The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Door Hinge Mirror Mounting

I want to have real mirrors, not the gutter edge peek type mirrors. So, I got the hardware and now I am wondering; do I have to take the doors off to mount the mirror bracket to the door hinge? It looks like that is my only option, but need the wisdom of those who have been through this. Please advise.

should just need to take out the top hinge pin [door closed] to add the mirror mount piece - might take a longer hinge pin to fit it

Bill

It WILL take a longer pin which should have been included in the mirror kit. There is a tool designed to remove the pins and they can be stubborn to get out after all these years. Problem is when you install the mirrors with the longer pins the tool to remove them will no longer fit due to the added thickness of the mirror mounting points. If you can get your hands on the next to last issue of "Street Rodder" and look at the one page that says "For those that drive them" there is a tool to remove the pins that can be made up from scrap material laying around in the garage. It is possible to build the tool first and not have to buy or borrow the store bought one. It is to late for me as I've already purchased the store bought one but will make the home built one as the purchased one no longer fits when/if I remove the pins. Good luck

I had no issue with the hinge pins. The flange on the mirror bracket that fits just between the cab and the hinge plate, won't go in. There isn't enough room. When I tried to pound it in with a mallet the flange broke off. Now, I'm looking at welding it back together. Without that flange in place the mirror is all but useless. Any suggestions on what I can do to make enough room for the flange? I already tried to loosen the 3 machine screws that hold the hinge plate to the cab. That's a no go with what tools I have. I don't think they have ever been removed since the build date in 1940.

I was able to get the passenger side mirror bracket on and the longer pin back in. That metal that the bracket is made of seems pretty soft. Does anyone know if it can be welded?

Doesn't the mirror arm fit on top of door with a set screw to adjust? Maybe that's why it didn't fit? I don't think the arm fits between door hinge and door. I can check when I get home if needed???
Dan

u r right in a sense, a small space between the hinge plate and the cab is where that flange goes. On my drivers side, there just isn't enough space for that flange to fit in. Why I was using a mallet to work the flange into that little space when flange broke off. Anyone have any luck welding pot metal?

Pot metal is all but impossible to weld. I have seen a nuclear reactor certified welder do it on small items like trophies but no guarantees. With something like a mirror that's going to bounce around, I don't think it will hold.

All right the bracket has no magnetic properties whatsoever, so now I am thinking its made of aluminum. Any chance of welding aluminum?

aluminum can be "welded".

yes, as Alvin sez, but if you don't know that, you'll need to find a good fabricator that works with aluminum to do it for you

Bill