I need someones expertise on the correct mirror for my car. I have a 1972 Chevelle Malibu. I'm not sure if the mirror on the car now (rectangular with base stem center mounted; casting #9826594 CBC 2)is the correct one for it and I am getting alot of different opinions on what is correct. So, here we go. This is what I know, heard or been told:

1. It should be a rectangular mirror. (I agree.)

2. It should have the mounting stem centered left to right, not up and down, in the mirror back. (I agree. The offset left or right ones are for Wagon and El Camino to clear the wing windows? This is why there is a RH/LH mirror for those cars and a universal one for the rest?)

3. The base is thin where it mounts to the car. (Mine is about 1 3/16" wide at the widest part. Too wide.)

4. The back top of the stem is a recessed round. (Mine is rounded over and not recessed.)

5. The mirror edge should have a stainless steel edge and not glued in. (Mine does not have the stainless steel edge and is definitely glued. The numbers "2-DMI-4" on the mirror are upside down and at the bottom, so I guess it was replaced at some time since you cannot turn the mirror upside down to correct the numbering.)

6. Passenger side mirrors were optional and dealer installed. (I think that is right.)

Well, if anyone can make heads or tails of this, I sure would appreciate any advice. Pictures would help as well.

Thanks to all,

Roger

Hello Mr. Cook:

Not sure if I can help much, but here is my GM master parts catalogue listing: Chevelle Mirrors (http://chevelles.com/showroom/Bow_Tied/Bowt_Mirror.jpg)

Ron,

Thanks for the info. Since I do not see my mirror number on the list I am going to assume that it is not correct for my car. There's quite a list of different mirrors. More than I imagined. I don't think I will find originals, so I am trying to find the best reproductions. My quest continues.

Thanks again,

Roger

I just posted something on that:
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=000989
GM Pats Direct sell a NOS product. I haven't seen it yet, but the part numbers are correct according to Ron Cooks scanned image (see above).

so I am trying to find the best reproductions. My quest continues. Mr. Cook,
Pleeeeeease don't buy a repro. It is a long road of nothing but disappointment and bitter tastes in your mouth for the people who are going to sell it to you. And if you live in Canada, it will be even more bitter. Repros are bad business and quality. The expen$ive trip to Canada adds extra expense by UPS just as a customs fee. You will never afford to be able to return it.

These are supposed to be real GM parts:

DESCRIPTION: MIRROR LH
GM PART # 3914753
OUR PRICE: $100.52

DESCRIPTION: MIRROR RH
GM PART # 3914754
OUR PRICE: $51.05

Hell, they even sell the screw:

DESCRIPTION: GASKET
GM PART # 3874250
OUR PRICE: $1.23

DESCRIPTION: BRACKET
GM PART # 3953067
OUR PRICE: $5.75

DESCRIPTION: SCREW
GM PART # 11504659
OUR PRICE: $0.62

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/restoration_parts/

Go to your GM dealer and ask them to bring in the part from GM Parts direct. They may even have it in their own system. The deal is you get to see what you get before you pay for it.

John

John,

Thanks for the response. I guess I am one step ahead of you. I already ordered the 3914753/54 mirrors from my local GM dealership and sent them back. The mirrors are rectangular and have the narrower base. The stem behind the mirror head had a concave dished end and from what I remember, there was not a date on the mirror glass. Also, to my surprise, the 3914753/54 number was not cast on the inside of the base like I expected. There was no stainless trim around the mirror glass either. They were just glued in. The mirror heads themselves are offset which makes them a LH and a RH. These are the ones I believe were for the Wagon and El Camino with wing windows so they would clear. It is true that they will work, but I don't think they are they correct for my car. The mirror listed as 3965921 is what I believe is the correct mirror for my car. Same as the 3914753/54 but with the mirror stem centered left to right in the mirror head. It can be a RH or LH. The width of the base, the concave vs. rounded stem and weather there should be a stainless steel trim around the mirror edge is still up for debate. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks,

Roger

I'm wondering based on these descriptions if I may have a '69 El Camino RH mirror with glass dated 8-DCA-9?

Roger you also mentioned that the GM (partsdirect) mirror you ordered in didn't have the 39... part number. Did it have a number like HA 61071?

Thanks graemlins/clonk.gif

My mirror's description is talked about in this discussion

http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=000989

Widetires22,

Yes, the mirrors I ordered from my local GM parts dealer did have some kind of number like that. I'm sure there was a lettering/numbering combo in the base, it just wasn't GM's part number.
Most of the mirrors I have seen have "DMI" rather than "DCA" on them. "DMI" is Donnelly Mirror, Inc. I don't know what "DCA" is, but my guess would be that is because it is a newer mirror. I know I said in my past description that the GM mirrors I ordered did not have a date code on the mirror, but honestly, now that you mention the other date code, I think that is what was on them.
I didn't keep the mirrors because I felt they were intended for Wagon and El Camino with wing windows. I could of had them for $65 each. Not a bad deal compared to the other price quotes. I got a break cause I personally know the parts manager.
Anything else you need or care to discuss just ask.
Thanks,

Roger

Roger,

What I would like to do is to "properly" list this mirror for someone to purchase. It is perfect, never been used - but it just doesn't match my LH '70 Chevelle original so I have no use for it.

What information (and/or photos) would you like from me to help me determine what this mirror is exactly?

Don

Don,

Post pictures of the casting # inside the stem, an overall or two of the mirror and a front with the date if you can even do that without the flash messing up the picture. If you post them, then the rest of the readers can see for themselves what we are talking about. I can let you know what I think after you post them.

Roger

Don,

Check this out as well.

eBay mirror for sale (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2405638367&category=33649)

Roger

I was just looking at that a few minutes ago. That appears to be the same mirror. One just like it was sold to me, but I was told it was for the drivers side :mad:

The one I have is absolutely perfect though! I wrote to the guy and asked him a few questions about it too. I'm waiting to hear.

I'll try to get some pics of mine for you to see also.

Thanks,
Don

I guess I am one step ahead of you. I hope so smile.gif Please email me and keep me up to date.

...was not a date on the mirror glass. Also, to my surprise, the 3914753/54 number was not cast on the inside of the base like I expected. There was no stainless trim around the mirror glass either. They were just glued in. I would only expect that? My original sounds like that. I may order the RH mirror and give them a try. My original has no trim and is only glued on top of 4 studs. I know it because I broke it and had a glass place replace the glass.

I can't swear for the casting of the part number inside though. Anyone?

with wing windows so they would clear. Sounds right. Same for a 4-door I would also imagine.

It can be a RH or LH. ... and whether there should be a stainless steel trim around the mirror edge is still up for debate. Any thoughts on that?My original is also RH/LH and works well on both doors. I do know you will be disappointed with a repro. They don't pivot enough. The look is close, but subtle differences.

As for the stainless trim you are talking about, without seeing a photo, I would say your original mirror is not like mine. Mine is all chrome with a piece of glass glued in place. I would love to see a photo of the stainless rim.

I have a so-called Chev mirror in my hands right now. A replacement I never installed. It describes like yours. The base is much wider than my original mirror so I did not install it. There is also a small rib that goes up the shaft on the windward side - if that sounds familiar to anyone. There is a circle with APL inside, inside the base. There are a bunch of dots as well, which might indicate a time stamp? Anyone have anything on that?

Did it have a number like HA 61071?Did it have anything stamped inside?

Here's the eBay ad of the mirror that is supposed to have the stainless steel trim like the original. From the picture itself, it seems to be correct. I have contacted this person and he can't give me another picture of the the mirror showing the trim. I would like to try these but I'm afraid like you say that I will be dissatisfied.

Stainless Steel Trim Mirror (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=34204&item=2405680532)

Originally posted by Roger Cook:
Here's the eBay ad of the mirror
That is a 69 mirror, I'm not familliar with other cars but Chevelle mirrors were different starting in 1970

The concave end in 69 became a convex end in 1970

FYI,
Several years ago there were some 69 RH mirrors, new in GM boxes around that were defective
The mirror was too loose on the ball and would just fall down after you drove a few blocks so there was no way to keep it adjusted

I bought one at an NCOA show and wound up taking it back off and putting my original mirror back on

Dean,

Thanks for the info. That sheads a little light on the diffence in mirror types for Chevelles 69-72. Seems most of the reproduction mirrors I have seen for sale have the concave end in them making them 69 only mirrors. Everybody seems to call them correct for 69-72. I have a GM mirror #9826594 that has the mirror glass dated 2-DMI-4. I assume this is a 74 mirror but for what I don't know. It was on my 72 Chevelle Malibu when I bought it. It is very similar to the Chevelle mirrors except the base where it attaches to the body is wider. I want to get new ones that are correct for my car and that's why I am doing this research.

Thanks for the help and anymore input you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Roger

It was on my 72 Chevelle Malibu when I bought it. It is very similar to the Chevelle mirrors except the base where it attaches to the body is wider.Maybe the GM parts direct are the ones after all? According to Ron Cook's scan, they have the right parts number.

I am looking at the EBay mirror now. 1969? Anything is possible that yours ended up with a 69. The concave thing makes it different from my original.

Not to harp on it, but I was very disappointed by the repro I got from @@@@.

I'll be following.

You are right that the part #'s match but they are for Wagon and El Camino. They are distinct LH and RH mirrors. They were made to clear wing windows. If you look close at the list, part #3965921 is a 70-72 rectangular manual mirror that is LH or RH and is not for Wagon or El Camino. This is the one I believe is the correct mirror for my car. This also backs up the statement that 69 mirrors had a concave bullet on the back of the mirrors and 70 and up had convex. Things are becoming clearer.

Roger

Just to let you know I ordered the RH mirror. Fits like a glove. I will gladly promote: http://1964-77chevelleparts.com/
Good service good knowledge and good parts, especially for a 4-door owner. They found partts I could not get elsewhere.

You were right on the concave divit, However, I'm glad to have amirror that looks and smells GM. It pivots enough to be practical. as for correctness, it does probably belong on a el camino or wagon, but will serve its job. I was so pi$$ed at the repro mirror I bought last year because it would not pivot enough.

Bizarre thing about the mirror, if you look at an angle in very bright light, you can actually see through the glass to see the GM stamping inside.