Oops...that's not right! Door mirrors

[Wallington]

I picked up a nice LH remote door mirror.

Ok, it didn't look like this a few hours ago, it was battered and chipped black paint with something dried over the glass and old dead bugs inside it.

70-79 X-body LH remote mirror 32485 401 support 60523-601 head 9814439 backplate 60523-403 pedestal (1) by Ben, on Flickr

But as soon as I started to cleaning it up I noticed an issue. Simply put, I noticed the casting numbers and the fact that I could stand the support up vertically. Here it is hours later with an F-Body support leaning against it. The new and vertical support is from a '70-75 X-Body, various models. Around '75/76 they changed over to the mounting studs like the taller A/G-body mirrors, instead of the bracket.

Firebird 52822 vs X-body 32485 LH remote mirror support (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird 52822 vs X-body 32485 LH remote mirror support (2) by Ben, on Flickr

There's a few shapes but essentially these are the vehicles that have the top door ledge, Chev Nova, Pontiac Ventura etc.

1973-chevrolet-nova-ss by Ben, on Flickr

The mirror head and glass are the same as Firebird so this will only focus on the different support casting. The Firebird mirror I pulled apart for comparison photos could just as easily have the supports swapped between the two and reassembled. It also uses the same remote toggle which often makes an easy difference to check.

The support casting is part 32485. The equivalent Firebird support shown is 52822, for KBC. Interestingly, the X-body support also has the JC casting part number inside it of 60523-401. I have not seen any of the Firebird parts featuring both. For interest, the head casting was JC 60523-601, the remote pedestal inside was 60523-403. Recurring theme, and being a JC-cast GM mirror also featured undated plain glass.

70-79 X-body LH remote mirror 32485 401 support 60523-601 head 9814439 backplate 60523-403 pedestal (11) by Ben, on Flickr

70-79 X-body LH remote mirror 32485 401 support 60523-601 head 9814439 backplate 60523-403 pedestal (9) by Ben, on Flickr

70-79 X-body LH remote mirror 32485 401 support 60523-601 head 9814439 backplate 60523-403 pedestal (38) by Ben, on Flickr

Basically, it's the same casting except the base angle has been chamfered off for the Firebird angle door tops. This in turn gives the X-body base a fraction more length and narrower over the curved body. These use their own mounting brackets that are similar to Firebird and a fraction longer. I test fit one for kicks, hard to get started on just the last few threads of the screw and a gap that couldn't be tightened. They also use their own gaskets, this one would use 9877665.

Firebird 52822 vs X-body 32485 LH remote mirror support (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird 52822 vs X-body 32485 LH remote mirror support (4) by Ben, on Flickr

X-body support with shorter Firebird mounting gasket.

X-body LH remote miror support 32485 with Firebird gasket 9832127 by Ben, on Flickr

The support also has a cast X for the X-body version. F-body is plain.

Firebird 52822 vs X-body 32485 LH remote mirror support (5) by Ben, on Flickr

Now you can double-check your spares, and I'll now try and sell this to recoup some costs.

[rkellerjr]

Oh man!

[FormTA]

This is getting deep! Man by this point you would think you could spot an f body mirror a mile away. I think you should cut these threads up into sections and name them Fbody mirrors 101, 102 and advanced Fbody mirrors.

This is great information that I doubt anyone knew before you posted it!

[Wallington]

OK I got bored.

Here's how an X-body mirror, or at least the support, looks on a Firebird. It's possibly noticeable....

Needless to say the incorrect gasket and bracket didn't line up at all and I had to use a long woodscrew angled just to make sure it didn't fall off, the threaded hole was not possible to use with normal screw.

Firebird test fitting Nova X-body mirror with F mount and gasket (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird test fitting Nova X-body mirror with F mount and gasket (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird test fitting Nova X-body mirror with F mount and gasket (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird test fitting Nova X-body mirror with F mount and gasket (4) by Ben, on Flickr

[roadking77]

Interesting. I have a stash of mirrors but am pretty sure they are all fbody. Gonna have to check now 

[b_hill_86]

Whoa whoa whoa, is that actually a picture of your car?! 

[FormTA]

Even that is probably just an image off the net. Everyone know he doesn't have a real car  .

[b_hill_86]

.

I remember this picture. I really like your car. If I were ever fortunate enough to have another 2nd gen I want a Formula.

[FormTA]

I know where a project is.....

[b_hill_86]

My car is still a project. And I’d be divorced

[Wallington]

You'd think it couldn't happen twice...

Let me introduce my latest mystery mirror! This was sold as the typical '70-81 Firebird/Camaro RH mirror, clearly made up of 2 different mirrors, plus it had almost perfect 50 year old glass. And no, I didn't need any of those things, it followed me home.

RH GM door mirror 11-3 Firebird X-body support 52832 Pedestal 29845 plastic backing 32374 9870948 (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Straight away I noticed that the mirror glass barely pivoted to the right. It also sat almost flush due to filling the head opening. It is a late-'73 glass so I guess that perhaps the black head was the slightly smaller '70-72 mirror version that used 5-1/8" glass instead of later 5-1/4" glass. No! This one actually has 5-1/2" glass and the backing plate has a casting number I don't have record of. I'm not sure what the later A/G-body cars with larger stud-mount mirrors used for glass. Having said that it's 1973-dated so rules that out. Corvette? The backing plate is casting 9870948, can't currently read the pedestal casting, perhaps after cleaning.

