camper mirror hardware

[catch2otwo]

What are you guys using for hardware to attach your camper mirrors? Mine have these awful looking lag bolt giant screws. They are no longer biting into the door and loosen pretty quick. I dont want to go up a size so looking into a more elegant solution.

[DeadheadNM]

For camper and below eyeline mirrors the lag screws are correct GM. If you don't want to upsize 1) remove the door panels and tackle attachment with a nut and bolt or 2) weld up the holes, drill 'em out, and reuse the OEM lag screws.

[catch2otwo]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

For camper and below eyeline mirrors the lag screws are correct GM. If you don't want to upsize 1) remove the door panels and tackle attachment with a nut and bolt or 2) weld up the holes, drill 'em out, and reuse the OEM lag screws.

lol wow can't believe they are OEM. Looks like ill do a bolt and nut solution. Thanks!

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by catch2otwo

lol wow can't believe they are OEM. Looks like ill do a bolt and nut solution. