Sport Mirror Info

In my quest for sport mirrors, I received the following information from Joe at www.californiaparts.com. Joe was VERY helpful, and happened to be Dave Dixon's next door neighbor! (BTW, I was only looking for the head & cable assembly.)

If you already have good mirrors bodies, you should be able to use the
cable/head assembly from the 70-81 Camaro/Firebird mirrors, (provided you
have the casting with a large enough hole to allow the cable assembly to
pass through). They are the only style that uses the clip on retainer for
the escutcheon.

I confess that I do not know for sure if the Buick used the same complete
mirror assembly as the Camaro.
I think that it probably did, but with it's own particular mounting gasket.
When the sport mirrors were introduced in 1970, Pontiac sold an accessory
kit that included two mirrors, all hardware, and 3 sets of gaskets and
drilling templates - one each for A-body (GTO) G-body (Grand Prix) and
F-body (Firebird), so that tells you that the same mirror fits many cars.
The Camaro mirror also fits Cutlass when used with the appropriate gasket.
So the idea was to make one mirror fit as many cars as possible, simply by
manufacturing specific gaskets that adapted the mirror to each body style.
(The gaskets have different degrees of wedge as required.) The mirrors must
sit level for correct appearance and adjustment.

Many eBay sellers are under the impression that these old sport mirrors are
all the same, and market them as such. But the gasket is the key, without
the proper gasket, they're not correct. Even the Camaro and Firebird used
different gaskets. There are reproduction mounting gaskets available, but
they are incorrect, ("one size fits all").

I have been unable to locate an old Buick parts book that gives the part
numbers of the mirrors and gaskets that are correct for Buick, and until I
see it in black and white, or find a set on a car that I am convinced were
factory installed, I'm not prepared to say that they are the same as the F
body. However, I'm pretty confident that the heads from an F-body will work,
they use the same size lens and cable length. Having said that, there were
three different manufacturers who made these for GM, and in some cases the
parts do not interchange. Look inside your left mirror, specifically at the
holes where the cable passes through. There were three different styles of
castings used.
One had small holes just large enough for the cable to pass through. The
second type had a large hole in the base, but a small hole in the body. The
third type had large holes in both the base and body. Unless you have the
third type, you will not be able to change the head assembly, as you cannot
remove the control end from the cable.

Mirrors/parts to avoid: As a general rule, the newer mirrors (G, B
bodies,etc) are generally slightly larger, with much longer cable lengths.
68-72 Nova heads are the same, but the cables are too short.

If you have mirrors that you know are from a Buick A-body, please send me
the part number on the gaskets.

I hope I've answered your question,
Joe
California Parts
989 667-9204
Website: www.californiaparts.com[/]

 

Joe - Thanks for all of the info. You are right that the gaskets are a key thing. I don't have the part numbers for them handy, but they are being perfectly reproduced by Duane Heckman who frequents this board. You may want to shoot him any questions you have on the mirror/gasket thing. :TU:

 

70-71 gaskets =#9827788


70 gsx sport mirror = RH=9822422 ; LH=9822423

You will also need two 9419322 screws, one 9814442 ret.,
one 9428077 screw, one 1387797 escutcheon, one 9805683 ret., two 9414754 screw, and one 3927448 screw.

 

mirrors

Jim - can these part numbers (screws) be found at any supplier?

- Bill

 

Bill

My guess is yes. I believe I have the specs on the screws too but probably not the finish on them . Now Duane would probably know just off the top of his head.