Unknown 5-1/2" glass.
RH mirror glass 11-73 5-5jj by Ben, on Flickr

Standard 5-1/4" '72-81 F-body glass.
RH mirror glass 10-72 5-25jj by Ben, on Flickr

The next issue, which was actually what I noticed unpacking it is that yet again it has the square-cut support. It looks to be another X-body support. The casting number 52832 again comes up blank in my records. Here it is against the typical lean of the F-body support 29845.

RH mirror supports 52832 X-body 29845 F-body (1) by Ben, on Flickr

RH GM door mirror 11-3 Firebird X-body support 52832 Pedestal 29845 plastic backing 32374 9870948 (11) by Ben, on Flickr

As shown before, the X-body support has a longer base footprint than Firebird, and likewise gasket to match.

RH mirror supports 52832 X-body 29845 F-body  (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Then the last mystery, the head casting is actually the same length as the Firebird sample I pulled down to compare with. But then, the new casting is actually taller which I haven't seen even with those that differ slightly. Annoyingly, half of the casting number is ground away so reads 323xx. You guessed it, doesn't match any partials I have in records. The date code casting is very faint, most likely '73, like the glass that didn't come from it.

RH mirror head height differnces 35013 vs 323xx (4) by Ben, on Flickr

So after all that, not really sure what any of the 3 main parts actually started on. And more importantly, can't sell to get money back either. Good times.

I'll strip the paint and see what else pops up. With a slightly smaller glass and internals swap it could end up being fairly rare RH X-body mirror combination. Or perhaps the limited travel in the glass works in the favour. Does anyone actually want a set of those, apparently not.

Anyone have Corvette mirrors? Trying to ID a few parts, or glass size.

[b_hill_86]

I had no idea some were as different as you have demonstrated. I’m glad I haven’t run across it the few times I bought mirrors.

[Wallington]

Stripped it all down. Not many new details to add. The head casting is definitely 1973.

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (1) by Ben, on Flickr

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (27) by Ben, on Flickr

Can't do this with a Firebird mirror.

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (2) by Ben, on Flickr

It's a shame, because the glass is really nice for 50 years old. This shot shows how much it fills the head casting.

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (23) by Ben, on Flickr

Then as a comparison, this is fully pivoted to the right, almost not at all.

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (21) by Ben, on Flickr

And fully pivoted to the left. Perhaps that matches the vehicle used depending on seat vs mirror location. No idea.

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (22) by Ben, on Flickr

Something else I didn't notice until later because I simply tossed them to one side, were a few extra parts that came with the mirror. This included the mounting bracket and screw. Here's a replated gold Firebird mirror bracket with angled tab. The bracket that came with mirror is the straight and square X-body type. These don't swap as shown by my attempt to mount the LH mirror on Firebird in first post. The screw holes into the door and gasket are also different in spacing to Firebird version, another way you know something is wrong if trying to mount wrong parts.

Firebird gold mirror mounting bracket vs X-body straight (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird gold mirror mounting bracket vs X-body straight (1) by Ben, on Flickr

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Something else intriguing, the bracket is actually shorter than Firebird, while the mirror base is longer. This gives a larger gap to mirror when screwed together. Also, the screw was slightly longer, not a useful amount though. I haven't seen this long type before or noticed it listed in parts manuals.

Firebird mirror mounting screw vs longer-X-body by Ben, on Flickr

RH X-body mirror bare castings 1973 (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Hope this is of interest to some, or at least learning new things like I am, good or bad.

[Wallington]

Happy couple.

20230603_191832 by Ben, on Flickr

20230603_191947 by Ben, on Flickr

20230603_191958 by Ben, on Flickr

[Wallington]

And...now I've found another one. One of the better mirrors I'd kept for myself and slipped through. I've probably sold all my good ones and kept all the crap. Can anyone here please identify what these came off. They are American GM vehicles. That's your thing.
While the mount is X-body, the only cars in the 76-81 Parts manual that uses this knob is the F-bodies, I don't believe that to be the case. What about H-bodies that apparently also use the same Firebird door gaskets and mounts, even the Chev versions. What are HM, HV, HC models?

This was even one I dragged out before for pics and didn't notice.

Very nice condition and now worthless to me or anyone outside the US, this one is late-'77 dated but still uses the Firebird style door mount bracket and toggle handle, but the support bracket angle of an X-body. These got stud mounted mirrors after '75 and a different toggle knob, apparently.

1977 LH remote mirror X-body support (5) by Ben, on Flickr

There's that dreaded squared-off mount again, compared to same mirror for a Firebird.

LH remote mirror 77 X-body square support vs 78 Firebuird tapered support (1) by Ben, on Flickr

LH remote mirror 77 X-body square support vs 78 Firebuird tapered support (5) by Ben, on Flickr

LH remote mirror 77 X-body square support vs 78 Firebuird tapered support (2) by Ben, on Flickr

LH remote mirror 77 X-body square support vs 78 Firebuird tapered support (4) by Ben, on Flickr

1977 LH remote mirror X-body support (4) by Ben, on Flickr

[FormTA]

I thought maybe Grand Prix but they use a longer stalk.

Pontiac Bonneville Broughham?