Bullet Style Mirror Install

[Unknown_Authority]

I am going to try and document some of the things I did to put these mirrors on my GTO. If you have a 71-74 you may already have these type of side view mirrors on your GTO. Unfortunately, they weren't offered on the 1970 model. The first thing I had to do was get a set of mirrors from the junkyard. They are quite plentifull. Normally when people get mirrors out of the junkyard they just go ahead and use all the parts that came with the mirror. However, I wanted to use the original oval style escutcheon and not this square one that came with the mirror.

[Unknown_Authority]

What that means is that you have to get the escutcheon and backing plate. It also means that you have to find an original remote mirror so you can get the piece that controls the mirror. See, the control part of the new bullet mirror won't work with the oval style escutcheon. I wanted to go to the extra trouble of using the original oval piece so I had to find a basically junk mirror with a good control end. Once you have that you can put the control end onto the new mirror. This is more difficult than it sounds as the ends are swaged in. Once that is done you can disassemble the mirrors and paint to match. If your car didn't come with a remote mirror already, then you are going to need to locate the escutcheon. Take off the door panel and you should see a pre-cut hole for the remote cable. You will have to do some trimming of the panel in order to get the escutcheon to mount flush. *Here is a picture of the escutcheon.

[Unknown_Authority]

Here is a picture of the backing plate.

[Unknown_Authority]

I bought new glass for my mirrors. I think almost all the GM bullet mirrors from the different makes, Pontiac, Chevy, Olds, etc, are of the same style. The actual mirror though is a different size from right to left. So don't get concerned. Also make sure you use the original mounting hardware and and pad that came with your mirrors. I ordered replacement pads from Year One and they were thicker and didn't fit quite right. So I just sanded and painted the old ones black. I was able to mount the drivers side mirror without drilling any holes. I had to drill one hole for the passenger side. Once you have the driver side mirror in place measure the distance from the front of the door to the front of the pad. Mine was 4 1/2 inches from the end. Just transfer that dimension to the passenger side. That way both mirrors are lined up. Here are some pictures of the finished product. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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Closer.

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With the door panel attached.

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Here is the passenger side.

[Unknown_Authority]

This is a view from the front. I painted these mirrors using WESCO supplied aerosol spray cans. I supplied the paint and they made me the spray cans for $10 a piece. Lots of prep work and care went into these. I think they came out pretty good. They still need to be waxed. The color shift is due to both the flouescent lights and the metallic paint.The bases of these mirrors are smaller than the original mirrors so you can see where the old ones were in a few of the shots. All in all, I think these mirrors make the '70 look a whole lot better.

[Unknown_Authority]

BTW, here is how it looked before.

[GPModJ]

The new mirrors look great! :)

I've got the same mirror (driver's side only) on my GP as you had on your GTO and I've got a bullet mirror I'd like to install. Thanks for the info!

[Unknown_Authority]

UPDATE!! Just so no one gets confused. I do know that the escutcheon is in the wrong place. I am planning on gettting new door panels so I just mounted it there for the picture. Normally that piece is closer toward the front of the door. So DO NOT use that picture as an example. When I remount it correctly on the new door panel I'll post more pictures.

[1PROGTO]

8)Cool JB, nice work there! Welcome to the WCA

[THOR]

Those turned out sweet JB. Nice work and well done on the paint match too 8)