The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Outside mirror on '51 3100

Ok I give up.
How can I get at the nut that holds the bottom screw of the arm of the driver's outside mirror?
I can get at the top one from under the dash but, the bottom one is inside a chase and my fingers just will not go there let a lone hold a wrench down there.
Help please, there has to be a secret handshake or something to get at it.
Peter

Another member(ACHIPMUNK) just went thru that same ordeal about 2 weeks ago.
I think the easiest,and his solution to the prob. was to move the holes up slightly to where you can get to both of them.
Hopefully you dont have new paint and have already drilled holes.
Good Luck,

Thanks Marty
I found the posts that you refer to - I guess I am not the only one.
I'll try some of the fixes suggested.
Peter

I went back out to garage with new determindation after reading all the posts that Marty referred me to (see above).

They nut is indeed hidden behind a metal panel that appears to be part of the original dash/cowl assembly.
Anyway, with new purpose of mind, I did manage to get a 1/2" open end wrench (called spanners here) up into the cavity and managed to remove the mirror bolts.
That was the easy part. I have no idea how I am going to re-install it when the truck comes back from paint!!!
Two leasons learned:
1. don't give up on the first or second try
2. old bodies aren't meant to contort like this anymore. I think I hurt something.

Peter, when you put it back in first be sure the nut will thread onto the bolt real easy. If you have someone that can help it will make it easier. Then before putting the mirror/bolt in reach under the cowl and try get the nut position where you need and while you or someone else holds it then GENTLY hold the mirro and thread the bolt into it nut. If you can use a little longer bolt it help as you can "see" what your doing.

As mentioned I moved my mirror up to where the bottom of the mirrow goes in the top hole. I liked the arm sitting up a bit rather than "straight out". I checked the gallery and lots of guys have done that as some look straight out and some look like they're pointed up some. I need to post a pic of how they look mounted....Maybe tomorrow.

Alvin, Dont forget the "cat" trick.

OK Marty
What is the "cat" trick?
If it means seeing blind in the dark that is how I got the nut off.
Not sure how it will work putting it back together but, that is for later this year or next.
Peter

.... after I drilled a hole I didn't need and now will have to be filled ect.... I was so po'd that Marty mentioned how something like that makes a guy want to "kick the cat". But of coarse we are both animal lovers and he brighten my day when he said that. Its exactly how I felt!! The hole on the LEFT should not be there.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/100_1395.jpg

and again, here it the elusive bolt that we can't/couldn't see until I stuck the camera up in there and snapped this picture. It appears some PO had just cut the mirror off and left the bolt and nut underneath as there was no indication of it ever being there.
As previous mentioned I didn't like the mirror so low so I moved the mirror "up" so that the top hole would not become the bottom hole..... and drilled another one for the top hole of the bracket.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/100_1394.jpg

The cat is doing fine

I am doing a 51 3100 and my drivers side holes top and bottom are both accessible from under the dash and located properly in the brace which is already drilled before truck assembly. the assembly manual shows this as the stock location. yours must be lower than this. Lou.

I believe where people get into trouble with the stock mirrors is that the holes on the inner panel aren't transferred before drilling from the outside. A mirror image of the mirror mounting holes are on the right for the passenger side mirror. When adding the right mirror, I transfer both of the holes from the inside using a spring loaded center punch. This leaves a small dimple outside that you can use to locate your first hole. I mount the mirror with the first drilled hole than line up the hole in the mirror base with the second dimple in the cowl as close as possible than transfer the hole in the mirror base. Remove the mirror and drill the second hole. This way the mirrors are mounted aligned with the pre-punched holes in the inner panel as they were meant to be.
If you can’t access the nuts then the holes are simply in the wrong place. This is the driver side and the passenger side is as mentioned, a mirror image.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/133002026/large
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL