68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-DateCode/Position

[Tony H.]

What does the date code on the driver's side door mirror look like (ie format: Julian or else)? On which side does the date go (top or bottom of longer side)? How do I determine which side is the top/bottom when I go to install a date-coded mirror? Was that yellow 3M weatherstripping adhesive the correct adhesive for original mirrors? I plan on purchasing a date-coded mirror from Paragon. Do they have a web site?

Thanks for any information/direction.

Tony

[Tony H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

What would be a correct date for my 1970 Corvette?

Body Build Date: July 20, 1970 (Monday)

Any other info needed? After further review of an old (1996) Paragon catalog, I found that I need to supply the date for the mirror. How do I determine this date not having ever seen the original glass on my mirror? Those of you with original glass on your mirrors, I'd be interested in knowing what the relationship is between your body build date and the glass build date. I would guess that 2-6 weeks prior to the car build date to be the norm.

Thanks again.

Tony

[Tony H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

What would be a correct date for my 1970 Corvette?

Body Build Date: July 20, 1970 (Monday)

Any other info needed? After further review of an old (1996) Paragon catalog, I found that I need to supply the date for the mirror. How do I determine this date not having ever seen the original glass on my mirror? Those of you with original glass on your mirrors, I'd be interested in knowing what the relationship is between your body build date and the glass build date. I would guess that 2-6 weeks prior to the car build date to be the norm.

Thanks again.

Tony

[morgan]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

my 71 built on february 23, 1971 has the date on the top of the long side and reads as follows A-AX-71 this translates to february 71 from the info i have

[morgan]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

my 71 built on february 23, 1971 has the date on the top of the long side and reads as follows A-AX-71 this translates to february 71 from the info i have

[Jack H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Over time, there were different suppliers of Corvette mirrors to Chevy. Paragon purchased tooling from Donnelly Mirror, Inc. who WAS a valid supplier for your Shark. The coding sequence is 6 DMI 0 representing 6=June, DMI is Donnelly Mirror, Inc. and 0=1970.

The only thing you'll get from Paragon is a DMI mirror. The other response here is from one looking at the second valid supplier of the era (Ajax) and he's probably looking at his correct original. The two won't compute -- DMI sequence is NOT the same as Ajax.

Orientation is for the x DMI y sequence to be placed at top center in forward (not mirror image, you can insert the glass backwards/upsidedown) reading direction. The last time I saw a complete custom dated mirror assy from Paragon, it was all installed (glass in mirror housing) and you needed to do nothing beyond attach the mirror to the door mount.

Mirror assemblies I've seen from sources other than Paragon have shipped a Paragon reproduction mirror with undated glass and packed a separate DMI dated mirror glass with the assy. It's up to you to figure out how to remove the non-dated glass and install the dated glass (no instructions) and the non-dated glass was attached to the mirror housing via clear RTV (silicon bathtub caulk). Bottom line -- take ball pin hammer and shatter the existing glass, remove shards, scrape out old RTV, apply new RTV that you provide and insert dated glass.

You can order either the full mirror assy or just the dated glass from Paragon. If you order the dated glass alone, it's your call on dating. Typically, cars are seen with about a one month differential in mirror vs. body build, but the NCRS 6-month rule applies here if you want to 'stretch' things. My '71 is an April 19th build and it's mirror was dated 3 DMI 1.

If you go to non-Paragon sources, some will demand you supply them the VIN of your car and they'll make an educated recommendation as to the appropriate date coding. Whew! I think that covers all your questions. No real need to ask the NDB as you'll find most quality catalog parts houses are quite helpful in this area and will hold your hand....

[Jack H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Over time, there were different suppliers of Corvette mirrors to Chevy. Paragon purchased tooling from Donnelly Mirror, Inc. who WAS a valid supplier for your Shark. The coding sequence is 6 DMI 0 representing 6=June, DMI is Donnelly Mirror, Inc. and 0=1970.

The only thing you'll get from Paragon is a DMI mirror. The other response here is from one looking at the second valid supplier of the era (Ajax) and he's probably looking at his correct original. The two won't compute -- DMI sequence is NOT the same as Ajax.

