Exterior mirror won't fit

[Hover]

Bought a new exterior mirror, but the holes are not lining up, probably 1/4" out on one. Tried starting all screws but no way. Any of you guys run into this? The old one fit perfectly in the stock threaded holes. 56 Chevy pickup.

[my56chevytruck]

any possibility of rotating the base?? How does the new and old base line up?? Can you line them up before screwing into the truck.

[Hover]

Rotating the base would aim the mirror arm in the wrong direction as it is a fixed angle. If I reamed out a few of the mirror holes, I'm afraid the counter sink screws wouldn't fit the countersink properly, if you get my drift..

[Tod59]

Same thing happened when I bought my after market mirror for my '59. I just used my drill and a drill bit to enlarge the hole a bit until the screw would start threading into the door. If I recall, I had to enlarge a few of the holes.

[Hover]

Originally Posted by Tod59

Same thing happened when I bought my after market mirror for my '59. I just used my drill and a drill bit to enlarge the hole a bit until the screw would start threading into the door. If I recall, I had to enlarge a few of the holes.

Ya, maybe if I increased the size of all 3 holes a little it just might work. I did get all 3 started but they got real tight pretty quick, didnt want to strip threads so I quit. How far out were yours?

[Tod59]

It's been a while since I did mine. They were close, but like yours, I had trouble. I believe that the quality of hole location on these mirrors isn't the greatest to begin with, but then add the chroming process and the holes get even smaller which doesn't help with alignment. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Hover]

Originally Posted by Tod59

It's been a while since I did mine. They were close, but like yours, I had trouble. I believe that the quality of hole location on these mirrors isn't the greatest to begin with, but then add the chroming process and the holes get even smaller which doesn't help with alignment. Keep us posted on your progress.

Ok, I'll post again when I try the hole reaming. Thanks for advice and support!

[nvrdone]

did you chase the threads with a tap ? could be that the threads are rusted & that might cause part of the problem

[Hover]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

did you chase the threads with a tap ? could be that the threads are rusted & that might cause part of the problem

Yup, I ran a tap through all of them, they are all good.

[_Ogre]

noob mistake: you have 2 screws all the way in to where the tappers are locked in (even if they are not tight)
loosen the screws enough to where the mirror base moves

[Hover]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

noob mistake: you have 2 screws all the way in to where the tappers are locked in (even if they are not tight)
loosen the screws enough to where the mirror base moves

Posted via Mobile Device

Ogre, I only tightened those 2 screws to show how far out the holes were, I know enough to just get all 3 started lol. Anyways, I took a round bastard file and reamed the 3 holes just enough to let me get them all in. Thanks to all replies. Hope the grill and bumpers go ok.

[OrrieG]

Thanks for the post, I have not even tried to trial fit mine before paint. Will save me some grief if they do not fit...

[tmoble]

and if you ask the vendor? "They're great, never any complaints."

why should they correct the defect manufacturing?

[Hover]

Originally Posted by tmoble

and if you ask the vendor? "They're great, never any complaints."

why should they correct the defect manufacturing?

I asked the vendor about it, no reply from them.

[1project2many]

During WWII Chinese workers copied captured American rifles so accurately the duplicates even included dents in the barrels. Apparently some skills have been lost since then.

[Hover]

Fwiw the vendor did finally reply and offered to exchange. I told them not to worry about it.

[58CameoAZ]

Something i have noticed threw the years is on the Originals they only had a flat rubber gasket that fit tight around the lines of the original mirror bracket, and now today's vendors are supplying the cupped shaped plastic (and some Rubber) gaskets that don't fit very well around the mirror bracket.
fwiw,
Allen