Side mirror retrofit adventure

[Hazwan]

I hated the aftermarket ones on the car. The view sucks, vibrates like hell at high speed, and look like shit. One of the mirrors cracked so I thought, why not fit something from another car? I really want the USDM door skin mounted mirrors, but I doubt I could get my hands on one. And I'm not a fan of JDM fender mounted mirrors.

I've been looking and experimenting different mirrors and I find that my dad's Nissan AD Resort mirrors ( I have no idea what it is called in Japan) which is essentially a wagon Sentra, I really like the shape of it. Its not too big or too small. I stole one of them and test fitted it to the Accord. I wish I could keep it Honda but there none of them look as nice as this. The one posted here with 3g mirrors don't look right. The mirrors seems too big and don't fit the car at all.

Anyway, heres some pics:



The black trim need some work, nothing some fiberglassing work can't help.


Looks like its made for the Accord!


The base need some work. Not too hard I think. I could make that fit with proper brackets and stuffs.


So I'm off to the JY to find a set, preferably with power folding ones, or any other mirrors that might look okay (and cheap). Else the Nissan ones work just nice and I don't mind with it not being powered. How many times you actually adjust them lol

Any thoughts?

[Hazwan]

No wai!!!!11 They want too much for the damn mirrors. I guess I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for local listing. They practically throwing away the stock ones since they upgraded to power folding ones.

Anyway, I found this Accord at the JY, I don't understand why its there in the first place. The engine still runs, and other than minor damage on the exterior and flaking paint, its a lot better than 85% of them that still on the road.

Note the ghey mirrors. I hate them with passion!


Its JDM spec with power windows!






Also, I met with a 1g owner there with b16 swap. Hes in a hurry or else I'd get bunch of pics

Also John, if you really interested with the front turn signal and side marker lights, I could try to get them for you. Smaller parts like this shouldn't be much trouble, I think!

[Hazwan]

w00t I found a guy selling stock powered (non power folding though) for ~US$30. That was quick lol. I'm excited!

[Civic Accord Honda]

w000t w000t

[greentee76]

Those are some interesting looking rims on that j/y car.
Good luck with the mirror transplant.

[2ndGenGuy]

Cool, I like the mirrors idea. You've kinda got that old-school, but modern feel to your car anyways, so I think it's totally sweet. I think they would look great all painted up to match. You don't want the mirrors like we have, they are all loose and floppycock like that too. And I've yet to ever find a right-hand mirror. My 81 only has a left-hand mirror on it. So it's doubtful you'll find both sides.

What IS with that junkyard car? What is with the old-school Hondas over there? I would, and will NEVER just "run into" somebody who has an old Honda with an engine swap or anything. People here are so fucking whiney, they won't do any engine work without a "kit," I just love the get it done attitude that you guys have.

PM sent about the lights.

[Hazwan]

LMAO @ floppycock. I liked the style, but I guess the Nissan ones look better. I really wish its the power folding ones, but they are stupidly expensive. Well, I don't see the reason why I'm going to spend that much money on something that look cool without much function. How many times do you actually fold your mirrors anyway? Its not that I park in tight places. Even if I did, I can always fold them by hand.

Not everyone is exactly that cool over here. At least people over there would do the work with the kits. Most of them here are clueless about cars and its rare to see anyone working on their own car. Most of the work are done by mechanics so its not that the owners are cool.

[Hazwan]

Oh yes. The mirrors are here!!

Apparently, the seller didn't realize that left side is power folding unit. w00t! But finding right side is going to be a bitch. But eh, I'll keep my eyes open.

Left side with power folding and adjustment motor on the bottom.




The harness is already cut, so I have to extend them.


Heatshrinked the wires


Base grinned down


Template for the bracket made from cardboard.


Cut on a piece of scrap metal I had lying around.

[Hazwan]

Fitted the bracket




Almost there!


Went for a test drive (can't resist!) I can't believe how great the view is! And most important of all, no more ghey vibrations!!

