Exact location of drivers side mirror

[mally002]

Hey folks,

Just got my car back from paint and body...looks great, will be throwing up some photos in the open discussion very soon. However, the shop completley filled in the pre-cut holes where the side mirror goes. How will I know where the exact location is to drill new holes? What is the best procees for doing this...ie, I don't want to chip the paint. If anyone has any thoughts please let me know.

Thanks,

Randy

[280z1975]

Make the shop do it for filling in the holes ... at least that is my first response. If you didn't want them to do that, then they should remedy the problem. From the other posts it seems like a stand up place with quality work.

You can also try to find the holes from the backside of the door, but you will have to take everything off to do this.

If you do drill use a small pilot hole and use slightly larger bits till you reach the right size.

I will say I never did this on my car, but only drilled new holes for an after market model which didn't line up with the original ones. I am sure others will have some better advice to help out.

[MikeW]

Hey folks,

Just got my car back from paint and body...looks great, will be throwing up some photos in the open discussion very soon. However, the shop completley filled in the pre-cut holes where the side mirror goes. How will I know where the exact location is to drill new holes? What is the best procees for doing this...ie, I don't want to chip the paint. If anyone has any thoughts please let me know.

Thanks,

Randy

I'd try using a magnet to determine where the filler is. You might also be able to find the hole from the inside of the door; I don't remember how much room you might have to work with there, however. Once you know where to drill I wouldn't worry too much about the paint as it's going to be completely covered by the mirror base. We had a similar discussion here recently about finding existing holes for emblems. It was suggested to cover the paint with some tape to help prevent chipping. There was other good advice in that thread:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24604

[Arne]

I agree with the others - the shop should repair this if you didn't request it. And then if they chip the paint it's on them.

As for drilling holes in sheet metal, I always use a step-bit. They drill a clean, round and chamfered hole in sheet metal. The only way to fly.

[Ramses]

If they used a filler, you should be able to see the back end of the holes after you take to panel off the door. That is what I did on my '73

[mally002]

Thanks guys,

[gnosez]

Unless I missed something the only way an OEM mirror can be attached to the door is by tightening 2 nuts from the inside of the door panel. Hence, you (or the bodyshop) will need to access the door internals no matter what. A quick look should confirm the location of the holes. If memory serves me right it took a bit of knuckle busting to get it on right.

[TomoHawk]

If there were holes, then they should have filled them with lead or solder or something like that, but not body filler. It's guaranteed the filler will pop out eventually.

[Mr Camouflage]

If there were holes, then they should have filled them with lead or solder or something like that, but not body filler. It's guaranteed the filler will pop out eventually.

Not these days, Unless your paying top dollar for a quality job, you will get filler.

[280z1975]

If there were holes, then they should have filled them with lead or solder or something like that, but not body filler. It's guaranteed the filler will pop out eventually.

Depends on how they did the work ... but for small holes like the mirror I would say it's filler and there is no backing .... on my shaved antenna hole I have a mess backing of fiberglass stuff from Por-15 that built up a solid base for my filler to cover and fill the hold. I also used stuff for their floor pan repair, strong stuff with a fiberglass mess built into the filler. Lead and soldering are an art which unfortunately a lot of us around here don't have the time, money or equipment to use the method, but if I had a choice I would have used it.

[TomoHawk]

Since you're on the subject, perhaps a car from the 70's deserves to be repaired using the techniques used during those years, as appropriate. ?

[hd240z]

My 71 mirror requires 2 holes, one aprox 12mm dia for a locating pin and the second for a 8mm mounting stud. You have to install the mounting nut from inside the door. Don't know if your 73 is the same, but those size holes should not be done with bondo. You should be able to pull the door panel and look inside to see what was done.

I installed a different mirror with a remote adjuster years ago. It used one of the existing holes for the adjuster cable and the mount covered the other hole.

Good Luck