Just put US mirrors on my vette
Discussion
Are they the standard Electric 'tear drop' type mirrors for thr C4?
They are a pig to get of because of having to take off the Door liners and the wiring tucks around things ,,its one of those jobs you look at and think 'wont take me long'....4 hours later!!,,did you have the 2 holes in the inner skin to access the 2 bolts?
They are a pig to get of because of having to take off the Door liners and the wiring tucks around things ,,its one of those jobs you look at and think 'wont take me long'....4 hours later!!,,did you have the 2 holes in the inner skin to access the 2 bolts?
I’d say the price you were quoted is good. Mine cost $254 each from Ecklers + gaskets at $11 a side. I also added the deflectors fitted to convertibles for $30 a pair (poor quality but I think they look OK and do the job).
Main problem at first is I didn’t realise there were access holes a couple of inches down from the mirror in the inside of the door. These enable you to get a socket (need a thin extension) on the nuts holding the mirror in. Otherwise you can see the nuts but can’t seem to get on them.
Hardest part is taking out the old mirror wires that are carefully routed to avoid being hit by the window. They are also held in place by clips that you have to find by feel. Tip here is to remove a couple of bolts holding the steel inner door panel to give your hands a bit more room. It’s still a bit of a squeeze though.
These new wires have to be routed correctly and the clips reinstalled or you could have some window interference problems.
Also if you haven’t taken a C4 door apart before be prepared for the number of wires they contain. If you’re clever you can get away with not undoing every connector but you have to be careful not to stretch any when you’re taking the panel off. I made sure all the switches worked before fully reinstalling the panels.
After learning a few things from the first door (that took me ages to do) I did the second door in about 3/4 of an hour.
No regrets here, this job is absolutely essential, apart from the looks I couldn’t help thinking how much top speed I must be losing!
Main problem at first is I didn’t realise there were access holes a couple of inches down from the mirror in the inside of the door. These enable you to get a socket (need a thin extension) on the nuts holding the mirror in. Otherwise you can see the nuts but can’t seem to get on them.
Hardest part is taking out the old mirror wires that are carefully routed to avoid being hit by the window. They are also held in place by clips that you have to find by feel. Tip here is to remove a couple of bolts holding the steel inner door panel to give your hands a bit more room. It’s still a bit of a squeeze though.
These new wires have to be routed correctly and the clips reinstalled or you could have some window interference problems.
Also if you haven’t taken a C4 door apart before be prepared for the number of wires they contain. If you’re clever you can get away with not undoing every connector but you have to be careful not to stretch any when you’re taking the panel off. I made sure all the switches worked before fully reinstalling the panels.
After learning a few things from the first door (that took me ages to do) I did the second door in about 3/4 of an hour.
No regrets here, this job is absolutely essential, apart from the looks I couldn’t help thinking how much top speed I must be losing!
malc350 said:
No regrets here, this job is absolutely essential, apart from the looks I couldn’t help thinking how much top speed I must be losing!
Malc there are a few wind traps on the 90's that could inhibit better top speed one area is the deep recessed fog/indicator light appertures at the front.
I know there is a black out kit that brings these appertues flush with the body work as ive seen them on a 90 in the past but as of yet havent seen them advertised for sale,,thats got to be worth a few mph.
Doh! here as well - I didn't spot the access holes at first either - lot easier when you do!
I don't know that the fog light area will trap air as evn if you add the blackout kit, air will force its way in via any gaps that exist around the covers. My experience with aftermarket leads me to believe there will be pleant of gaps, especially on something that fits into a rubber bumper!
As for top speed, Callaways have generally been stock bodied (apart from the odd "Aerobody" kitted example with US mirrors so I just wanted mine to be configured the same as those that have run 191.5 / 193 mph (even better!)
I'd imagine the Euro mirrors would knock a lot of top speed off.
Shame you haven't got your car here now Cliff, with the job fresh in my mind I reckon I'd even handle that tricky wire routing routine easily now!