I need to figure out how to properly secure the bracket. Right now its jammed under the window seal, just like the old mirrors.

Now all that left is to do the left side, wiring, fiberglass work and paint.

[Civic Accord Honda]

wow they look sweet! i like the way there painted just one part of it being colored instead of the whole thing

[Hazwan]

Both sides are done, all that left is fiberglass work, wiring and paint. I rattle canned it black for now until I feel like doing the paint work haha.

Video of the left side mirror in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHEq3P9PH8s

Grrrr now I have to find the right side too!

[Hazwan]

Few more pics:

[79cord]

Success!
Electric remote adjustment definitely a bonus.

My factory mirror is prone to 'automatically' folding back if buffeted by the wind above 100km/h.. Aside from the fact it's rusting out from the inside.

Were you tempted by all that extra interior chrome on that JDM wreck?

[Hazwan]

Success!
Electric remote adjustment definitely a bonus.

My factory mirror is prone to 'automatically' folding back if buffeted by the wind above 100km/h.. Aside from the fact it's rusting out from the inside.

Were you tempted by all that extra interior chrome on that JDM wreck?

Of course, but they are selling the whole door since the power windows are rare part, and it ain't cheap. Fuck that.

[Civic Accord Honda]

they look super fresh

[2ndGenGuy]

Damn dude looking good. I like your "scrap metal" being an old computer case, lmao! Your factory mirrors were jammed into the window seal too? I figured there would be a little triangle bracket there like on the 2gee, where there is no window. Looks great through! Loving it. I almost think they look great black. Are you gonna paint that middle section to match the car?

[Hazwan]

Damn dude looking good. I like your "scrap metal" being an old computer case, lmao! Your factory mirrors were jammed into the window seal too? I figured there would be a little triangle bracket there like on the 2gee, where there is no window. Looks great through! Loving it. I almost think they look great black. Are you gonna paint that middle section to match the car?

Factory mirror is mounted on the door skin, just like the USDM ones. The aftermarket is the one that is jammed into the window seal. It seem to work just fine after all these years so I figure out they shouldn't be a problem securing these mirrors, although its tiny bit heavier with all the motors and stuffs.

There are no other way to mount the mirrors since there are no triangles bracket thing unless I fit the one that is mounted on the door skin. I was looking at the powered ones from newer cars, but they are huge, and EXPENSIVE lol.

I'm going to fabricate better bracket with heavier gauge steel later as this one is rather flimsy. What do you expect from a cheap ass computer case?

[AccordB20A]

old computer cases are awesome patching material, i have some in my car blocking holes too

nice mirrors i think they look good, what a shame they both couldnt power fold that would be sick

[forrest89sei]

Nice Mirrors!

[Dr_Snooz]

Wow Hazwan when you decide to do something, you don't wait around. I'm loving what you're doing with that car. You're doing all kind of custom work and it's all top notch. There aren't many people can take it to the level you are. Keep it up!

[Hazwan]

Haha thanks! It sucks when you have limited funds to spend with. So many ideas, so little money!

Anyway, I kinda like the mirrors black. I chopped the mirror in body color. What you guys think?




I get mixed feelings with those. Body colored or black? I'm sucks at decision making lol

[Civic Accord Honda]

def body colored!! how many 1gees to see with color matching mirrors?

[2ndGenGuy]

Body colored! As long as you leave the black on there, that looks awesome!

[Pico]

I agree with 2ndGen, Body color with Black Trim.
Great fast work Hazwan

[Hazwan]

Updates!

I made another bracket to secure the mirror since people could 'accidentally' yank them off. It would suck if the mirrors somehow dropped or even stolen!






Trimming the err.. trim.


After some fiberglass and bondo work. Looks rough, but I need to get the basic shape first.


The worse part of doing this kind of work - sanding. I hate them.


Another thin coat of bondo to fill minor pits and scratches:


Almost done. There are few more holes and scratches. You can see the painted brackets in the background.


Man I hate sanding! Moar updates tomorrow.