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,188
Likes: 1,670
From: Long Island
If the car is NCRS I would not, otherwise for safety I would and did on my 71 matching numbers car - I drive it and there are too many idiots on the road.
Once you get the mirror set pit a drop of crazy glue gel on the swivel and it won't move easy. Just put a rag under it in case you are sloppy.
Once you get the mirror set pit a drop of crazy glue gel on the swivel and it won't move easy. Just put a rag under it in case you are sloppy.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
I think the only way i would install it on my 68 is to take the door panel off and install it that way. I installed on on my 69 with the well nuts and it did hold but it really didnt seem like it was the best way to install it . It did not seem like it was going to hold for a long time with out it eventually getting loose from the cheap plastic well nuts.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
My car has survived 47 years without a RH mirror, I see no reason to change that. Personally I like the asymmetrical look of the single mirror. It's just another item that distinguishes a classic car from a modern car.