Better than folding in your mirrors

[chuckm]

What about a periscope-type set up?

[bondo]

Since we are on the subject of mirrors, on the 2004 - 2008 Ford F-150 (and I think the earlier models too), the sail panels on the door the mirror attaches to is flat. I have noticed the sail panels on the new 2009 F-150's have a bulge in the surface about a quarter inch in depth.

I'll bet this was done for better aerodynamics. Ford spent alot of wind tunnel time on the new 2009 F-150 and they must have found that a little curving of the sail panels by the mirrors is better than just a flat surfaced sail panel.

This would be an easy modification for any side view mirror with a sail panel, it will just take, you guessed it, a little bondo.

Bondo

[alohaspirit]

it would help aero

it would be kinda a pain to use

but mod wise its pretty pimp


i could see it in a car show

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

If you could boattail a mirror, you'd reduce its drag drastically. Alas, even a glass boattail would probably distort the image unacceptably.

cozx2 tried that, out of clear plastic. didn't report results.

[lunarhighway]

What about a periscope-type set up?

i've been thinking if it wouldn't be possible to make someting with a periscope like mirror arrangement that dousn't require any external components, but still has the same field of vision.

the problem with mirrors is that they do a complex thing, so easy and cheaply. once mirror setups get to complex = expensive, new cheap camera+lcd setups will be much more interesting.

[cfg83]

Frank -

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

cozx2 tried that, out of clear plastic. didn't report results.

I tried something similar(?) to that :

Side View Mirror Downsize

Originally Posted by cfg83

...



...

But the Easter egg had a lot of reflection and didn't perform well, so I retired it.

CarloSW2

[Frank Lee]

I don't know what's more interesting- the egg or the farm on the dash! LOL

[botsapper]

People have mentioned many times about cleaning & adding a boatail to OEM side mirrors or making an optimal mirror shape replacement.

I studied it w/ simple models & viewed the inevitable sun reflections that could hamper vision. The other concerns are snow/dirt buildup, internal/exterior fogging, material hazing, inherent design clearances. This could be aftermarket addition or OEM replacement.

Any thoughts & other concerns?

[cfg83]

botsapper -

Great pix. How about making the "inner clear portion that the driver looks at" flat so that there is (hopefully) less reflection?

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

Frank -

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I don't know what's more interesting- the egg or the farm on the dash! LOL

Hee hee hee. I have a theory that when people get mad at me on the road, they get sidetracked by all the crapola on my dash and everywhere else in my car.

Why you gull-durned slow-pokin' piece of ... what ... huh ... is that a solar ?!?!?! ... Pokemon?

CarloSW2