Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Hi Guys,

I am putting a 51 on a S 10 frame and was wondering what you are all using for outside mirrors. (I did a search and found very little info)

I am looking for a small (4 inch round+/-) mirror for each side, that looks clean, and works well. (not big "truck" mirrors)

I have heard that the "swan necks" shake so much that you can't see anything, and that some passenger side mirrors don't adjust enough to work, unless you shim them.....and , do the "peep" mirrors provide enough of a view?

I am about the assemble the windows in my doors and it would be great to attach the mirrors before all the glass goes in.

Please post pics of your mirrors, where they came from, and any info on what you like, or don't like about your mirrors.

Thanks in advance

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I had the 4" peep mirrors and hated them. couldn't see a thing behind me. Recently I found a pair of 4 X 6 convex mirrors at o'rilley's which I mounted on some short arms I had laying around. They seem to work well, but haven't road tested them yet what with the "virus vacation" stay at home. im afraid of being pulled over driving the truck.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Thanks for putting this question out there, it is something I have no idea what I want for my truck. Something I would like to hear opinions on as well is rear view cameras. I think the right one might be very helpful with the blind spots our trucks have, anybody using one?

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I fabricated a set using 5" convex heads. I have a panel truck, so the blind spot is huge, but I can still see fine with these.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

The stock mirror on my 51 works fine.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

nvrdone - thanks for that input, I was afraid of that, I am no longer considering 'Peep" mirrors as an option.

MiraclePie - thanks for the pics, and nice fab work. I was hoping to get something 'off the shelf', and I think the convex would be a good feature. also.......your panel looks really good


anyone else? pics , comments, dos and don'ts,... ?

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

MiraclePie: How long did you make the arms on your mirrors? Nice work btw.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Myself I just used a LMC reproduction chrome arm with a ribbed 5" chrome mirror. Bolted it down with some old bolts I found in my bolt bucket to add to the patina vibe.

As far as I can tell it should work good. I haven't driven the truck yet but sitting in the drivers seat and looking behind me I can see good.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

NeoJuice, thanks for the info, and pics.

Someone told me that style (long arm) shake so bad at driving speed that you can't see out of them......... I guess you will find out..

Thanks again .......... I like the look

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I had the peep mirrors and they were garbage so I took them off. Depending on the year of truck you have and if you have the window vent (pre-1951 no vent) they might work. But for 51+ the window vent is in the way almost no matter where you put the peep mirror.

My two bits.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I have a 51, so I have the vent windows to consider.

I have seen the peep mirrors at the top of the door frame also......not sure how well they would work.??

Thanks again for your input, I was hoping to find a mirror set (both left and right) to bolt onto the door, just below the 'belt line'. I did find a set, but the reviews said that the passenger side would not 'angle in' enough to work, unless you install a shim

The search continues.......

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I had the peep mirrors on both sides. On the drivers side the vent is in the way and you are correct on the passenger side the mirror wont pivot enough to make anything visible. I found this out as well and sold the mirrors on Kijiji for what I could get for them.

That's why I removed them and put on the drivers side stock one and left the passenger side off. If your shoulder checking the passenger side you can see right out the rear window so I figured the passenger side wasn't needed either then for looks.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Somewhere in one of the sheds I have a box with probably a half dozen peep mirrors tossed in it because I didn't learn a thing with the first one and bought other slightly different ones.

In the mid 70's when I was living in McGregor Tx my buddy Jr Fisher was a mechanic at the Chev garage in town and I was looking for mirrors for the 48 and he says that he had just what I needed that were new take offs from new trucks for 5 bucks each. He got me a pair of 73 to? Chevy C 10 sport mirrors and I have pretty well run them ever since. They look good as long as you aren't shooting for the "traditional" look they don't shake and new from the truck trinket vendors and while not cheap run about 40 each. https://www.classicparts.com/1973-87...ctinfo/58-123/
https://i173.photobucket.com/albums/...02-0933-02.jpg

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

In the last 50+ years i have had about every type of mirror. The peeps look great but are downright dangerous for me -- Age, declining eyesight and other issues make it worse. I finally went back to OEMs with 4x5". I have a nearly full size panoramic on the Passenger side. This works great.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I like those rectangular ones on the the lifted truck @vintovka. It "fits". Like most things, I think it depends on the application.

Useless round mirrors here tho. :waah:

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Nice looking truck

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

mr48 - thanks for the info, I am hoping to find something just like that, but round.

vintovka - on your truck, a lifted 4x4 , those look great, but I was hoping for something smaller

Chris (NJ) - those are the mirrors that I have found everywhere (Round Swan Neck) but I have been told they shake so bad when moving, that they are useless....and I am afraid that walking around the truck in the garage, I will be bumping into them.

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Thanks!

Yea, they do vibrate but I wouldn't say they're useless for that reason. I'd just prefer a higher quality glass in them. Next time I'm driving the truck I'll try to get a quick video of them for ya. The reason I stick with them is because I like the aesthetics of them above all else for my particular application.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

If you're looking for mirrors like Mr48's but round. I have used early Mustang mirrors on several projects. I have never tried them on an AD truck but they should give you what you're looking for.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/exterior...waAqiqEALw_wcB

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

They look good, thanks. I will check them out.


I find that the top of the door panels on 60's cars had a level/horizontal body style that was good for mounting mirrors, where the AD trucks are almost a straight vertical drop, so it makes mounting a mirror difficult.


