Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I mounted a good quality aftermarket sport mirror on my passenger side in the factory location and i can't see anything with it. The mirror head doesn't turn far enough (it hits the base) to be usable.

My question is: is this just what you get in the aftermarket world or are the original (OEM) mirrors the same way? Thanks.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Sport mirrors suck for visibility, they are more of an accessory IMO

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Like Leddzepp said, they are more for looks than function. The originals aren't any better.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Agreed! I have never been able to adjust the passenger side in my 72' to see anything. Sadly they are the best looking mirrors though:(

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

It seems to me that I read that the passenger side mirror is mounted
a different distance from the edge of the door to correct this. Is that right?

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Agree with above - IMO these are terrible for visibility that's why guys do things like shown in the pic below on a truck I just looked at. The owner must have swapped them out so fast the OEM paint isn't even slightly faded where these were mounted.

The RH mirror is installed sightly further back than the LH mirror IIRC.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

They are mounted e little further back, but it doesn't really help.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

You need a pair of these new Soviet Micro Mirrors I've invented. Great visibility and almost undetectable.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

glad I read this I was going to get replacement sport mirror's for the daughter's truck guess we'll have to figure out something else then

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Nice mirrors and you have serious chrome on them.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Thanks! It was a stupid amount like $1000 because there are something like 26 individual pieces and there's a minimum charge per piece...

I know there were stainless West Coast JR mirrors and I have a vague memory of stainless SR mirrors on the larger trucks. But no chrome in the real world...

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Yes I remember those West Coast mirrors as stainless but never chromed like yours.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Guys, has anybody had visibility issues with the mirror arms that were used on the 67-68's with round mirror heads? I'm working on some arm designs and want to be sure to make any length/angle corrections if needed. I haven't heard of any issues with them, but want to make sure.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I found exactly the same issues with the uselessness of the sports mirrors! Made more frustrating because I'm driving a left hooker on the left side of the road, I really NEED that right hand mirror. I was looking at the long 67-69 arms with a square mirror but can't find any down here. I found repop mirror heads from a 69 Holden and with a little ingenuity and a blob of JB Weld, fixed them to my original arms! Now I've got some practical mirrors that don't look too dramatically out of place with plenty of angle adjustment.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Would you consider re-designing the 71-72 sport mirrors for better visibility? Since I already have holes in my doors, I'm (like a lot of people) stuck with this style. If there was a mirror that looked like the sport mirrors but allowed you to actually see what's behind you, it would be a big seller.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

That's a cool idea! It doesn't look out of place, we just everything about our trucks so it's easier to spot!

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I would consider it. I've actually already had the same request from others. The issue with the sport mirrors seems to be in the length/angle of the arm. I will put some thought into it.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

All the factory mirror set needs is a small change to the angle of the ball joint on the passenger mirror. Just a little more inward adjustment would be primo... until then, I'm just using a dumb-looking (but functional) convex mirror stuck on the passenger side sport mirror.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

The arm could be re-designed, like you said but another idea would be move the mirror head mounting point to slightly off center, (more of the mirror to the outside of the arm) this may allow the mirror to rotate more before it contacts the arm. That's the problem, the mirror hits the arm before it's rotated enough to provide visibility. Slide the mounting point over half an inch and that may fix the issue.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Is the problem it won't adjust far enough toward the door to see the rear quarter?

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Yes. The mirror contacts the arm before it moves far enough to be of any use.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

OK, at the risk of being booed off, I’ll offer this. If you can see your quarter panels, or close to it while seated your blind spots are not covered. To adjust the mirrors to get the blind spots covered, sit in driver’s seat and lean your head to the left until it just touches window, adjust mirror until you can just see the rear edge of the rear quarter. Then lean inboard about the same amount, should be about centered in the car, and adjust the passenger’s side mirror. When viewing all three mirrors you want the smallest amount of overlap possible. This method will all but eliminate the blind spots.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I have found that if you rotate the mirror slightly clockwise the mirror will miss the arm and you can adjust it in enough to see a little bit, but its still limited as the mirror is flat and needs to be convex.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

You would probably solve the issue by just using a convex mirror on the same product...would have to experiment with it to see.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Does it do any good to reposition the mirror location forward or back to change the center of mirror rotation? I haven't drilled my doors for these mirrors yet but am close to doing it.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Agree with Lee H. That is the best way to adjust your mirrors. You don't need to see your quarter panel, and that area is covered by your inside mirror anyway. It takes a bit of getting used to, but as Lee says, having the mirrors adjusted out virtually eliminates blind spots, if you use your inside mirror too.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I'm right there with you, Lee. That's exactly what I learned online and it felt really goofy at first but it's the only way to eliminate blind spots. You learn to trust it with time.

I was disappointed when I first started reading this thread because those were the mirrors that I planned on installing, but I thought people were complaining that they couldn't open them up far enough, but after learning the opposite, these might be pefect for me! lol.

