Help with outside mirror mounting....

...On my '74L the mirrors are mounted in the same manner, right at the front corner of that 'Quarter Window'. To MY knowledge and Experience, there is Nothing to worry about under that area for at least One Inch!! Go For It!...

...DON'T use 'Sheet Metal Screws'!! Do it the Professional way and use 'Threaded Inserts' also known as 'Nut-Serts'. Then you'll be mounting your mirrors using 'Fine-Threaded' 'Machine Screws' (I used Stainless Steel Allen Heads). The nice thing about 'Thread-Serts' is the MORE you Unfasten and fasten them; the tighter they get!! We used them all the time in repairing aircraft. Another great place for their use, is to replace those two sheetmetal screws that are holding on the 'Top Radiator Cover' to the Chassis. Have fun with it!...

Thanks, I bought the Ford mirror and kit, so it includes the 3/8" rubber nut inserts and the SS bolts (screws) along with 5 gaskets.


Regardless, I'll have some SERIOUS pucker factor when I start drilling 2 3/8" holes in perfect paint.. Wish me luck...

I'm nervious about the installation, but I can't see $hit out that side and need a mirror. Every time I make a right hand lane change I tense up waiting for the impact no matter how much I try to speed up/slow down, signal and look.

quote:

Originally posted by johnk:
Regardless, I'll have some SERIOUS pucker factor when I start drilling 2 3/8" holes in perfect paint.. Wish me luck...

Mask the area off, mark your holes on the masking tape, start with a small drill, and apply preparation H.

lol.........

good luck John

George

Thanks George,

Yea, I asked my wife to temporalily (sp) hold the mirror in position while I sat in the car and judged the position, she muttered something about me dragging her into drilling a bunch of holes in a perfectly good car. I've got plenty of good Scotts blue tape left over from the home office rebuild last month, have a good center punch, and a drawer full of new, sharp bits. I'll make sure I have my Depends on when I begin... The uncertainty is part of the experiance that keeps sucking us in.,
LOL

Take care
john

Be very gentle with that centre punch.

I seem to remember that this area has a brace right under it that you will need to get thru. I don't think it should be a big deal. Just don't be surprised if there is a second layer of metal to drill thru.

Jeff
6559

Can you tell me where you find the 'Threaded Inserts' you called 'Nut-Serts'?

...When drilling be very cautious of letting up on the pressure when the drill bit is ABOUT to break through the Sheetmetal; you don't want to 'Slam' the Drill CHUCK into the doorsill or the window trim strip. Where to find the 'Nut-Serts'?? Very good question!!! As I have been looking for them recently and have had NO luck! They use to sell them at 'J.C. Whitney' (cataloge), also 'Orchard supply Hardware'. NO longer available. I may try 'Eastwood' autobody repair tools, or have to seek out an Aircraft Tool Supply House. I still have the installation tool, but the individual 'serts' are going to take a 'Hunt' to find them. They are worth the effort! Good-Luck to US!...

Marlin,
McMaster-Carr? They seem to have everything else.

Nutserts? Easy.

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.

1-877-477-7823

www.aircraftspruce.com

sold in singles - 30¢ to 59¢

4-40 through 1/2-13 installation tools too.

And they also have "pop" rivnuts

Larry

This is how mine is mounted:

Thanks Dennis. Does the vertical window chrome get in the way? If you were doing it over again, would you keep it there, or move it forward or back?

[quote]Thanks Dennis. Does the vertical window chrome get in the way? If you were doing it over again, would you keep it there, or move it forward or back?[/quote


John, try positioning the mirror based on your driving position, not someone else's.

Whoa! I didn't realize that the photo makes it look so close. Here's another shot of the mirror. It is actually angled closer than it has to be because I have a "fisheye" convex mirror on it which changes the mirrors base angle. It would actually point further away from the car if the convex mirror wasn't there. There is a wide range of view adjustability from this mounting position. It was already on the car when I bought it.

...you want to move the mirror farther forward so the point of the mirror mount, aligns with the point at the lower corner of the quarter window. In this position, the 'Full Mirror' will be in the 'line of sight', through that window, of the drivers' EyE. It works on My Cat!...

interesting angle in that picture Dennis. I see a Mustang mirror, and what looks like an early Mustang bucket seat.

You sure that's a pic of a Pantera! lol......

George

George,

You've been in the hottub with the ladies too long tonight(damn lucky guy).. You know that's not a Mustang seat.. LOL. In terms of the mirror's heritage, yup, ain't it great..

It's my trick photography that has you all fooled! Turns a Pantera into a Mustang! It came installed when I bought the car. It also came with the installation instruction sheet from Ford. There are a lot of cars listed on the sheet so I guess that this came standard on many models.