mirror removal

[Henry's HenryJs]

I went to remove the mirror and the mounting rod just turns in the(?) bracket in the roof. I tried reaching in where the ceiling light was but could not get my fingers in to feel it. What advice can you give me before I cut the roof off to remove it? Thanks, Henry.

[joefrazer]

I believe there's a caged nut in the roof panel that must have broken loose. Try getting a pair of needle nose vice grips into the opening. With any luck you might be able to grip the nut and get the mirror to turn loose.

[Fid]

If it's a '53 Henry J (evident by you stating you reached in the ceiling light) then something's not original as the '53 Henry J had the mirror mounted on the center windshield division bar. You may be dealing with something someone else installed and that could complicate things.  Is this your '53? If so, it's not original if the mirror mounts through the headliner.

A '53 mirror mounts like this :


Even the four cylinder model '53s have a single chrome (stainless actually) bar down the center just for mounting the mirror.
Here's the earlier style, as Joe describes.


I've never had one of these out so I don't know what's under that headliner.

[Henry's HenryJs]

Sorry guy's it is on our 51. From what Joe says looks like I'm going to be intimate with the roof, Henry.

I should change my name on here, if so how do I do it without losing my posts?

[Fid]

I figured it had to be your '51 but sometimes you can never be too sure. Joe's advice is  likely the best to follow.