Thanks again for the suggestion

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Yes the large mirrors are a must even with a 4" lift and 5 window cab. Very first trip with the peeps, i absolutely couldn't see cars on my right. On my left the vent window interfers with both the view and the vent operation. The clamp on peeps also vibrated badly as well. Seems all ADs are set up for L&R OEM mirrors and easily to install. Those engineers back then knew what they were doing. If considering the large mirrors like mine you may have to add a 1 to 1.5" extension to the OEM left bracket to get clearnce/view you want. ick your mirrors carefully as one of mine has steel backing screws that have begun to rust. Mine does not vibrate BTW.

My shrinking stature also makes the larger mirrors more important. Even had to ad an extension to the rear view mirror to see well behind me. My shaded slider window may have been a mistake as well but too late now. There are some mod pics on the link below if interested.

I think whatever you choose a panoramic mirror on the right is best. I see almost all new cars have one for this reason. Might look ugly but a wreck is really ugly!

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Something like these might work for round mirrors that don't have long stalks https://www.ebay.com/itm/Camaro-Impa...UAAOSwx6pYrur4

I'm not sure if the brackets will work on AD truck doors but the 60/65 mirrors have a real truck look to them. Means drilling a bunch of holes though an they might be a tad hard to mount on an AD https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-T...sAAOSw8U9cVPFs

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

The replacement doors I got for my 71 GMC are 67/69 doors with the holes for the long stalk mirrors and I am going to buy the chrome 67/69 brackets and run square aftermarket mirrors on mine. I don't like the mirrors I have and still need to tow my car trailer and my Bayliner with it.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

vintovka - thanks for the info, no one seems to like the Peeps, and they all say they regret buying them. .... so they are definitely off my list. and you are right, a convex mirror on the pass. side would be great.

mr48 - those Chevelle/Impala mirrors would be fine, I am just worried about the mounting angle on an AD....if they can mount like the pic you posted of that purple chopped AD (I think that is the same truck as your red one?) that would be great. You are right, the 60 - 65 mirrors do look 'truck like' , and I am trying to go for a more streamline look. (if that makes sense)


Thanks for all your help guys, I have some shopping to do and some decisions to make.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Depending on how big of a hurry you are in the Chevy car trinket guys who sell impala or Chevelle parts usually have those mirrors at the shows. The heads swival so you can square up the mirror and bowtie if you run the ones with bowties or with the ones they sell without the bowtie you have a bit more leeway as far as moving them around and adjusting. I was thinking about switching to those on my 48 at one time. Yep purple primer one is the red one. I used to have my buddy mix up a gallon of purple primer with his choice of the mix once a year and redo the primer just before the big local show to wheel in with fresh primer. That photo was taken at the Run to Roslyn in Roslyn Wa that friends of mine started and I attended for about 24 years straight.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

The one thing i did like about OEM is don't have to mess with the window and vent glass/mechanism. Just went to PO just now and had a tiny smart car pull up next to me on right. Could only see it in the convex. Was turning left but would have been a disaster to turn right. Also all the events around here are canceled , like indefinitely.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

all the events are cancelled around here as well.

I can remember seeing all kinds of mirrors at swap meets last year, but I didn't look this far ahead for my build.

Thanks for all your help guys

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Did you ever find any mirrors that you like? I'm thinking about mirrors for my 49. In city traffic I find myself looking over my shoulders left and right making sure I don't hit someone when changing lanes.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I used peep mirrors attached to the doors. They worked just fine although I did get the convex "wide angle" version. Originally had regular glass mirrors and the viewing size was far too small.

https://www.classicparts.com/1941-87...ctinfo/58-502/

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e5c367a1_z.jpg

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Hey Zippi,

I have not found anything yet.

I did get some old round mirrors from a 1964 Pontiac project that I had lying around and tried them, but they would not mount high enough to clear the beltline.

This is the best I have found so far....large enough to be useful, and small enough to not stand out.........I think???

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Swan-...rors,2262.html

Once I have the truck on the road, I will start looking again.


I am still open to all suggestions, and pics are always helpful.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

bowtiebits sells a 5" stainless mirror that mounts on the stock mirror arm, I have used it in the past.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7824/4...24b11367_b.jpgIMG_3096 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

LOVE THIS TRUCK. I do prefer the stock looking mirrors. I do not have a passenger side mirror would love to find an original patina one for my junk

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Just a note. My big mirrors saved my butt again just recently. Those pesky electric cars tend to sneak up on you with only minimal tire noise as a warning. Also those silly smart cars are hard to see as well. About turned into one on my right and only saw it in the panoramic addon in the pass side at last moment. Silent as hell and sneaky too. My only gripe about mine is the body is stainless but the mirror screws are not. Sea air here will require replacement soon.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Good tip on the source for the mirror heads. I especially like the price...almost as much as I like that red truck...

Marc

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

I'm using swan necks with oval mirrors with no issues. While I can see the passenger side, with it being a 5 window, I find myself looking over my shoulder more than looking in the mirror.

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

mobileortho - thanks for the pic, nice looking truck.

I really like the shape of the arms of your mirrors, as I think they would be very visible from the divers seat. Do you know if they offer the same arm with round mirrors? or, do you know where they were purchased? or manufacturer??

Thanks again for the pic

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Yes, a lot of places offer the mirrors with round mirror heads. I ran these on my 48. I think I bought them from eBay.

Marc

Re: Outside Mirrors - which ones to buy
 

Tempest67, there are several vendors that sell them, I don't recall where I bought mine but check out this link:

https://www.google.com/search?q=swan...w=1920&bih=937