Door Mirror mounting

[sanders7981]

I never had any of the original mirrors to look at, but I just got some repro A/B Body side mirrors from Dynacorn.  But there are three screw holes in my door, and the mirrors obviously only line up with two.  What's up with the extra hole toward the front?

Since I am already past body work/painting stage...I don't want to have to strip it down, weld or fill the hole then repaint.  Any ideas? 

[stripedelete]

I have the EXACT same issue (drivers side).   I am all ears on suggestions.

I've considered:
-  painting a nail (with flat head) body color and dropping it in. Use some kind of speed nut type retainer on the inside.
- chroming a nail and doing the same thing
- trimming down a rubber stopper with a nipple that squeezes down on the way through (to act as a retainer)
- a pentistar
- using some type of clay mold, create a flush, body colored insert with a wide base that could be fastened with adhesive on the inside.
- repaint the SOB.

[sanders7981]

All good thoughts... I have it on BOTH sides.  I am thinking about getting a small SS machine screw to just bolt in to it and be somewhat countersunk.  Although, I just thought about slapping some filler on the bottom side, then wet sanding it flush, dabbing paint and clear on it then calling it a day.  Of course I will have to buff it all out again to get it to been in. 

[bakerhillpins]

Makes you wonder how the hole got there in the first place... on more than one car too? 

I would think you could tack weld to fill the hole or cap from the back side, then fill and blend paint?  I am pretty sure you could tack to the back side without damaging the paint on the outside.  They had to re-weld bracing on the back side of driver/passenger door on our van for a recall and they didn't have to repaint them...

[Ghoste]

Yeah, was it a custom mirror from a previous owner or a just what?

[stripedelete]

My car had what I call "bullet" mirrors (80's aftermarket) when I bought it.  I put it back to factory left and right.  Factory drivers side mirror left a screw hole uncovered. (previous owner used the rear factory hole - sanders was not so lucky)

When it went into the body shop, I stripped it and just forgot to tell them to fill exposed screw hole .

Nothing goes perfectly.   

 

[Ghoste]

That solves the mystery portion then.  I think the only way to fix it is going to be to gently fill the hole be it with weld or epoxy or whatever and then sand and blow in.  I can't imagine an easy out for that, but I'm not a bodyman either.

[myk]

Is that the result of someone mounting the "sport" mirrors from the '70 model-year?

[bill440rt]

Stripedelete is right about those aftermarket '80's sport mirrors. They had a universal base with two sheetmetal screws to attach it to the door. Very common swap on these cars.

Unless the hole is filled & then spotted in with paint, you're going to see it. Any welding WILL burn the paint also.
You may not even have to paint the whole door. Put some tape on the outside of the door over the hole, and fill the hole from the backside,  Gently sand smooth, & spot prime keeping it as small as possible. Back tape at the body crease at the top of the door, and blend the paint in with clear just behind where the mirror would mount. Use a blending agent to melt the clear into the existing paint. Once sanded & buffed smooth the repair should be nearly invisible. Other option is to clear the whole door. If you try to touch it up with a brush it will stand out.
It sucks for sure, but do it now before the car is put together or else it will eat at you every time you see it.

[Lord Warlock]

put a piece of tape over the top of hole on the outside, recommend clear tape, then put glazing putty or lightweight filler on a finger and press it in from the bottom till it hits the clear tape, let it harden enough to pull the tape off, then use touch up paint on the top of the putty to cover the filler.  

dammit bill you beat me to it while i was typing. 

[Ghoste]

Wouldn't road vibration shake it out of there?

[myk]

Would I be able to use those techniques to fill the holes on my C-pillars where the Charger-emblem is supposed to go?

[Lord Warlock]

wouldn't think so, a small hole would grip the filler pretty well. 

[bill440rt]

Wouldn't road vibration shake it out of there?

Warlock, you beat me to it.  

Would I be able to use those techniques to fill the holes on my C-pillars where the Charger-emblem is supposed to go?

Those holes are larger.
It "might" work, but it would be much harder to spot in paint & melt in the clear in this area because it is a very large area. You would see the blend easier.

[stripedelete]

Wouldn't road vibration shake it out of there?

That's why I rejected it early on, but, could JB Weld(ing) a small plate on the inside keep that from happening?

[myk]

Wouldn't road vibration shake it out of there?

Warlock, you beat me to it.  

Would I be able to use those techniques to fill the holes on my C-pillars where the Charger-emblem is supposed to go?

Those holes are larger.
It "might" work, but it would be much harder to spot in paint & melt in the clear in this area because it is a very large area. You would see the blend easier.

I'm such an idiot-I should've just filled the holes at the body shop and then tapped them out later...

[Ghoste]

Wouldn't road vibration shake it out of there?

That's why I rejected it early on, but, could JB Weld(ing) a small plate on the inside keep that from happening?

Don't know, I very much defer to LW and Bill on that.  (although it would still make me uncomfortable for a body guy to do that to my car, he'd be better off just not telling me   )

[Dino]

Band aids.  Cut your losses, weld the holes and repaint the doors.  It's the only good way to do it and you will be kicking yourself for a long time if you try to cut corners.