Skeeter's New Mods

[i_am_socket]

Finally got some parts coming in and it's time to make my few aeromods a bit more permanent.

First up is the driver's side mirror swap. The stock mirrors are pretty big and blocky with huge attachment posts. Since a utility truck at work was nice enough to break off one of my mirrors and hand me a check for the value of a stock replacement + installation, I picked up a new pair of mirrors for dirt cheap plus a replacement grill. Anywho, the new mirrors are much more aero-looking than stock.





I'll post pics of some of the progress/steps once it's on (currently on my desk at work).

Thanks to generically made aftermarket mirrors, I have a stock-ish blanking plate for my passenger side instead of the mess it currently is. I'll be taking care of that tomorrow, I just need something to fill the flat shape in the blank (as shown later) so it's removable.

Also thanks to the mirror fund, the replacement upper grill that I got will be the beginning of a more clean and more permanent grill block than my current packing tape solution. Picks of that to come once it's delivered.

[cfg83]

i_am_socket -

Can you send that utility truck over to my place? I need it to hit my front bumper so I can do some aero-mods on that, .

I like the pictures. Sounds like it's going ot be a very clean mod!

CarloSW2

[gascort]

Better get pics of the old mirrors on there before you take them off! We want to see.

[i_am_socket]

Well, pics of the old mirror won't be a problem since it's back on. On the drive home yesterday I learned that the best angle the new mirror can be set at only shows what's behind me if I lean all the way up to the steering wheel; so completely useless as a side-view mirror. I don't think it'd even pass inspection. So this whole mirror thing is on hold until I can get a different set. >:-(

Also, still haven't received the grill 10 days later and now I'm getting rather angry that things aren't going smoothly. How dare they not go smoothly?! I shake my fist at these things getting in my way!

[i_am_socket]

And the mod gods reach down and smack me; "what are you doing returning them!?"

Returning the mirrors would result in a some-what net loss, so I'm going to bend them to my will and make them work how I want. This leaves me with the blanking panel for the passenger side to make that whole thing nice and removable.

Also, the grill finally came in, so new toys all around! (also fun what my fiance's "what do you mean, 'new grill'?" reaction)

[i_am_socket]

Reviving this thread from the grave now that there has been progress:

No pics at the moment as I'm at work and they're at home and ne'er the twain shall meet apparently (stupid dead battery). Anywho, the new sideview mirror has been bent to my will and is awaiting Sunday (when I have time) to be installed. The tempermary passenger mirror delete is 99% completed, I just need to figure out how to make it stay flush(er) with the door.

The new job has long hours and lots of work so I can't just cruise around forums all day anymore :-( The new commute is also on faster highways but with a few good P&G opportunities, so with the scant free time I have now I'll be working on some more aero mods. Next up is the tempermary upper grill block, and after that I'll be playing with front air dam designs.

Did you know people leave coroplast just sitting on the sides of the road? What are they thinking ;-) Details of modding and installation with pics on Sunday (I hope).

[i_am_socket]

TADA! All done with the mirrors. (maybe some minor mods down the line, but it works for now)

I'll split this in two posts 'cuz the driver's side one was a much bigger pain in the rear. On to the passenger side mirror delete!

This is the blanking plate that came with the new mirror set. It has a bit of a cavity that the mirror is supposed to fit into. Whatever.


Here it is with the handy-dandy coroplast filler plate.


A little black rattle can later and we've got a nice plate to go on.


Here is my car at it was after the truck so thoughtfully broke off the mirror.


And with the plate. Much better. Looks far less accidental.


That was a lot of packing tape.


Ah. So clean. Gotta fix the alignment, but it's fine for now.

[i_am_socket]

Next up is the driver's side. The issue as stated a couple posts above is that the after-market mirror gave me a wonderful view of... me looking at the mirror. The problem looked to be the turn signal lighting stuff that was blocking the mirror from rotating far enough to give a decent view of traffic. So, a few broken clips and some screws later, the lighting was removed.

No pics of that part as apparently they fell into the ether while I got a new phone.

Here's the mirror with the lighting removed


The clear plastic lighting cover wouldn't really look clean as-is.


Some black spray-paint on the inside to give it that nice shiny look without the work of sanding


Nice and clean


Here's a side by side of the mirrors.


And here's the best direct comparison I could do to show the reduction in frontal area.


Here's where the fun began. The same issues came up on the passenger side, but I cheated and just ended up bending the interior door panel. The problem begins with "there's a speaker in my way." It sits on the same bolts that the mirror does.


The only way to get my ratchet in there is to pull back the panel. Instead of bending the panel, I figured I should probably remove it. All the plastic bits popped out as they should. Of course there were screws like this one hiding in the door handle cavity,


this one under the arm-rest,


and this one behind the window buttons. I couldn't figure out how to remove this one since the faux wood panel decided it really wanted to be in my way and I couldn't figure out how to remove it without breaking it. So I bent the panel slightly less than the passenger side.


Once removed, we've got some nice empty space.


Bolted on, it shows a useful outside view, huzzah! I'll have to grind down the mounting posts behind the glass itself if I want it further out, and I didn't feel like taking the time to rewire the motorized component. But it works!


Here's the old one in place


and the new hotness.


I'll be working on the grill block next, which I'm hoping won't take quite as long as this project once I get started.

[Funny]

[QUOTE=i_am_socket;55694]
and this one behind the window buttons. I couldn't figure out how to remove this one since the faux wood panel decided it really wanted to be in my way and I couldn't figure out how to remove it without breaking it. So I bent the panel slightly less than the passenger side.

QUOTE]

Nice mod. My fiance has the same year Corolla, and I recently replaced all her speakers (the stock ones in the rear were blown when she got it). The window buttons can easily be pried upward with a putty knife with masking tape on it or other wide area thin prying tool. you won't damage the burlwood plastic plate and it makes getting at the screws a little less rediculous.

As a side note, not all aftermarket speakers will fit without modification to this vehicle. I installed Kenwood speakers all around and all the mount areas needed modification to properly fit. Just my $0.02.

[cfg83]

i_am_socket -

Very classy of you to take all those pictures. I usually miss a few in between shots that show the "vital details" because I'm anxious to "make it work".

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

Next up is the driver's side. ...

And here's the best direct comparison I could do to show the reduction in frontal area.


...

This is the best photo for me because you get a real sense for the size change.

CarloSW2