The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Door Limit Strap?

Just installed a new side mirror on my '53 Chevy. Used the holes in the cowling with lined up with the brace plate inside. Good.

However, when the door swings open full, it pushes the bottom of the mirror down, which means I have to readjust every time I get in. (I try to remember not to let it full swing but I can't help it).

So, what I'm looking for is a solution to keep the door from swinging open the full way. I've heard of (imagined?) a leather strap of something, but not sure if that would work.

Thoughts?

Lots of British cars (and others) use leather straps as door stops. No reason you couldn't make some for your truck out of leather belt or vinyl to match your seats.

Oooh I like that idea.

Vinyl does not have the strength that leather does. It will tear pretty fast if stretched any significant amount.

If you want it to match your seats, I would recommend putting some cable or hemp beading in the edges. That would make it easier to define the length and take the load off the vinyl itself.

Can you bend the mirror arm forward enough so the door doesn't hit the mirror? A direct fix might be more appropriate than adding something else that might have it's own problems.

A nylon strap that's coated with vinyl would be strong enough, and might match the seats, but given the "older" look of leather, it might be more appropriate. That or seat belt material which is available in multiple colors. Or just nylon strap in the appropriate color. Check HERE. Available in a wide range of colors.

My 1936 gmc uses leather straps for door checks from the factory

You have the wrong mirror arm.
The trucks with vent windows '51 through '55.1 came with a different mirror arm to prevent your current problem.

Do not attempt to bend the mirror arm , it is of cast material and will break.

Not the one I have. I believe it's a steel forging. If concerned about breaking, use some heat.

Not true. 47-55.1 use the same arm. See attached screenshot from the parts manual (if it works.)

ThreeTree53, Just a late note that your thread fits better in the Paint and Body Shop so it's been moved there for further conversation and help.

I don't question what your attachment might indicate (even though I can't view it due to the current glitch in the Stovebolt Matrix), but I beg to differ. I have a bone stock '52 mirror bracket and it is clearly different than the '50 and earlier arms. The '52 mirror sits much lower than the earlier models in order to clear the open vents windows when you open the door.

Carl, I reposted the image from the '29-'57 parts manual, and it's visible now. It's entirely possible that GM supplied the later arms as the '51 and later trucks as replacements, although the '29-'54 parts manual says the same thing. If there were a '50 or earlier parts manual, it could be verified if the part changed.

It's clearing my vent window just fine, it's the door itself that is just tapping the lower edge of the mirror so it points it down at the ground.

Anyone have an pics of a door limit strap in action?

I suspect that you problem lies in the hinges. There is a flat metal bar that is welded to the hinge which the hinge strap contacts, stopping the door to open too far.
Check to see that metal part is still there. They were originally spot welded to the hinge and sometimes come off.