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My understanding is the Manual door mirrors are the same, at least off early FBs. The electrics are the same on SA specials like the 80 LS and later FB-GSL electrics... as said, they will all bolt down on the same door holes. Early SAs ('78 production) have no hole under the door mirror to run the harness up into the mirror.
Now I'm curious what the difference is. I have sets from an 80 and an 82 and they look identical. I also have power mirrors from an 83 which are quite different, and in my opinion, much better looking.
Also, a bit of an aside, but if I recall correctly some 80's are pre-wired for electric mirrors. I may be wrong, although I'm curious if that rings bells for anyone else. Perhaps that would play into the SA vs FB mirror differences somehow?
Correct re wiring in 80s - but only to the bulkhead. Nothing in the doors. But you can plug in the switch assy, you're on your own from there. Plug is right behind speedo - 6-connector assy...
SA switch is joy stick style only included with a couple of the Specials, so chasing one down is...challenging. Presume FB switch just plugs in, but no mount point for the actual sw unit...
Correct re wiring in 80s - but only to the bulkhead. Nothing in the doors. But you can plug in the switch assy, you're on your own from there. Plug is right behind speedo - 6-connector assy...
SA switch is joy stick style only included with a couple of the Specials, so chasing one down is...challenging. Presume FB switch just plugs in, but no mount point for the actual sw unit...
Stu A
80GS
AZ
Interesting, thanks for those photos - didn't know the controls were different as well. Cool stuff.
Aside for any small wiring difference, which I think can be easily made to work, the big difference I see is in the metal risers of the 1984/1985 power windows. It's just cosmetic after that.
I would love to find one of those 1980 power window switch assemblies. I've looked but they are not to be found.
I just wish the passenger mirror was convex should "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear" but nope it's just flat glass and useless. So I uninstalled it, I don't think it originally had a mirror anyway and a PO added one. I have a 10/78 build, right side hood prop and all, so I don't think passenger mirrors were standard yet, right?
Oct of 78 is what I consider a "mid production" build. Not sure anyone really knows exactly when the factory started putting passenger side door mirrors on. Sometime during mid production or by Jan of 79 (start of late production) Is when I assume it was done. Does your hood prop fold and store in the bonnet or on the inner fender?
Have you compared how the two mirrors mount in the doors? Might give a clue as to if the passenger side was factory or added later.
Mount points-hardware in door will tell you everything: factory nuts-in-panel? or PO screwdriver-into-raw-metal?
FWIW the Parts Book indicates the Rt mirror was installed in RXs starting with VIN SA22C-525594...
Mount points-hardware in door will tell you everything: factory nuts-in-panel? or PO screwdriver-into-raw-metal?
FWIW the Parts Book indicates the Rt mirror was installed in RXs starting with VIN SA22C-525594...
StuA
80GS
SA22C-525594 was built November 1st 1978. the door also changes at the same Vin, which is nice, probably confirms the change.
There are at least 6 types of mirrors for the SA/FB
1. the JDM Fender mirrors, these are in the catalog from 79-85, but they seem to get rare after 1981
Second are the JDM door mirrors
then there are the early 79 US mirrors, 8871-69-170, its the not black of the early cars, manual
then they switch to black. 79-80 this is all we got in the USA
then with the 1980 LS the power mirrors become available. they are 3 pieces, and it bolts an the same as the manual, but the footprint is slightly different
and then the late GSLSE gets painted mirrors in, Brilliant Black, White, Tender Blue, Royal Maroon, and Silver. these mirrors can be spotted because they are molded from a white plastic and then painted, and the black ones are just black
AND Finally:
Manual 80 SA-only-Euro-Market-Only 1-year version (a la Porsche 924/944)
These on my 80, sourced in Belgium:
These are fixed housings, with mirror glass pivoting internally - by hand-on-glass (no remote). Same mount points, larger footprint-
With glass removed: metal pedestal, rotates into body (spring loaded) for security. Shell is plastic.
Stu A
80GS
AZ
Not to thread jack but its related. Is there some magic to disassemble the manual mirrors. My passenger side glass rattles and I've never figured out how to get into it without breakage.
Of a Piece. Not 'technically' dissassemble-able (if that is a word). maybe a fine bead of black silicone around the perimeter?
Or Man-up, break the glass, have a glass shop cut a new one you might be able to glue in?
PMd you with 3rd choice
the outer band can be removed(very carefully) as to not break it. but will have to be glued(or black silicone) back in place. try not to pry the glass out of the back housing. it WILL break in half.
Didn't expect this thread to take such a detailed turn. I'll add one more version. The JDM cars had both powered and non-powered fender mirrors depending on trim level. The two versions were shaped slightly different. The non-powered mirrors have a separate head that enable it to swivel....
while the powered version has a fixed head and just the mirror face moves inside.
Not to thread jack but its related. Is there some magic to disassemble the manual mirrors. My passenger side glass rattles and I've never figured out how to get into it without breakage.
i put a (tiny) piece of a business card in between the glass and housing
i put a (tiny) piece of a business card in between the glass and housing
The simplest ideas are usually the best! I wonder if smearing some clear silicone down in the crack btw the mirror face and housing, then wiping away the excess would help?
I'm 521067 which indicates before the change, the mirror was installed into the sheet metal and would loosen and rattle since there was no support in the door for it. This confirms my suspicions that this was added later. I was going to add nutserts to make it a more permanent install but since it didn't come that way and the mirror isn't convex (useless). I'll likely get the sheet metal repaired when I get some rust repaired.
Thank you all for clearing this up for me even though I'm not OP.
^^^^Still curious about your hood prop configuration^^^^ RH hood props that folded and stowed in the bonnet were the first configuration (early builds) then later some cars, still on the RH, folded and stowed on the fender. (a mid production trait) Late production cars have the LH prop.
05-12-21, 02:26 PM
