Wing mirrors

[griff2be]

It must be that time of year when thoughts turn to hmmm.... what can I do to improve the Griff whilst its chucking down with rain out there over the winter.

Obviously the Citroen mirrors on the Griff are a supercar classic. However, as they collect more stone chips and the paint comes away from the 'ribbed' section (which I've never liked), I started thinking about the mirrors which are fitted to the last 100 Griffs and the Tamora.

I think I am correct that they come from the VW Corrado? I can get new ones for £95 plus vat each and I would think that breakers' yards would be a source of cheaper ones.. Would also need to get them painted of course.

The Griff with these has a small 'collar' which sits between the mirror base and the door, which presumably I would need to get from TVR.

Does anyone know if there is anything else particularly clever about mounting these mirrors (other than the nightmare which is removing the door panels)?

I expect the wiring will be different - well, the connectors anyway, but I reckon I can cope with that.

Anyone have any experience of doing this?

Thanks

Andy

[griff2be]

Any Griff 100 owners (who previously owned a non-100)able to comment on whether the door looks to be modified to accomodate these mirrors?

[griff2be]

shpub said:
Let's be honest...

If you have just bought a brand new Griff would you start taking it apart...

Anything can be done. How much money do you want to spend on it. The biggest issue will be the door and mirror mounts as everything else is noise.

Thanks for the informative response Steve, I'm much further forward now, thank you

Funnily enough it is the mounts I am asking about.
To be more specific, the mount arrangements inside the door don't concern me unduly because an effective but untidy mount will not be visible (i.e. a Heath Robinson arrangement).

I don't want to do anything that involves filler/painting the doors. The 'normal' Griff arrangement has a circular recess on the outside of the door that the mirror base is mounted into. The Griff 100 mirror base has a mount 'collar' that fits flush on the surface of the door. From memory I can't remember if the mount is big enough to cover the existing circular mount, or whether TVR will have modified the door mould to make the doors without the recess.

I don't expect and didn't ask anyone to start dismantling their brand new car...sometimes someone on here knows the answer - particularly if they previously had a 'normal' Griff..

Now where's my step ladder, I need to dismount and this horse is rather high

Looks like its the Austin Cambridge mirrors then. Unless I can modify some M3 mirrors a la Max Power NovaBoy.....NOT

[griff2be]

shpub said: Why not talk to TVR and ask them?

I will, but I'm not full of confidence if my experience of trying to get Mintex brake pad numbers from them is anything to go by.

Me: What Mintex pads does the Griff take?
TVR: Don't know, we don't stock them
Me: Ok, can you confirm the rear brake callipers are from a Ford XYZ?
TVR: Used to be able to tell you but now we're not allowed to. Sorry.

Usually someone on PH has 'been there, done that'. Not on this one though by the looks of it.

[griff2be]

Yup - that's exactly what they told me.

I tried a couple of things like 'as I'm fitting upgraded pads not cheap crappy ones could you perhaps just grunt when I mention the right donor car' but they wouldn't play ball.

I understand their reasons but as the cars become older it could become quite frustrating when TVR no longer stock parts for Griffs and you have no choice other than to track down the donor car parts.

[griff2be]

The motor factor I spoke to about Corrado mirrors asked what year the car was - I replied 1999 TVR Griffith which surprised him a bit. Well ok, a lot. I explained they were fitted to some current TVRs and he said it was 'a bloody stupid choice because VW are notorious for stopping manufacture of parts for cars out of production. Why the hell would they put mirrors from an obolete motor on a new car like the Tamora...?'

I have to admit I couldn't really find an appropriate answer.

How do you Wedge boys get on - are there some parts that are so rare you would sell your right arm for if they became available?

[Griff2be]

Thanks Clive. Exactly the info I was hoping for!

[Griff2be]

I'll see if the factory sell the adaptor collars. If these are available then the conversion to the last 100 Griff/Tamora mirrors (i.e. Corrado mirrors) should be 'relatively' easy. Other than painting and removing the door cards that is!.

If and when I do this I'll take a few photos of the steps involved and post them up.

I belive Zertec do some different mirrors, including some with indicator repeaters built in. Don't know the price though.

[griff2be]

Henley Heritage told me this morning that TVR said they could only supply spacer blocks with mirrors as a complete unit at £160 + VAT. This put my rodent detector on a high state of alert, and HH commented that they could only go by what the factory told them and if I didn't agree with the answer, perhaps I should call TVR direct.

A swift call to the factory revealed that spacer blocks are available: TVR part no's B1122 and B1123. £17.50 plus VAT each.

HH Bless 'em.

...switches to dream (nightmare) scene, Scoobydoo stylee:

Me: Hello, is that the HH parts dept?
HH: Yes it is, how may we help you?
Me: I'd like an oil filter for a Griff 500 please.
HH: I'm afraid TVR don't supply the filter separately sir. It comes as a complete unit with a Griff 500
Me: Oh I see. How much is the complete unit?
HH: About £37,000 sir. Can I take a credit card number?

Doh!

[griff2be]

I'll let you know how 'simple' it is in the next couple of weeks. Usually the words 'simple' and 'TVR' do not sit well together. I've yet to find out if the mounting bracket inside the door is different and how easily the VW wiring fits into the existing loom. The parts chap at TVR did say that the bracket was the same, but who knows... he might have been talking about cars built on a Tuesday...

[griff2be]

I now have the mounting blocks from TVR (£17.50 each)and some mirrors (£45 each) on their way from a scrapyard. I was offered a pair of mirrors for £50, but the mirror glass was a bit corroded so I passed - VW want £50 for new glass (thats each!)

I am now advised that you can put standard mirror glass in as the heater element peels off the back - but there you go - you live and learn.

The blocks are shaped so that they fit directly into the existing mirror mounting points, using the same bolt as the Citroen mirrors. The Corrado mirrors then bolt onto the block through their base.

I will need to drill the blocks to enable the wiring to pass through - and no doubt the VW connector block will not fit and will need re-wiring.

The blocks are hand made in a mould, with brass nuts embedded into the resin and then machined down to size. I now see why they are £17.50 - it seemed a lot for a small lump of plastic, but there is clearly a fair bit of labour involved in making them!

Overall, changing to the newer style mirrors does not look that complex - although I will reserve final judgement until I try to fit them.

I also have yet to arrange painting, but am hoping that the cost should be relatively low as there is no dismantling required.

I'll post up some pictures of before, during and after, plus total costs.