VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Peep Mirrors on a 38 Master

So I took delivery of my 38 Master Four Door today. I had purchased some peep mirrors to mount on the doors. I discovered that there already was one on the driver's side so I attempted to install one on the passenger side. What I am finding is the door fit is too close to allow enough space for the mirror mounting clamp. It interferes with the closing of the door. I really want a mirror on that side but I don't know what to do.

A peep mirror is a small mirror that clamps to the rain deflector over the wing vent window.
What have you got?

OK, so as it turns out, there was one installed on the door frame, on the drive's side. I thought that it was supposed to go on the frame. I was attempting to attach it to the rain deflector on the passenger's side but I didn't know if the deflector was strong enough.

Is there another type of mirror available? I sort of wish there were hinge pin mirrors available.

The more corect mirror is the conventional clamp-on the front door edge mirror like what they offered in 1938. BA-112 is the number in the F.S. catalog.
The hinge pin mirrors were for the early "square" cars.

Chevgene,
thanks, that is exactly the information that I needed. By the way, I am having a great time test driving my new 38!

my 38 chevy does the same thing, door sits too far in and I can't put a clamp mirror on. I loosened the top door hinge and pulled it out a little bit, but it's still not enough. I also tried the peep mirror on the rain gutter, but i have the vent shades, so if I put on the peep mirror, I can't open the vent window. Right now I just keep looking over my shoulder and hope I don't get a ticket.

Yes, there is nothing like getting a new toy....and one you can play with without working on it.
I had a Chevrolet peep mirror on my '39 (same body) and it was limited. Ended up installing some period looking front door edge mirrors and worked well.

I put the optional peep mirror on my rain gutter which required alot of grinding of the mirror to fit only to have it be useless. The mirror looks cool and identical to the 1938 catalog, but useless. I cannot adjust it see behind me. I will take Chevgene's advice and try the FS BA-112.
Thank you.
Mike A

Chevgene,
is that mirror good for the passenger side too?

It is designed to mount on either side.
The mirror that looks most like the one Chevrolet offered is the King Bee mirror but is a little pricy.

I had another look at the gap along the front edges of the front doors and there is nowhere that I can see where a clamp will fit without interfering. I am really starting to get hung up on this mirror thing!

So is the "king bee" offered by one of the vendors?

Chevgene,
could you tell me where the King Bee mounts, like below or above the belt line? When I finish doing the brakes and get this car certified, I am going to have a body shop adjust the front doors rearward. I would do it myself but I don't want to damage the paint.

Should a clamp on mirror fit? My door on my 2 door sedan offers no room to install mirror with clamp. King Bee's are too expensive. Waiting for a 50% discount before I fork out money for King Bee. The side view Peeps are so much more affordable if they fit
-Any affordable alternative to King Bee's?
Thank
Mike

My doors were too tight to the front to allow a clamp on. There is a style of peep mirror being sold on Ebay and elsewhere that looks great and is absolutely useless. I think the solution is to install a mirror where the screws go into the sheet metal. Chevs of the 40s sells them for convertibles.

So I guess the 38 does not have the rain deflectors over the wing windows???That's where the peep mirror is mounted on my 48..I have the original GM mirror

The deflectors are there but the aftermarket mirrors made to mount there don't fit without some grinding, either on the mount or the body part. I wasn't prepared to do either so it's on the shelf in favor of an edge mount clamp on mirror.

I have the deflectors on my 38 and the peep mirrors that I bought will attach but cannot be adjusted to an angle that is useful.

Interesting...I thought at one time I had aftermarket one installed on the deflector

I ground my Peep mirror to fit gutter, but it is useless because of angle like Old216 mentioned. I wish the King Bee's were more affordable. I keep thinking what hard to find accessory I can buy for $180.

Here is my GM peep mirror which is mounted on my 48's wing window rain deflector



Here is the aftermarket mirror that was mounted prior to getting the correct mirror "it fit fine"

FYI...the aftermarket mirror shows up in the COT40's paper catalog but not on line???