Peep mirror: how do I get it to work?

[Doug in NJ]

Hello,

I installed one of those mirrors that clamps to the front edge of the door. The problem is, I cannot position the mirror in a way that actually allows me to see anything useful. The ball and socket joint does not let me get the mirror to the correct angle, and I end up seeing a random spot off somewhere to the left. Is there a trick to getting these to work? I doubt I could bend the stem without breaking it.

Thanks,
Doug

[spike]

Doug....had the same problem on a vicky...I went to the type that mounts on the top and is shorter...not the best but better. I would like to know what they used on the slant windshield cars that worked good, if you find something let me know too..

[Ron/IA]

I mounted the type that uses the door hinge on both sides. They give me plenty of adjustment to see directly down each side of the car.

I would recommend them.

[Doug in NJ]

Unfortunately the hinge-mounted mirrors don't fit the S/W hinges without some sort of modification.

Doug

[John Butts in CT]

I have one of these on the very top front edge of my Tudor's driver's side door. I've learned a few tricks. First... You'll never get a good result unless the bracket's firmly attached to the door edge. I had to grind down the set screws and "massage" the mounting bracket in order to achieve a tight fit and avoid interference with the door's fit. Second... Before you mess around with the ball and socket... slightly loosen the screw that attaches the arm to the bracket (you can only reach it with the bracket off the car). Third... Attach the unit to the door. Fourth... Between rotating the arm-to-bracket connection and the ball and socket joint, you should be able to get close to the view you prefer. Fifth... Remove the unit from the door. Sixth... TIGHTEN the arm-to-bracket screw. Seventh... Re-attach the unit to the door, and Eighth... Finish fine-tuning your view by adjusting the ball and socket.

[Bruce,Upstate NY]

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I glue a convex mirror glass to the right side mirror. They come with different amounts of curvature and diameters. Just takes some hunting .You can also break out the glass and replace it with the convex. The vibrating image is also eliminated.

[Skeezixx]

I tried a pair of hinge mounted mirrors on a Tudor, They never did fit. The hinge tapers wider at the base and dosen't allow the mirror mount to be brought inward enough to be useful.

I removed them as they were worthless and replaced them with clamp on peep mirrors.

[A-Jay]

I have two hinge mounted mirrors on my coupe. I have never been able to see anything out of the passenger side. When ever the wife was in the car I would get her to move it around but still worthless. I saw a 3.5" or 3.75" fish eye wide angle mirror in my local overpriced hardware store for 2 bucks and WOW I liked it so much the next weekend I took the A back and got one for the drivers side. I think it does a great good on the pass side now, I don't run into the trash can on the side of the drive way as I back down to my garage which is a good ways back.

[1931 flamingo]

I've got a vintique's from Tam's (hinge mount, sorry forgot this is a slant) on a tudor RH and no problems. Driver's side is an older hinge type with a larger head (which I prefer) and no problem. Maybe look into "modifying" this type as Doug in NJ states has to be done.
Paul in CT

[TOMS]

Passenger hinge mirror on pickup wouldn't swing in enough. Not enough swing on the ball. So I used Dremel cutoff wheel and notched the shaft holding the ball to allow more swing. It was easy to do and now mirror works well.

[msmaron]

same problem on my blind back...put in a vise and bent it slowly and it works great!

[Doug in NJ]

Originally Posted by TOMS

Passenger hinge mirror on pickup wouldn't swing in enough. Not enough swing on the ball. So I used Dremel cutoff wheel and notched the shaft holding the ball to allow more swing. It was easy to do and now mirror works well.

I had the same exact idea a few hours ago. I'll definitely give it a try!

Doug

[Doug in NJ]

Originally Posted by msmaron

same problem on my blind back...put in a vise and bent it slowly and it works great!

Could you tell if that shaft was pot metal? It's not known for its
malleability..

Doug