I don't know that the fog light area will trap air as evn if you add the blackout kit, air will force its way in via any gaps that exist around the covers. My experience with aftermarket leads me to believe there will be pleant of gaps, especially on something that fits into a rubber bumper!
As for top speed, Callaways have generally been stock bodied (apart from the odd "Aerobody" kitted example with US mirrors so I just wanted mine to be configured the same as those that have run 191.5 / 193 mph (even better!)
I'd imagine the Euro mirrors would knock a lot of top speed off.
Shame you haven't got your car here now Cliff, with the job fresh in my mind I reckon I'd even handle that tricky wire routing routine easily now!
Malc, I reckon you are right about the top speed being reduced by those mirrors ! Do you know which parts of the aerobody were particularly effective in increasing the top speed to 191 ? That is quite an increase over the standard body so I wonder if we could borrow ideas for elvington etc....
Jason, although Callaway claimed that the Aerobody kit added 2 or 3 mph to top speed my suspicion is that this was to help justify the $7500 cost of the kit. If you look at it (especially the Testarossa like strakes that cover the rear lights and the bulging lower bodywork) I'd wonder if it didn't actually add to the drag coefficient (?) as well as to the weight of the car.
The C4 was a very streamlined car in its day and is still reasonably so. For example it only took 230 BHP to propel 1.5 tons of 1985 Corvette to 153 MPH, that's pretty impressive and points to a low CD (IMHO).
Interestingly the test I have of a "Euro" 1988 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette shows a measured top speed of 193 MPH and that is stock bodied except for a rather ugly front spoiler (similar to one you can buy from Ecklers). The car was tested using electronic speed measuring equipment on a German autobahn at 4.00 AM (can't wait till July!)
I think C4's probably don't need any help in the streamlining department. There are other bodykit manufacturers that claim they make a C4 more slippery, and all without GM's millions of develoment $$$!!!
There's a test somewhere of a stock 1996 Grand Sport Corvette (330 BHP LT4) running a top speed of over 170 MPH. When you consider it had slightly less HP than a C5 I'd say it uses its power very efficiently and must be almost as slippery as a C5. There's 13 years difference between the launch of the C4 and C5!
All I'd say is make sure you have US mirrors (or maybe no mirrors at all for Elvington) and make sure your aerial's down!
The C4 was a very streamlined car in its day and is still reasonably so. For example it only took 230 BHP to propel 1.5 tons of 1985 Corvette to 153 MPH, that's pretty impressive and points to a low CD (IMHO).
Interestingly the test I have of a "Euro" 1988 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette shows a measured top speed of 193 MPH and that is stock bodied except for a rather ugly front spoiler (similar to one you can buy from Ecklers). The car was tested using electronic speed measuring equipment on a German autobahn at 4.00 AM (can't wait till July!)
I think C4's probably don't need any help in the streamlining department. There are other bodykit manufacturers that claim they make a C4 more slippery, and all without GM's millions of develoment $$$!!!
There's a test somewhere of a stock 1996 Grand Sport Corvette (330 BHP LT4) running a top speed of over 170 MPH. When you consider it had slightly less HP than a C5 I'd say it uses its power very efficiently and must be almost as slippery as a C5. There's 13 years difference between the launch of the C4 and C5!
All I'd say is make sure you have US mirrors (or maybe no mirrors at all for Elvington) and make sure your aerial's down!
malc350 said:
All I'd say is make sure you have US mirrors (or maybe no mirrors at all for Elvington) and make sure your aerial's down!
Glad you guys have got Elvington in your sites
. On the subject of mirrors for Elvington and to be street legal to enter, a street legal car must have a mirror for the drivers side atleast (and an interior mirror),a passenger side mirror is not a requirement for an MOT(this was what i was told by an MOT inspector and one of the inspectors at Elvington).
Hope this helps you.
Having said that there were cars entering with no headlights,so they could channel cool air to their motors
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