CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Decoding/Numbers => Topic started by: 69Z28 on March 17, 2013, 01:20:27 AM

Title: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 17, 2013, 01:20:27 AM
Haven't seen much info anywhere on this...Is there anything noted here on CRG about door mirror date codes? Did the factory install both left and right or just the left and the dealer installed the right? If the dealer installed the right was it dated as well? I need to find dated mirror/s for my 06A early June car and trying to figure out if the ones on my car are correct and if not what dates do I need to look for.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: bertfam on March 17, 2013, 02:34:12 AM
The driver side outside rear view mirror was factory installed and the date will be anywhere from a few days to several before the build date of the car. The passenger side mirror was dealer installed and can be anywhere from several weeks before the build date of the car to several weeks, or even months after. It just depended on when the mirror was installed and what the dealer ordered or had in stock. There's no set date range for passenger side mirrors.

Ed


Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 1968RSZ28 on March 17, 2013, 03:10:19 AM
Some good info on mirrors in this CRG thread...  http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=1510.0

Paul
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 17, 2013, 03:56:53 PM
Thanks guys. I need to check what I have to be sure of the dates. The reproduction mirrors do not have any dates or markings correct?
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: Mike S on March 17, 2013, 04:35:49 PM
 They don't have dates but some vendors are offering that service to etch a date in (so I am told).

Mike
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: bertfam on March 17, 2013, 04:43:23 PM
Paragon (Corvette supplier) used to supply an etched glass with any date you wanted, but I'm not sure if they still do it.

Ed
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: MO on March 17, 2013, 11:41:01 PM
They still offer dated glass.


Exterior Rear View Mirror Glass - Dated

Paragon Number: 1109D
GM Part Number:
Exterior rear view mirror glass, dated. After adding this part to your cart, please specify the exact date you require in the item notes. If you do not know the date you require please specify the year and VIN number of your car.

Years: 1963 - 1967
Condition: New
Packaging: Each
Type: Stock

Price: $12.00
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 20, 2013, 11:44:09 PM
I sent Paragon email from there site but haven't recv'd a reply as of today. Has anyone bought a door mirror from them, if so, is the dated glass installed by them or does the customer have to do it.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: tmodel66 on March 21, 2013, 02:44:15 AM
You are buying just the glass. It's real easy to put in though.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: MO on March 21, 2013, 02:51:00 AM
Google Paragon and search- Exterior Rear View Mirror Glass. They will date code the mirror for you to install in your own base, or I'm sure you can buy a complete assembly with dated glass already installed.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 21, 2013, 03:38:23 AM
Actually that is what I'm trying to find out. I've been to their website and contacted them through their website email but haven't recv'd a reply yet. I need mirrors, so I may as well get them from Paragon. I heard they were the best. I have one mirror the is a terrible repro, no date, and a mirror dated 2 DMI 7. I'm curious about this mirror though. When did GM start using the rectangular mirrors? I don't think its a 1967 date. Maybe 1977? Was GM using this mirror into the 1977 model year? I'll have to google that. I think the bullet mirrors were out by then. Hmmmm..curious.


Google Paragon and search- Exterior Rear View Mirror Glass. They will date code the mirror for you to install in your own base, or I'm sure you can buy a complete assembly with dated glass already installed.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: bertfam on March 21, 2013, 02:00:39 PM
Yes, rectangular mirrors were still being used in 1977 on a lot of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, etc... models.

Would it be possible to get a high resolution shot of the date code? I'm STILL working on the mirror report and need a few date examples. My email address is in my profile.

Thanks
Ed
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 21, 2013, 04:33:40 PM
Ed,

Do you want the date even though it is a 1977 mirror? I can sure give it a try. It may take a few days to get around to it though. I may have a few others, but I'll have to dig them out. I just have to remember where I put them.


Yes, rectangular mirrors were still being used in 1977 on a lot of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, etc... models.

Would it be possible to get a high resolution shot of the date code? I'm STILL working on the mirror report and need a few date examples. My email address is in my profile.

Thanks
Ed

Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: bertfam on March 21, 2013, 04:53:50 PM
Yes,  please. It was around that time frame when Donnelly changed their date code from DMI (Donnelly Mirror Inc) to DCA (Donnelly Corporation of America).

Ed
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 22, 2013, 10:01:45 AM
OK Ed. I'll keep you posted.



Yes,  please. It was around that time frame when Donnelly changed their date code from DMI (Donnelly Mirror Inc) to DCA (Donnelly Corporation of America).

Ed

Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 22, 2013, 11:01:31 PM
I finally got a reply from Paragon and they do install the dated glass in house. I have neither of my originals so I'm going to go for the Paragon's. I hear they are good quality. If I was to locate originals with possibly good dates they would probably be in terrible condition. I'm thinking this is the only way to go, but before I do anything I could use the opinions of you all here. Should I get them? If so, I think a 9 DMI 5 would be good for the driver side but I'm up in the air for what date on the passenger side. I'm thinking after my build date by a couple of weeks, which still would be a June date 9 DMI 6. My car is an early first week 06A built Z.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28-RS on March 23, 2013, 03:40:52 AM
Gary,

The format should be 'mo'-DMI-'last digit of the year' ...  ie for yours it would be 5-DMI-9     if I understood your intent.    On my mirror, the code is upside down, and located on the bottom of the mirror (mine is an original remote mirror).
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: tmodel66 on March 23, 2013, 01:38:30 PM
Yes, rectangular mirrors were still being used in 1977 on a lot of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, etc... models.

