Looking for any tips for a frustration and damage free removal of the door panel in order to gain access for fitting a passenger side mirror. Cheers Bob
You should just be able to unscrew the bottom half and use a plastic puller to take out the plastic trees holding on the top half. The PW's will unplug but the remote mirror is a bit more complicated. Don't be afraid to pull.
It must be a later model mirror with the studs, he may also run into an issue that the later ones had access to that area to secure the nuts but I don't believe the 72's do, he may have to drill access holes on an inner panel. Remote was not available on the passenger side in 72.
When I read this I smacked my forehead and thought "Oh! Maybe it sits on the leading fin of the door?" Went and checked and that would place it too far forward. Damn! Would have been an easy fit. The mirror I got is not a remote and is probably made from the finest Chinesium but looks to be a pretty close match to the original. It has two studs that will require holes in the door and access from inside for nuts. DO NOT BUY THIS MIRROR FOR A 1972 ELECTRA ! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CLYVQG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Made enough mods to the car to not to be concerned about authenticity but I do miss not having one that side. Bob
You'll want to put some sort of a backing plate in there and not just rely on the sheet metal to hold it.
The factory ones just screwed into the sheet metal in 72, I would think the studs with a couple washers would be a whole lot more solid than the original method, the mounting plated screwed in and a set screw held them on.
Good advice. I know these cars are made of real steel, not foil like a modern car, but spreading the load is a good plan. When I finally get around to fitting it I'll post some details. Cheers! Bob
On my 68 I found a formed steel backer on the drivers door as I was adding the 70 A body sport mirrors. When I went to drill the holes for the R door and place that one I noticed that the re-enforcement was not there so I made one out of 3/16 alumn and JB welded onto he inside of the panel then drilled holes and mounted the mirrors.
Everything was going so well! Four screws and the top trim panel lifts right off. There is access from the inside and clearance from the glass. The Taiwanesium repro mirror is a pretty good match and then... oh crap! Though the mirror is adjustable the head is fixed and apparently the angle of the door panel changed from 1972 to whatever year this was made for. Just a slight delay while I make an angled base block to compensate, or I find a different mirror. Win-win-fail!
Well it's on the car... but I'm too disappointed and embarrassed to upload a picture! I knew from the outset this was for a later model but I like a challenge. Turns out even with a custom mounting block to get base plate at the correct angle everything else is out of whack. Sigh. The base plate is level, the vertical angle is correct but the mirror body leans forward and when adjusted correctly the mirror glass leaves a 1/4" gap from the body at the outside edge. It looks awful. On top of that I dropped one of the only two nuts I had with the right thread down inside the door and I'm too mad right now to remove the rest of the door panel to fetch it. I may go magnet fishing later to try and avoid removing the panel. Guess I'm still in the hunt for a mirror. Bob
When I fitted the GS sport mirrors to the Riviera doors I had the same issues. Being as I was repainting the car it was no problem for me to relocate the holes up about a 1/4 inch to make the mirror body sit where it looked like it was supposed to be there. Just welded up the old holes and drilled new where I wanted them. Also flipped the stock base gaskets over to get it just right,.
1973 was the first year I remember them . I have gotten mirrors out of Canada that were on a 1975 and they were still the flat glass . I believe Canada started them in 76 or 77
I know I have a couple at my other garage . I can't remember if they were the ones with studs or the screw from the outside . I can check next time I'm up there . I'm pretty sure they have the flat glass.
So here's what the thing looks like right now with the prototype base block. The block needs a little more tweaking to get the level right but given the hideous angle the glass has to be set at to get the right view I'm really not feeling like pursuing it further. The aim was to use the prototype (it's oak) as a pattern for a 3D printed one. Well this doesn't look so bad... ... on the other hand. Good grief!
