anyone ever added a pass.side mirror?

[nostatic]

I've run accross a quite cool '78 SC that does not have a passenger side mirror. While it might be sacrelige to add one, since I will occasionally be blocking the rear view with stuff, I'd like to have one. Anyone ever done this? I figure the hardest part is getting the right color (it is a rare color, so finding a spare mirror will be difficult...I suppose I'd have to have it paint matched).

[ChrisL]

Search the archives. Someone (don't remember who and I'm too lazy to search myself) installed one and got the position from the driver's side mirror - but they're not in the same position on the door! Get the position from someone who has a factory installed pass. side mirror (it may be in the Bentley manual).

Chris.

[john walker's workshop]

yeah, the right mirror is farther back. make a paper template for the holes from a door at a wrecking yard if possible. the rubber gasket must be right up against the top trim strip, if you did it right. there's a reinforcement plate that pop rivets inside the door too.

[cmonref]

The instructions for adding the right side mirror are Vol 8 of the factory repair manual, section 10.3 - 1/4. A picture of the holes required in the right door is on page 4.3 - 1/1.

I added the right side mirror using the kit sold by Porsche. It's been 20 years, but I do recall that the hole diagram was right on the money.

The parts required include three new wiring harnesses that connect things from the right door mirror all the way across the car to the left door mirror and the adjustment switch, with runners that branch out to pick up power and one or two other connections, and a new selector switch that mounts in a pre-cut hole just above the ignition. You have to remove both doors and inner door panels in the process.

[78targa]

Nostatic,

I have a full set of shop manuals. Unfortunately A shop at some time decided they needed the installation pages for the side mirror. I do however have the hole pattern for the passenger door and have it attached (hopefully) below. note that the guide point is the leading mounting point for the window trim and that all measurements are relative to this point and the subsequent line drawn from this point to the second window trim point. John is right in that the reinforcement plate is attatched with "an appropriate pop rivet."
You will need to remove the passenger door in order to wire the mirror. This is required in order to drill the holes for the wires to run from the door to the chassis. You might need to remove the driver's side door in order to more easily run the wiring from the PS mirror to the driver's side switch. Don't forget you will also need to install a window switch (to change switch from left to right) on the dash right above the ignition.
Personally sounds like alot. I would think the wiring would be more difficult than even getting the template centered and drilled on the door. As for the cost of a mirror...Very pricey fresh out of the box (over $600). You can get used ones with functional motors for under $50 on either eBay or even this board. Your choice...heck for $600 you could probably find a used PS door with a mirror!
Good luck though. Sounds like an in depth project.

[Marshall Reddin]

Has anyone discovered a source for chrome flag style passenger side mirror? I know I could update to a pair of the later painted mirrors, but I rather like to keep the original appearance. Other readers have asked this question recently. Anyone have a solution?

Marshall
'75 911 3.2

[Phoenix]

Marshall: Perf prd. has the chrome flags. I had a right side mirror put on my '73 when I had the bodywork done. (It's much safer to have one especialy in the conjested NE.) Unfortunately the shop tried to match the drivers side positioning and the mirror is too far back on the door. This looks great but makes it a bit difficult to see as the doorframe is blocking a bit of the view. If the mirror is adjusted properly, it does provide good coverage. (anything ihere s better than nothing in my book)

[ChrisBennet]

I only use my passenger side mirror for backing near a curb (tilt it way down). I hate getting blinded by it at night. Nice at the track sometimes though. Get a nice set of "Ben Hur" knives on the wheels and just change lanes whenever you feel like it.
Chris

[Marshall Reddin]

Phoenix- thanks. Somehow, I didn't think to look in the PP catalog, and I have a new one. The pic of the mirror looks very much like the original. What does it look like in real life?
Marshall

[Phoenix]

Marshall - It looks very much like the originals I've seen on a '74 + cars though they quality could be better for my taste. For the price they're pretty good.

My '73 came with the narrower ones which just didn't given me a decent enough field of view. It's a world of difference switching to the larger ones. Less chance of someone sneaking up on me.

