My F1 Style Mirrors Project

[Tye300]

My F1 Style Mirrors Project

I've always wanted the Craftsquare side mirrors ever since I saw the TRD Griffon. I just could not justify the price for it. I was offered a similar style F1 type mirror which was a universal type only, the price was significantly less and it gave me a reason to make it a project, so here it went.

The side mirrors are above average quality, with real carbon fiber, not the carbon fiber looking ones.

The base and swivel joint is sturdy and tight, so adjustments can be held in place even at speed. I began searching the net for the TRD Griffon and studied how they mounted the CS mirrors. I found some pictures on Speedhunters.com.

It seems they used the universal mount also, with the base screwed on the bottom hole and the other hole bolted on the custom base plate. The base plate is then bolted on the other two stock mounting holes.

I then took the stock mirrors off and made a pattern of the base with cardboard, transferred it to a stainless steel plate, and after checking the fit, went on painting it body color.

I now had my own custom base, but the difference is that I took of the universal mount and screwed the base directly on the the plate. The mirror base has three screws which if you take out leaves you with just the mount.

I also reused the rubber gasket from the stock mirrors, which gives off a better finished look. I also sourced some hex-type bolts which would look better than the stock bolts.

Here is the finished product. The mirrors can be easily removed and the stock ones put back on for daily driving.

[mmmcambelsoup]

sick, where did you source the mirrors?

[Flat Black VW]

I like it!

In for a mirror source.

[Tye300]

Although I got them locally, these look pretty similar.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/F1-CARBON-FI...6af377&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DD-F1-Racing...8dde5d&vxp=mtr

[FRSToyota86]

Originally Posted by Tye300

Although I got them locally, these look pretty similar.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/F1-CARBON-FI...6af377&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DD-F1-Racing...8dde5d&vxp=mtr

The ones on ebay are similar but the arms seems a lot shorter and the arm is coming out centered more towards the pointy edge than the ones you goy locally. Is there anyway you can give us a part number or a brand?

[Tye300]

Originally Posted by FRSToyota86

The ones on ebay are similar but the arms seems a lot shorter than the one you goy locally. Is there anyway you can give us a part number or a brand?

Sorry bro. No part number or brand. I just got them off a local guy. The mirrors don't even come in a box!

[continuecrushing]

sweet! The bracket/cover on the car was my biggest hold back for a project like this.

Looks Good!

[Jyn]

Really good English por a pilipino.:thumbs_up:

[Vracer111]

For anybody wanting good quality racing mirrors check out Pegasus Racing link below:

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/ad...goryID=MIRRORS

You can get them in either carbon fiber or paintable nylon housing and with flat or convex mirror.

I'm about to finally do my mirror install this weekend...since I now have the JPM door pads to install as well.

[swarb]

@Vracer111
Thanks for the link. Please post pictures of install or when done.
Let us know if they are tight, the cheaper ones are known to be not too tight so the wind can blow them out of alignment.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by swarb

@Vracer111
Thanks for the link. Please post pictures of install or when done.
Let us know if they are tight, the cheaper ones are known to be not too tight so the wind can blow them out of alignment.

Since car is really dirty and its in the garage I'm not going to give overall picture but here's two closer ones:





The way these mirrors mount require adjustment off the car, with set screw on back side of base... once you have the mirror setup you don't need to touch it though, so quite a bit of work upfront to get it perfect, but eh no big deal to me. Used 1/8" 6061 aluminum sheet to make the plates and just got some cheap temporary Zinc M6 x 16mm plated countersunk screws with phillips head for now until I can locate some nice stainless hardware (hopefully tomorrow at ACE hardware...). I will be painting the plates black this weekend...wanted to see how the plain aluminum looked plus not paint it until I made sure everything was worked out on it.

The mirrors hold fine with no issues from what I have tested so far....went 90+ and no movement at all. Even though they are MUCH smaller than the factory mirrors I can see much better with them...I can see across 4 lanes of traffic with the drivers side mirror and a car alongside me is still in the mirror. Since it's a convex mirror though...objects are much closer than you are used to with the factory mirrors and more distorted - I think I'm about adjusted to it now though. The triangular windows in front of the drivers and passenger windows are now completely unobstructed, so there is even more visibility there as well... There's basically ZERO blind spots with these mirrors!

For the overall vehicle appearance, I really like how the mirror is not a dominant feature anymore and blends more into the body.... now you can really appreciate the body lines without the mirror sticking out like a sore thumb. With the plates black, it should blend in very well.

[swarb]

which model did you go for? they have a couple models, f1, lemans, club gt. Did you get the convex lens?

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by swarb

which model did you go for? they have a couple models, f1, lemans, club gt. Did you get the convex lens?

They are the Club GT with convex lenses, no way I would get a non-convex racing mirror this size, you would be cutting the stock view roughly in half with a flat lens mirror. The CIS GT would be a nice step up for a bigger mirror and probably be more perfectly proportioned in size for the car, but I think even though the normal GT's are fairly small in surface area I see everything I need to and have no issues with them. The CIS GT are also $380...

[Vracer111]

Here's a link to another post with pictures I just took before sunset this evening:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...postcount=1006