Body General body information and techniques for restoration, repairs, and modifications.

OK guys, my next idea. turn signals in the side view mirrors.

Old Nov 21, 2004 | 09:53 AM
  #1  
paulmoore's Avatar
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From: Hudson, FL USA
Car: 1988 Camaro(92 Z28 clone)
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Axle/Gears: 9in Detroit locker-3.90's,35 spline
OK guys, my next idea. turn signals in the side view mirrors.

I was sitting in the turning lane waiting for the light to change after coming home from Blockbuster. I was behind a new Mercedes that had the long thin clear lens that was built into the side view mirror and blinks with the turn signals. I think that I would also like to do this to my 88 camaro as I think it will give it a more modern look. Has anyone done this? Is it possible to remove the old mirrors from the camaro, gut them out, fab up the headlight lens gimmick, and them put the guts all back in? Any suggestions and opinions are appreciated, Paul Moore
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Old Nov 21, 2004 | 10:07 AM
  #2  
GMTech's Avatar
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Check out some of the websites that sell Altezzas and other import stuff. They probably already make them so no fabbing needed.
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Old Nov 21, 2004 | 11:20 AM
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I saw some stick on LED ones at Autozone for like $15. Not quite Mercedes level quality though.
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Old Nov 22, 2004 | 01:22 AM
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I'm sure it could be done with the stock mirrors. Would be pretty cool actually. At one point I wanted to have the turn signals in the mirrors, but since then I've decided to run different style mirrors that dont have enough room for a signal. Instead I plan to double up my re-located side marker lights as turn signal lights (whenever I get around to that mod). It wont be as noticable as the signals in the mirror, but it should still serve the function of letting people know I'm turning even though they are not in view of my front or rear signals.
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Old Nov 22, 2004 | 08:31 AM
  #5  
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it would probably looks sweet, go for it
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Old Nov 22, 2004 | 08:37 AM
  #6  
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most older car mirrors (like ours probly are) are glass with a backing..

if you removed the mirror, drilled from the back partway thru and put some clear off- red on LEDs in the holes with epoxy on the back (not in the hole) then it should work...


just so you know, im just thinking out loud.. ive never tried it.. but it sounds possible.

get a junkyard mirror and try it.
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Old Nov 23, 2004 | 02:56 PM
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I don't like that much the idea of the small led arrow on the mirror, because when you're turning, a lot of people can see your turn signal from behind, and you know you have your turn signal lever on anyway.

I think it would be more advantageous to have the light visible from the front of the car... that way the driver in front of you can see clearly when you're gonna pass him, because his trunklid is not blocking the turn signals down low in our cars.

The problem is that the mirror housing is metal, but definitely it could be cut to acomodate a custom lens made of acrylic (make a fiberglass mold first, and have an acrylic shop make the part from it, I already did custom taillights this way for a custm car). Then you would have to make a custom inner housing out of fiberglass and paint it chrome silver or line it with very thin metal (like the one used for handcrafts) The only difficulty is not disturbing the adjustment range of the mirror and its cable.

Another option, would be to swap some mirrors from another car (or bike), I once tried for this custom car the mirrors from a Honda CBR1000XX, but I couldn't do it in the end because they were way too expensive new, maybe in a bike junkyard you can get them cheaper.
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Old Dec 28, 2004 | 03:41 PM
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I beliive these are pefect.
somebody get em and install em so I can tell if they are up to my standards.
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/sticsidviewm.html
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Old Dec 28, 2004 | 05:31 PM
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Originally posted by srdynamics1
I beliive these are pefect.
somebody get em and install em so I can tell if they are up to my standards.
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/sticsidviewm.html
yuck, lets just throw 80 more signal lights to make sure everyone in a 5 block radius knows we are turning
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Old Dec 28, 2004 | 05:56 PM
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I thought he meant on the front? On the mirror housing not the red chevron...althgouh both seem possible. I say you buy some cheapy euro mirror see how they attach the turn signal part. Get some junked third gen mirrors and measure and cut the housing in them and swap out the light portion from the euro mirro. I think its doable.

As for the other type where the chevron is visible from the mirrored side. You can remove the backside of the mirror like someone said...although i don't know about drilling the back of the mirror. I say you can create a mask with the chevron shape in it and sand off just that part or use aircraft stripper or something that can strip the backing. That way it will still be somewhat mirroredd from the front but will let light shine through from the back. Then just wire up some red LEDs from the back and splice them through to your turn signals and you're al set.

I've actually thought of both these ideas before and that is what I thought could work.
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Old Dec 28, 2004 | 11:31 PM
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From: Hudson, FL USA
Car: 1988 Camaro(92 Z28 clone)
Engine: Forged 383, AFR 195 419/430@wheels
Transmission: Monster 700R4 Yank 3600 stall
Axle/Gears: 9in Detroit locker-3.90's,35 spline
Ok guys, here is a link to a picture of what I want to do. Please don't mind the fact that it is a stretch limo, the regular Mercedes have these style mirrors

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Old Dec 29, 2004 | 01:14 AM
  #12  
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Car: 1982 Pontiac Trans Am
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Yeah that is what I thought you wanted to do. Click on the link I posted. I think if you buy one of those type mirrors and you take a thirdgen mirror you can take apart the euro mirror and then cut an opening on the stock third gen mirror.
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Old Dec 29, 2004 | 03:00 PM
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The mercedes style is gonna be some work. Plus I don't think it matches the lines of the mirror, especially the hard line of the bottom of the mirror.

I worked on an import showcar that had 8 amber LEDs mounted in the bottom of the side mirror houseing, facing down, as side marker turn signals. The LEDs were bright enough to shine to the ground as well as light up the pearl white paint on the door. I thought it was a cool idea and easy to pull off.

As far as the chevron style ones,
( http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/sticsidviewm.html ).
They can be easily mounted behind the mirror.
The back side coating of mirrors can be easily scraped off.
I have put radar detector LEDs in rearview mirrors before.(not 3rd gens though)
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Old Jan 1, 2005 | 01:35 AM
  #14  
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Why don't you ask the guy who started this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ght=technology
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Old Jan 1, 2005 | 03:57 AM
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Why not just add ausie turn signals as easy to see and not such a hassle.
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Old Jan 1, 2005 | 12:55 PM
  #16  
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Re: OK guys, my next idea. turn signals in the side view mirrors.

Originally posted by paulmoore
that had the long thin clear lens that was built into the side view mirror and blinks with the turn signals.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...search=3303850
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Old Jan 1, 2005 | 01:20 PM
  #17  
paulmoore's Avatar
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From: Hudson, FL USA
Car: 1988 Camaro(92 Z28 clone)
Engine: Forged 383, AFR 195 419/430@wheels
Transmission: Monster 700R4 Yank 3600 stall
Axle/Gears: 9in Detroit locker-3.90's,35 spline
Nice, thanks for the lind deadbird. Do you know if those style mirrors are able to be bolted on without modification? I doubt it because I can't get that lucky. Thanks for all the insight on this stuff guys!
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Old Jan 1, 2005 | 01:42 PM
  #18  
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Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
N/p. I don't have an answer for that.. I just remembered seeing those in my northerntool suppliment catalog and it made me think of this post.

If I we going to wildly guess... I'd say it can be modded to fit (like any thing really).

redraif w/4thgen mirrors.... https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...228&perpage=40

And scauffiel with the M3 mirrors... https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=174132
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