[Marshall Reddin]

Phoenix - I'm placing an order tonight. I gotta have a right hand mirror, grown entirely too accustomed to that big wide view from our Suburban and miss things when merging to the right.
Thanks
Marshall

[SLANTNOSE6]

I'm going to install a set of late flag mirrors on my car, does anyone have a pic of these backing plates that are required?

[schamp]

I have a right side mirror for my 75 that I have not installed yet. In looking at the inside of the right door high and to the front there is a hole filled in. I am thinking this is the factory location. It is just outside the vent window. Do ya'll think this is the right spot?

[ossiblue]

Schamp,

Unless you are looking inside the door frame WITH THE DOOR PANEL REMOVED, you are not looking at the correct hole. If it matches the picture in the thread from 78targa, above, then in may be correct. Always good to triple check befor starting with the drill.

[930turbo]

I installed the right side mirror on my '77 turbo. I had to build the wiring harness from scratch with direction from the factory diagram as the originals are NLA. It works great and looks OEM.

[Jack Olsen]

In my experience, the 73 chrome flag-style ones were too small to be useful. I replaced them (on both sides) with the 74-75 model, which is a little bit bigger.

Nostatic, the easy way to go is to have KevinP73 do the paint and the mounting.



A very effective alternative (or addition) is to get the clip on convex mirrors. For a street car, there's an 11-inch model. It will broaden your view to completely include the passenger-side blind spot. For track use, the 17-inch one will eliminate both side's blind spots.

And since I'm putting this in one place, a lot of guys swear by the more-expensive All-View mirror.

[cmonref]

Slatnose 6 asked: i"m goint to install aset of late flag mirrors on my car, does anyone have a pic of the backing plates that are required?


Slatnose6: Refer to 78Targa's posted picture earlier in the thread. The backing plate is a rectangle that would completely cover all four of the holes that are shown. The bottom two holes are duplicated in the backing plate. The top two holes are also "duplicated" by one large hole formed by drilling both holes and then removing the metal BETWEEN them. The backing plate was about .080 steel and was bent to conform to the inside of the door at the location of the holes. When finally positioned, the backing plate is pop-riveted to the door, with the rivet hole generally in the center of the plate. In the end, the backing plate takes all of the stresses and forces associated with the mirror so that the much thinner door metal is not distorted.

Brian

[TerryH]

Originally posted by SLANTNOSE6
I'm going to install a set of late flag mirrors on my car, does anyone have a pic of these backing plates that are required?

Here's a bad shot of one. You can see it laying on the hood. I ordered it directly from the local Porsche dealer. It wasn't expensive.

[2ndTARGA]

What Brian said about the plate is right-on. I got the passenger side plate at a wrecking yard for $5.00. I also traced the holes from a use door as suggested - and used the factory diagram that 78Targa posted just to make sure. I first located the holes for the pop rivets and then used the backing plate to trace the larger holes. I used a basic cone shaped multi-size sheet metal drill and it all worked perfectly.

I intended to add the wiring harness but have not gotten around to it. It works just fine in manual mode.

Unless you're lucky, you'll have to have the mirror painted to match. I have a used red one left over if you are interested.

I found an easy way to reassemble the super stiff spring base without messing up the new paint. Let me know when you get that far and I can send photos of the tools.

Right side mirrors are a must IMO. I didn't realize this until I got a car without one and kept looking over that way to try to check traffic.

Ron

[juanbenae]

my 78 has just the driver's side unit only and i thought long and hard about the same thing early on. once i became more aware i am VERY glad i did not add one. the pano-mirror jack references is all you need for the track, with one i rarely use my drivers mirror even. it also makes for a great film aspect if you do any filming of track efforts. on the road the panos kinda suck, you really can't make out too much detail beyond a few car links. you can see safely, just can't make out the difference between a CHP or some old lady in an olds.

i am glad i did not add a mirror to the passenger side, you will be too over time. it's like having a third nipple, you'd never wish for it, but when you got it you feel special.

T$

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