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vamram Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7276 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 6:40 am Post subject: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Hello All,
I want to install a mirror on the passenger-side door of my '74 Super. My wife will be driving this car more often so I'd like to add this to it for her benefit.
It didn't have one from the dealer so I have to drill the whole for it. Can someone who's done this pipe in and provide some guidance? I don't want to destroy my door or create a "rust receptacle" in it so I want to make sure I do it right.
Thanks!
Vνctor _________________ Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
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60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:30 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Lots of existing threads on this already
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?searc...=titleonly _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:35 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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You could add an accessory mirror like this one.
_________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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vamram Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7276 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:39 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Glenn wrote: |
You could add an accessory mirror like this one.
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Nice. Are you selling that? _________________ Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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Meiang Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2016 Posts: 656 Location: Perth, Western Australia
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:47 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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I was lucky on my 1302S to have a passenger side mirror door with the captive nut already installed from the factory and a plastic bung covering up the hole. You obvious don't and its a fairly major excercise to modify the door to install a captive nut - welding and painting etc.
See the youtube video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uniDbg6XTMc
After watching that you would really have to want the mirror to carry out the installation. You would probably do it if the car was being repainted, but otherwise ?.
Easier to buy a Broadway clip on interior mirror which improves rear view width significantly. |
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vamram Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7276 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:55 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Bummer, that process is way out of my league. _________________ Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11739 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 8:42 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Victor, there are two ways you can go. The easiest choice is to buy a Karmann Ghia right-side mirror with its bracket. You measure where you want this, drill two small holes and attach the bracket and gasket and mirror. In this case, the mounting bracket looks different than the normal left-side, but not too shabby at all.
The other way is to get the template from MidAmerica. It shows exactly where to drill a pilot hole, then the final hole.
In the search function of this forum, punch this in:
Adding Passenger side-view mirror.
This thread discusses both methods.
Tim _________________ Let's do the Time Warp again!
Richard O'Brien |
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vamram Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7276 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 9:28 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Thanks Tim- that Ghia mirror looks really nice in that other thread. Looks like a much easier option than cutting and welding!
Now I have to decide between that or the one like Glenn posted.
Victor _________________ Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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Brian Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012 Posts: 8340 Location: Oceanside
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 9:55 am Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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I was talking about this with someone a while back, the best way to do it is buy a door that already has a mirror nut attached. _________________ Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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TX-73 Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2013 Posts: 1133 Location: Texas
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Not sure on your car, but mine had a factory hole in the door framework behind the doorskin. I found where that hole was, then drilled through the sheet metal. This was before paint, so I breathed easier doing it.
If I remember right I used a VW convertible passenger side mirror that worked well, I purchased it from Antonio aka VW Mexico.
I also bought the 3 blade mirror nut and required gaskets for mirror attachment, and I was able to install the mirror before I installed the window glass. I'm not sure if you can get the mirror installed (meaning hold that nut in place) without removing the vent window or not.
_________________ My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
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vamram Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7276 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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TX- good point, I hadn't checked for that. I'll take a look before making a purchase.
Victor _________________ Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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rastomas Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2007 Posts: 258 Location: rosendale, ny
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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I have done this with a few bugs, but only with screws.
PLACEMENT is very important.
Have the user sit in the car, and fiddle with the placement so that none of the window frame blocks the view. _________________ "It's not 'You are what you eat', it's 'You are what you don't SHIT". Wavy Gravy.
'74 Westy |
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60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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If you need to be hand fed just make a template from the divers side and transfer it over to the passenger side. drill a small hole then enlarge it as need be. You might get lucky and have the threaded insert there, if not take the door panel off and install one. No need for welding ,body work paint, etc. The mirror will hold it in.
The hole is there under the door skin, At least all of them I have installed over the years were. _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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cletus_zuber Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2010 Posts: 2400 Location: Gladstone, Ore
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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I did the drill a hole and captive nut thing on mine. If I had to do it again i think i would go ghia mirror like Tim O'donahue posted. _________________ 1972 1302
HPMX 40's & 019 |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11739 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Victor, I checked around and Jbugs has the Karmann Ghia mirror, the mounting kit, and rubber seal--all sold separately. The total looked to be around &60.00 before shipping.
This Ghia mod looks to be the easiest--and less potentially destructive--way to go. No work from inside the door, either. You just have the wife sit in the car while you move the mirror up and down, fore and aft. You might also have the wife hold the mirror in this spot to see if it lines up with the old mirror (as you back away from the car and look at it from the front).
Once you have it situated, mark it, then drill the two required small holes. Wa-la! Done.
Tim _________________ Let's do the Time Warp again!
Richard O'Brien |
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vamram Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7276 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Tim, it does look like the easiest way to go. A couple of concerns - with cip1 it's the quality of the chrome. Airhead carries a supposedly high quality mirror but they're pricey. And originality - a ghia mirror on the bug...? I admit it looks good, but....and then there's the option Glenn has offered up. I really like it but it is the most expensive option and I'm concerned that it's the kind of accessory that might walk away in a parking lot....decisions, decisions.... _________________ Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11739 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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In one of the other threads on the subject, I read that Glenn's option broke off easily on the guy who posted about it.
As far as the Karmann Ghia mirror not matching up? That's true to some extent, but since there's a car between the two mirrors, it would be rather difficult to notice the differences between the two mounting methods. I'm seriously thinking about doing this mod. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I know someday I'll be pulling the door apart to install new window scrapers on that side (I already did the left side), which would make it fairly easy for me to just go ahead and drill for the right mirror, set the nut, and use the stock item. MBut if I weren't going to delve so far into the door, I'd definitely use the Ghia setup.
Tim _________________ Let's do the Time Warp again!
Richard O'Brien |
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vamram Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012 Posts: 7276 Location: NOVA
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: How to Add a Passenger-Side Door Mirror? |
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Too bad I didn't think about this earlier because one of the things I did w/the '74 a couple of months back was to disassemble the passenger side door to clean and lube the regulator and the door latch mechanism. Would've been the time to check for that captive nut and install the Bug option, but it didn't even occur to me. Yeah, I'll probably go w/the Ghia option.
And 60Ragtop - i confess, I don't mind a little hand-feeding when tackling different things for the 1st time! After all, y'all out west have all kinds of fall-back options if you screw it up and some of you are even real mechanics, machinists, etc!!. Not so in the mid-Atlantic. Hell, the VW scene is so barren out here, I'm the go-to mechanic for at least a couple of other folks in the area!!! Imagine that! _________________ Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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