Moving the sports mirrors forward.

Hi all,
I have searched this topic pretty hard. 70-71 mirrors have a mirror position on the door that is forward of the later ones. Never have been happy with the mirrors on my 72, and am thinking of moving them a quite a bit forward.

The image searches that I have done on 70-71s don't seem to show as much of a move as I am considering, and any descriptions in posts have not shown any real measurements.

Just mocking a mirror up, I may be shooting for using the existing front rivnut as the new rear mirror mount, and placing the mirror that far forward. It looks like it may tuck in next to the A pillar pretty nice. The mirror base is close to 7 inches, to this would be quite a move.

Wondering if anyone else has done this?

Would like to see pics and verify measurements.

Mostly worried that in a 3/4 front view, the mirrors might stick out a bit much on the sides, so pics from this angle would help too. Seems like they will still clear the window glass, but will be closer.

I will start with my measurements .... Mine originally had the one chrome driver's mirror. I used the existing front mount and cable hole and added a new rear mount further back. The factory front position is 12" straight back from the door edge (not the most accurate way to measure because of the door edge slope). It is 10 7/8ths" measured to the upper corner that meets with the intersection of the A pillar, upper fender tip, and windshield lower corner.

Any help here is greatly appreciated ... going to have the driver's door apart next and might as well do this.

 

I am planning to do the same thing with my blue mav, I have only given the idea a cursory glace at this point soo...I am interested as well in how it will look.

 

I would be concerned that as you move the mirror forward, you might have interference with the hardware inside the door and where all the hardware ends up. For example: I would think that the forward mounting hole might end up in the door jamb instead of inside the door.

 

Good point ... Definitely something to look into .... I have the door off the car now, and it looks like the forward rivnut would end up about an inch behind where the inner panel joins the outer skin. I'll be looking for interference with all things internal, after I pop the door open. (window mechanism, etc). I'll be looking at the cable routing on the driver's mirror too.

 

I've been thinking the same thing, since the mirrors were ripped out of the doors, on the car I'm working on.

 

Although my mirrors are not factory (from an early 80's Mazda), I had them mounted further forward so they would actually be useful when sitting in a normal position in the driver's seat. It's been almost 9 years so I don't remember all the details of how they are mounted insided the door, and it probably wouldn't help you anyway.

I only have one picture handy, but it might help you get sort of an idea of what factory sport mirrors will look like moved forward:

 

OK Mark, I like those mirrors and the position, what are they off of? Model, and year?

 

I believe these particular mirrors are from a 1982 Mazda RX-7, and that this style was used from 82-84, although I could be off by a year or two...I don't really know much about Mazdas.

They originally had bases on them that didn't quite work. Dale Doll figured out that removing 'em would make the mounting possible when I had Jean and Dale do the body work and paint for me back around 2003 or so.

I liked these mirrors because they looked so much like the factory sport mirrors, they are both electric and the control pad is exactly like one used on many Lincolns, so I could use mirror and power window controls I found in the junkyard (mounted in an aftermarket armrest):

 

I welded my mirror holes up, on my '75. I'm gonna move them forward a bit. They are just too far back, as is. I can't hardly see out of them.

 

You guys sit too high and far forward. drop the seat to the floor and recline a bit. Relax. LOL.

Sounds interesting. I didnt know the mirror positions changed. I've thought about moving mine forward some but for no other reason than aesthetics.

Subscribed

 

That's what I did
My seat tracks are lowered 2 inches and moved back 2.5".

 

Too funny! Unfortunately I'm short. My seating position is perfect and some adults can actually sit behind me in the car. I have to admit that moving the mirrors forward would benefit me as well.

 

Makes you wonder why Ford even changed the mounting location.

 

Well, it certainly wasn't done to make the mirrors work better ....

I was in driver's ed in 1976 and at that point I would say that a third of all cars produced then still didn't have a passenger side mirror as standard equipment.

There was a lot of emphasis to "check your blind spot" on every lane change. Still is a great idea, especially when driving our 07 Mustang. But the mirrors on both of our newer cars are so much better.

When the Comet was my daily driver, I stuck one of those accessory mirrors on top of the pass. mirror lens. It is round and has the curved glass to give you a wider view. It must have worked better, because I recall replacing it after one fell off due to age. But it looks wrong and hokey, and I have a nice stock mirror that will relace it when I am messing with it. Hoping the improved angle will compensate for this.

 

Although I'm 6' tall, I kinda have the same problem...I inherited my dad's shorter legs and more of my height is from my waist up so I can only move the seat so far back before I'm not where I want to be in relation to the pedals.

I love where my mirrors are now...all I have to do is make a slight glance left or right and see what's in the mirror, just like most newer cars.