this is a topic im not so sure has been discussed in great detail. I know that RedRaif has them on her car. but i would like to know if the 4th gen Camaro mirrors will work in the 3rd gen camaro doors. What modifications are needed to be done? How much work other than the obvious welding of the 3rd gen mirror holes, and removal of the rubber triangle is needed??

I was kicking this idea around in the back of my head and was wondering about it. Any imput is appreciated and i look forward to everyones comments.

-Steve

 

You want to use 4th gen Camaro mirrors? Remember the mirrors on those were blended into the body line from the front fender. When you take the mirror off the car, there is a big flat spot on the front of it.

Firebird mirrors are what RedRaif used and they would be a lot easier to modify.

 

firebird 383 is definately right about how the camaro mirrors would have a big flat spot in front. Also it looks like Redraif did a TON of work to make the swap and I don't see any benefit. They don't match the lines or look of a third gen at all! I personally think the mirrors for our cars are perfectly fit to it. If you want to personalize your car... and most of us do... I think it's best to keep the basic design the same and stick to changing options like hoods and spoilers, maybe using a different ground effects package than the car came with. But taking a straight lined car and adding rounded accessories doesn't work out too well.

 

Im sure if you send redraif a pm she will help you out.

You have to drill a hole in the plastic triangle thing, and notch it so that the mirror will recess into it. Then mount the triangle back to the door, mount the mirror to the triangle, and then make something to cover the bolt on the inside.

You will need 4th gen firebird mirrors.

Some people that did this conversion reinforced the peice with aluminium, but i beleive redraif has said it wasn't needed.

There was a pretty good post a few mo back do a search for it.

 

thanks for all your replys.

i forgot about the fourth gen camaro mirrors being flat faced, so thats out, i'd have to use TA or bird mirrors as you all stated.

As for the mounting of the rounded mirrors on a angular car, i can see your point, but im not as much interested in the mirrors themselves as the actual mounting, i was hoping it was a way to get rid of that rubber triangle piece and re-inforce it with something better that would just bolt up. Basically figuring htat maybe the 4th gen parts out of the doors would just bolt up to our existing 3rd gen stuff. Since that doesnt seem to be the case here, Im not going ot worry about it. the main reason why i was thinking of this as being a good thing to do is to clean the entire door off, it would then be perfectly smooth on the actual skin of the door which would look real killer in my opinion as i have no key holes or handles or anything else..

thanks again for all your inputs.

-steve

 

Actually, we spent about 45 minutes drilling and dremeling to mount the mirrors...the filling of the holes in the doors took a little longer, but not much. The standard mirrors have always been an eyesore to me (love the Firebird export mirrors though), since they look like the mirrors on every other 70s and 80s GM car.Yuck.

Funny thing is, if you look at the angle on the mirror it is IDENTICAL to the angle of the thirdgen windshield pillar...there were no mods done to the mirrors. They actually fit better on a thirdgen than on a fourth.

I see your point about rounded, more modern looking parts not necesarily working well on a thirdgen ( say a RAII style hood on a Camaro, for example), but a Firebird isn't as square as a Camaro so its not as big of a deal. The mirrors actually go very well with the RA1 hood thats on the car and the lines of a 3rd gen bird, at least in my opinion. Most show judges assume they're stock. While they would fit on a third gen Camaro just as well, I don't think it would look right, for the reason you mentioned.