Hinge Pin Mirrors

[PeterinNH]

I'm going to order a pair of hinge pin mirrors for my 35 convertible sedan.
Years ago I bought a pair for my 36 from Bob Drake and I wasn't impressed
with how well the plating on the arms held up so I'm thinking about buy a
pair from Dennis Carpenter. Any body have any info or suggestions one way
or the other?

Peter

 

[pbsdaddy]

It is very likely they are made by the same company. Both companies you mention are retailers, not manufactures. That said, I have purchased mirrors from both and one other. It seems to me, to be a matter of the "lot" the piece came from. It did not appear there was much real quality control with any of them. I have a pair of, "clamp on" mirrors that are beautiful, after several years. I also have a pair that were probably peeling the day they arrived and I just failed to notice.

 

[Steve in Denver]

Be sure you can get the hinge pin out before you buy the mirrors, and don't bother with that little thing that some advertise. A drift pin and a big hammer finally work.
Be sure to go by Tandy and get a big thick piece of leather and cut it to go around the hinge so you don't dig the body .

If you get it to move up at all, then start putting lots of penatrating oil on it. Dont get in a hurry.

 

[PeterinNH]

It will be no problem concerning removal of the upper hinge pin in both front doors as
this has been a total body off restoration and the front doors haven't been mounted yet.
Thanks for your help.

Peter

 

[blucar]

I have never been very fond of the Ford type of hinge pin mirrors, I found a neat trick over 40 years ago to use Volks Wagon door pin mirrors on the '30 model Fords. I have a set on my '36 that has been on the car since the early '80's. I go an extra step on the right hand mirror attaching a 3-3/4" convex mirror over the factor mirror which gives me ample rear view vision. I keep a set of VW mirrors in stock just in case I need them.

 

[petehoovie]

I have never been very fond of the Ford type of hinge pin mirrors, I found a neat trick over 40 years ago to use Volks Wagon door pin mirrors on the '30 model Fords. I have a set on my '36 that has been on the car since the early '80's. I go an extra step on the right hand mirror attaching a 3-3/4" convex mirror over the factor mirror which gives me ample rear view vision. I keep a set of VW mirrors in stock just in case I need them.

 

[blucar]

While we are on the door pin mirror subject I'll add an alternate rear view mirror that I used on my 39 conv coupe in lieu of hinge pin mirrors.
The rear view mirror shown in the attached pix is after-market "Swan Mirrors".. I fabricated a mounting plate out of aluminum attached to the existing accessory 'blind' wind wing nuts. I attached a 3-3/4" convex mirror over the factory mirror which provided ample rear view of the right side of the car and the surrounding area.
The setup looks like an original factor accessory, I used an original Chrysler factory rubber mounting pad under the base plate..
If someone questions the mirrors at a car show I respond that the car was originally built at the Long Beach CA plant in Jan 1939.

 

[petehoovie]

While we are on the door pin mirror subject I'll add an alternate rear view mirror that I used on my 39 conv coupe in lieu of hinge pin mirrors.
The rear view mirror shown in the attached pix is after-market "Swan Mirrors".. I fabricated a mounting plate out of aluminum attached to the existing accessory 'blind' wind wing nuts. I attached a 3-3/4" convex mirror over the factory mirror which provided ample rear view of the right side of the car and the surrounding area.
The setup looks like an original factor accessory, I used an original Chrysler factory rubber mounting pad under the base plate..
If someone questions the mirrors at a car show I respond that the car was originally built at the Long Beach CA plant in Jan 1939.

 

[325w]

Nice work

 

[Ray in La Mesa]

Blucar, I have the same VW hinge mirror on my '28 pickup mounted to the side of the windshield frame where the wing nut was. Been there for 50 years & works great. Also have the smooth style w/o the square edges on the shaft.

 

[motordr]

blucar, you were thinking outside the box way back when, great ideas and an inspiration! Thanks.

 

[glennpm]

I have Drake's mirrors on both sides and as you all know, the right side looks good but doesn't look well! I had hinge pins mirrors at one time but didn't care for the look so I started looking for an alternative.

This picture is the first I tried but later changes to a 4". The key is getting one like I've shown where you can unscrew the threaded stud and replace it with a trimmed Allen head bolt. The position is great and above passenger arms, etc.

I had a piece of Al that I drilled and countersunk for the Allen head, then shaped and polished.

I thoroughly cleaned the new part and the stainless trim and adhered it with 3M double backed tape. It has been solid for three years.

 

[blucar]

More on VW mirrors on a EFV8.. I was at a EFV8 Regional sanctioned meet in the very early '60's, one of the cars at the meet was a very nice 36 3 win cpe. The car had very nice hing pin mirrors on both doors. I followed the '36 into the show grounds, as soon as the car was parked I parked, I walked over to the car and introduced myself.
I obtained info from the owner of the 36 about the mirrows, was quite surprised to find out that the VW mirrors were a direct replacement for the '36 Fords. The hinge pins for the VW and Ford were the same size.