I'd really like to hear from someone that has these, adjust them as described above and see how you like them. Be warned, it feels like your shoes are on the wrong feet at first, lol.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Just to confirm, are we talking about only the passenger side as having the visibility issue?

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I have several sets of these over the years and never had a problem, right now I have a set of NOS mirrors on my truck and I can adjust the pass side to see the bedside.However I did help a buddy of mine put on a set of repops on his truck and installed them back in the factory holes and it would not adjust in far enough, same problem as described....I blamed it on the repops.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

im with you guys. don't need to see the side of your truck, you know where that is. its the blind spot that's the problem. I don't have a passenger mirror but my drivers mirror is off a vega. similar in looks I can see fine out of it

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Hello to all,
Recentlly installed sport mirrors. They work fine.
Used 67/72 Factory Assembly Instruction Manual. Found page with dimension's for locating sport mirror's. Dimension's are off of "reference lines" 20 and 35. Used another section of manual to understand location of "reference lines".
Also passenger side is located slighty further to the back then driver side.
Hope this helps.
Serge

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I can only speak for the passenger side. I have new doors that didn't have the holes drilled in them. I drilled the passenger side per the measurements in the manual, installed the mirror and jumped in the truck to admire my handy work only to be horrified when I couldn't see anything even close to me. I had my daughter stand behind and to the side of the truck, I couldn't see her until she was at least 10 feet out from the rear fender. I didn't want to drill the driver side after that.

I don't want to have to lean half way across the truck to see out of the mirror. I've been told the OEM mirrors aren't any better.

I would even consider installing a round mirror on the sport mirror base if it allows me to see without leaning across the truck.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I'm glad yours worked Serge. We're they OEM or aftermarket? Brand? Pics?

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I don't see how you made heads or tails of the reference lines. Exactly what did you reference yours from?
Sorry if this is off subject but I am planning on drilling mine tonight.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Steve,
Passenger side is aftermarket from GMC Paul. Driver side is OEM.
Manual would simplify things by giving dimensions from door edge in lieu of reference lines.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

DON'T DO IT !!! Lay out green frog tape or painters tape in the area where the mirror will go. Mark your reference lines on the tape and mark where the mounting holes will be. Now, have someone hole the mirror in that position and get in the truck and try to see out of it. You're welcome! I just saved you from drilling three holes in your truck. I wish I had been told the same thing before I drilled mine.
You can do a search and find posts describing where the mirror is mounted from the factory. In these posts you will find pics and measurements.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Before mounting our repop mirrors in the factory location (which is where we ended up drilling the holes anyway), my wife and I took turns holding the mirrors in various locations and seeing what we could see. The driver's side is perfectly fine. Not so much on the passenger side, but there's nowhere you can mount it that makes it work better than the factory location. Someone - can't remember who - advertises a 71/72 passenger sport mirror with an actual convex lens. May try to find this again and replace the passenger side, because that would work pretty well.

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I guess I was too subtle, hope this exchange does not offend anyone. GM designed these mirrors to view into the blind spot. The blind spot is in the adjacent lane, just to the side and slightly lagging the vehicle. If you can see the rear quarter the blind spot is not covered.

The “lean” is only for adjustment to place the mirror view in the blind spot. Once adjusted, the view from the mirror is in the blind spot when looking from the drivers seat sitting straight, not leaning.

So, if you want to see the quarter panel VS the blind spot, the sport mirror is not the right mirror. Peace, Lee

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

I've put some thought into this over the years, and this is what I'd come up with if I had the resources to reproduce.

jlaird/josh@replicate.... if you are thinking about reproducing. I have some suggestiions:

1) Design based off the appearance of the 1972 factory sport mirrors. Keep the mounting base the exact same for a drop in replacement. You'll get way more sales. I'd buy 3 pairs instantly to replace my factory/repro sets.
2) Lengthen the mirror arm another 2 inches or so.
3) By extending the arm length, it will effectively raise the mirror, so you may need to vertically reduce the angle to reposition mirror to its correct spot.
4) By extending the arm, it will also position the mirror more reward relative to the vehicle. Again, an angle adjustment horizontally would be required.
5) Increase the size of the viewable mirror maybe by 3/4 inch height, and 1 inch width. This will help us higher 4x4 guys have more viewing area, without taking away from factory look. I'm sure 2wd guys may not mind either (maybe even 2 mirror size options).
6) Where the "mirror" mounts to "arm", add another 1/4 - 3/8" distance of separation , so that the mirror has more adjustabililty before the mirror edge makes contact with the arm (common problem on passenger side mirror)
7) Another thing I would like to see is a small blind spot morror build specifically for these sport mirrors. Small, square, all polished or chrome, and low profile. Something that looks stealth and not out of place. I like blind spot mirrors to see my rear tires against a curb when parking.

Get some of these out quick.... I need some! =)
Thanks much

Re: Question for the guys with OEM 71-72 sport mirrors
 

Nailed it!!! Especially #6.