Orientation is for the x DMI y sequence to be placed at top center in forward (not mirror image, you can insert the glass backwards/upsidedown) reading direction. The last time I saw a complete custom dated mirror assy from Paragon, it was all installed (glass in mirror housing) and you needed to do nothing beyond attach the mirror to the door mount.

Mirror assemblies I've seen from sources other than Paragon have shipped a Paragon reproduction mirror with undated glass and packed a separate DMI dated mirror glass with the assy. It's up to you to figure out how to remove the non-dated glass and install the dated glass (no instructions) and the non-dated glass was attached to the mirror housing via clear RTV (silicon bathtub caulk). Bottom line -- take ball pin hammer and shatter the existing glass, remove shards, scrape out old RTV, apply new RTV that you provide and insert dated glass.

You can order either the full mirror assy or just the dated glass from Paragon. If you order the dated glass alone, it's your call on dating. Typically, cars are seen with about a one month differential in mirror vs. body build, but the NCRS 6-month rule applies here if you want to 'stretch' things. My '71 is an April 19th build and it's mirror was dated 3 DMI 1.

If you go to non-Paragon sources, some will demand you supply them the VIN of your car and they'll make an educated recommendation as to the appropriate date coding. Whew! I think that covers all your questions. No real need to ask the NDB as you'll find most quality catalog parts houses are quite helpful in this area and will hold your hand....

[Tony H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Morgan,

Thanks for the response. Now another question: When you say top (long side) is that with the mirror in its tallest or shortest position? If I recall correctly, the ball in the back is not centered but rather offset. So in one position, the mirror is taller and in the other the mirror is shorter. I'd like to position mine correctly with your help.

Tony

[Tony H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Morgan,

Thanks for the response. Now another question: When you say top (long side) is that with the mirror in its tallest or shortest position? If I recall correctly, the ball in the back is not centered but rather offset. So in one position, the mirror is taller and in the other the mirror is shorter. I'd like to position mine correctly with your help.

Tony

[Tony H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Jack,

Thanks for your response. I will most likely use tape and hammer to get the mirror off and RTV to install the dated mirror. This will be the quickest and hopefully painless! I'll make sure tobe safe and use safety glasses and gloves as well.

Tony

[Tony H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Jack,

Thanks for your response. I will most likely use tape and hammer to get the mirror off and RTV to install the dated mirror. This will be the quickest and hopefully painless! I'll make sure tobe safe and use safety glasses and gloves as well.

Tony

[Jack H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Right you are! Mirror is offset and correct orientation is with it extended to tallest position....

[Jack H.]

Re: 68-76 Driver's Door Mirror-Addendum

Right you are! Mirror is offset and correct orientation is with it extended to tallest position....

[Tony H.]

Re: Driver's Door Mirror-Original Date FOUND

Guess what I just found when I picked up my Corvette from storage at dusk. In the right light as I was backing out of the garage, I saw the date code on my original exterior driver's door mirror. The code is 6-AX-70, and is positioned upside down on the lower part of the glass when the mirror is positioned in the tallest configuration. The judges had missed this at the Pittsburgh meet (and so did I for the past eight years). I even asked the judge where I would find the date if it were an original mirror and he pointed to the exact spot where the date actually resides. It is kind of faint and a couldn't see it on that day either. Looks like I answered all my questions after all and now I know better. Now I guess I will have a spare, correctly dated mirror, 6-DMI-0, (from Paragon) only representing another supplier, Donnelly Mirror, Inc rather than Ajax. Thanks for the help when I asked.

Tony

[Tony H.]

Re: Driver's Door Mirror-Original Date FOUND

Guess what I just found when I picked up my Corvette from storage at dusk. In the right light as I was backing out of the garage, I saw the date code on my original exterior driver's door mirror. The code is 6-AX-70, and is positioned upside down on the lower part of the glass when the mirror is positioned in the tallest configuration. The judges had missed this at the Pittsburgh meet (and so did I for the past eight years). I even asked the judge where I would find the date if it were an original mirror and he pointed to the exact spot where the date actually resides. It is kind of faint and a couldn't see it on that day either. Looks like I answered all my questions after all and now I know better. Now I guess I will have a spare, correctly dated mirror, 6-DMI-0, (from Paragon) only representing another supplier, Donnelly Mirror, Inc rather than Ajax. Thanks for the help when I asked.

Tony