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Mirror placement question

FM Former Member
I just got my new mirrors in. One's the bullet type for the fender, and the other one is from a bug-eyed Sprite for use on the dash.
I have that little 550 windshield ready to rivet on, and the mirror on a single stalk works better for the dash. No worries on that one; it's going in the middle.
Question is, I'd like to know whether putting the mirror on the door (and the bigger field of view that provides) is outweighed by the wear and tear the base of the mirror puts on the door skin.
If I'm going to put sheet aluminum on the inside of the door with one rivet every two inches -- according to my evil, devious plan -- I don't want to have to drill rivets to repair fiberglass every two minutes.
If I put it on the fender, where I had the aero mirror before, I can safely assume it'll take an impact of some kind to knock it loose.
Open to suggestions and comments.
What's the common wisdom, if any, or what experiences can I draw from?

No worries,TC.
MY evil, devious plans should in no way affect any Team Evil, devious plans you might be hatching. Mine sort of percolate, really. Not so much hatch ... (They bubble. Like gas in a Tub ...)
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FM Former Member
I just got my new mirrors in. One's the bullet type for the fender, and the other one is from a bug-eyed Sprite for use on the dash.
I have that little 550 windshield ready to rivet on, and the mirror on a single stalk works better for the dash. No worries on that one; it's going in the middle.
Question is, I'd like to know whether putting the mirror on the door (and the bigger field of view that provides) is outweighed by the wear and tear the base of the mirror puts on the door skin.
If I'm going to put sheet aluminum on the inside of the door with one rivet every two inches -- according to my evil, devious plan -- I don't want to have to drill rivets to repair fiberglass every two minutes.
If I put it on the fender, where I had the aero mirror before, I can safely assume it'll take an impact of some kind to knock it loose.
Open to suggestions and comments.
What's the common wisdom, if any, or what experiences can I draw from?

No worries,TC.
MY evil, devious plans should in no way affect any Team Evil, devious plans you might be hatching. Mine sort of percolate, really. Not so much hatch ... (They bubble. Like gas in a Tub ...)
FM Former Member
Cory, install them wherever you want to. I haven't seen any adverse effects due to mirror installations on the doors; it seems all our cars are pretty strong. Regarding mirror placement in original 356's there's no right or wrong place since the rear view mirrors were dealer installed items; the factory had nothing to do with that.
FM Former Member
Good news, TC. I went through EVERY box in my house and finally located the Classic Speedster badge.
It was in the last box remaining -- no kidding, not just the last one I looked in -- right inside my front door. There was also an old alternator for my 928, the jalopy the current jalopy replaced.
I'm glad I wasn't in error saying I still had it.
Whew.
oldyeleroldyeler
Like he said put them where you can see out of them.

But if its any help ,I suggest you look at a few carrera's Those type mirrors were used a lot on 356 race cars. I have a fat librairy of 356 registery magazines I'll give um a look see.

I think I found one. IF the out side mirror is the hooded type? it rides the crest of the finder and the rear bezel end is even with the hood seam.

My pear shaped mirrors are also on the crest of the finder but are 3" back from the hood seam

If you have bullet shaped talbot mirrors. Im back to square one. but Im guessing some where in between.
FM Former Member
Cory,
I asked nearly the same question about five years ago. If you want authenticity, check out all the books on 356s. If you want to SEE traffic, put them as close to you as you can. I put mine on the door. I was told they would be knocked out alignment every time you slammed the door. It never happened.

For a real twist, try a convex rear view mirror from a water ski boat. it fits the windshield perfectly. The depth perception takes some getting used to, but the field of vision is at least three lanes wide behind you. And the best part - your can see that silly grin on your face all the while you are driving!
FM Former Member
I'll check with West Marine about a rear-view. I'll probably buy one, but the 550 headrests might make it a bit hard to see ... I'll check and report back here.
Watch in the next couple days -- I've got film to develop, but the headrests arrived yesterday and I mocked them up last night.
FM Former Member
Barry,
Rally racer? Gee thanks, I'm an old fahrt with arthritis in my shoulders! But with that convex rear view, you can almost eliminate the door mounted mirrors as far a "field of vision" is concerned. What I really need door mirors for is depth perception. The convex gives NO depth perception. Be aware.
FM Former Member
"that's exactly the purpose behind the project"

Cory, if you're at all serious about playing in the fast lane, you should invest in an SCCA handbook of rules and regs. Most smaller clubs go by the SCCA rules, more or less, and all of the sanctioned tracks use their safety specs and requirements.

Your car isn't legal for anything other than minor autocross club racing. Even at that, you'd be thrown into one of the upper modified classes along with the Lotus, GT3 and GT4 cars, tuner Corvettes and Cobra clones.

Maybe fun for a few Sunday's, but that'll wear off quickly as your car continues to get beaten up by the poor course conditions.

If it's REALLY the main purpose behind all of this, you need to begin over! We went through this very same thing with the first TR8. PISSA car ! ! ! But completely illegal. All that time and engineering and money wasted . . . BIG money just thrown away.
FM Former Member
TC, I'm going to pick up a handbook and see what I need to do. Could be I just play on the weekends.
Right now, as I'm sure everyone can relate, I'm a little peeved that I have to renew license plates I've never driven on. I just want this son of a so-and-so on the streets by Carlisle.
Good call, though, and I'm going to do my homework. If it's structurally too late for this one, maybe I'll get that '63 SC I always wanted and go from there.
See anything right off that grabs you as obviously in need of modification or replacement?
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