Would it be possible to get a high resolution shot of the date code? I'm STILL working on the mirror report and need a few date examples. My email address is in my profile.

Thanks
Ed


Ed I guess I missed this. Do you want any and all mirrors or just certain dates/years?  I still have my original put up but the date and code is still on it. I used a repop because mine is in bad shape.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: HOT3O2 on March 23, 2013, 02:39:39 PM
Has anyone had any luck getting a pic of the date code? I've tried several times and just can't. The printing is small, and shooting into the reflection of a mirror doesn't help. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28-RS on March 23, 2013, 05:13:34 PM
you'll have to position your lighting and camera off angle to minimize reflections.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 23, 2013, 05:43:23 PM
Your right. I have been researching this the past few days and got all faclemped. As a matter of fact I wrote down 5-DMI-9 for the driver side and 6-DMI-9 for the passenger side on paper so I would have the correct dates when I ordered them. Whew, that would have been a disaster if I ordered the wrong dates.


Gary,

The format should be 'mo'-DMI-'last digit of the year' ...  ie for yours it would be 5-DMI-9     if I understood your intent.    On my mirror, the code is upside down, and located on the bottom of the mirror (mine is an original remote mirror).
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: HOT3O2 on March 23, 2013, 07:53:58 PM
Good picture Gary. I'll have to go back and try again. Thanks for the tip.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: bertfam on March 23, 2013, 09:55:49 PM
Quote
Do you want any and all mirrors or just certain dates/years?

No, I don't think I need anything right now. I'm still looking for some of the later mirrors with the DMC logo, but I have enough DMI logo pictures.

Thanks
Ed
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: LVN 67 on March 26, 2013, 06:49:48 PM
 The mirror on my 02E, NOR, L-35 has the script 4-DM-an R in a circle then 4. Its a round mirror, no bow-tie. I can barely make out the numbers on the base as NH 151339.  ???
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 68camaroz28 on March 27, 2013, 08:26:07 PM
Interesting on the dates as our 68 01B has a Oct. 67 dated (10-DMI-7) mirror.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 29, 2013, 02:24:05 AM
Hey guys, I got my mirrors today from Paragon. Look great. I definately would recommend them if you are missing your originals.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28-RS on March 29, 2013, 02:42:36 AM
Did they provide info on how to remove the old mirror and attach the new one?
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 29, 2013, 08:56:39 PM
Actually if you buy the mirrors from them and the dated glass too then the price of the glass installation is included in the price of the dated glass. But to answer your question, when I got the mirrors everything was all done for me and there wasn't any instructions or other paperwork. If you need mirrors anyway just get Paragons. I'm impressed with these if they are reproductions. Nice and tight at the swivel not like a reproduction one that was on my car when I got it. You slam the door and the mirror head just flops around. Even driving, the force of the wind will push them around.

Did they provide info on how to remove the old mirror and attach the new one?
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28-RS on March 29, 2013, 09:49:55 PM
That sounds good..  :)    I thought you'd only purchased the dated mirror glass, and was going to install it yourself in your original housing...
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on March 30, 2013, 12:21:21 AM
Even if I had the originals still after 40 something years they would be terrible looking. Getting them rechromed would be expensive I  think. Putting new glass in a rechromed original mirror would be ok too. Hmmm, need to find out what someone has paid to have their mirrors rechromed if anyone has even done it. I wonder if Ed would know if it would be worth the trouble to rechrome originals and how the glass is actually installed. I thought I read somewhere you can use a heat gun to remove mirror glass but had to be careful so the heat wouldn't crack the glass.


That sounds good..  :)    I thought you'd only purchased the dated mirror glass, and was going to install it yourself in your original housing...
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: LVN 67 on April 02, 2013, 10:03:32 PM
Received my new mirrior from Paragon yesterday. Did the soak in gas trick to get the old one out, came out very easy. New one dropped right in and looks very good. The whole process took 7 days and $23.50 from MI to KS.    :)
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 68camaroz28 on April 02, 2013, 10:55:56 PM
Received my new mirrior from Paragon yesterday. Did the soak in gas trick to get the old one out, came out very easy. New one dropped right in and looks very good. The whole process took 7 days and $23.50 from MI to KS.    :)
Many of us have used mineral spirits and that works well. Kinda funny when you see the mirror is a mirror on both sides when out. I pulled our glass mirror so we can re-chrome.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on April 03, 2013, 12:12:36 AM
My originals were MIA. I wish I could have just bought the dated glass, but unfortunately every mirror I have found were in such bad condition with loads of pock holes and bubbles in the chrome. Not even sure anything could be done with them.
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: 69Z28 on April 04, 2013, 09:13:09 PM
Hey Ed, have you seen these mirrors? These don't have DMI on the glass. Thought maybe you would want to check them out for your study.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-NOS-1969-CAMARO-LEFT-AND-RIGHT-SIDE-VIEW-MIRRORS-/380610717905?hash=item589e2aa8d1&item=380610717905&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_105wt_1043
Title: Re: Any info on door mirror dates.
Post by: bertfam on April 04, 2013, 09:23:36 PM
Yep. Donnelly changed their name in the mid 80's from "Donnelly Mirror Incorporated" to "Donnelly Corporation of America", so if you see a DCA mirror (or a DCA with a Registered trademark), you know it's a later issue.

Ed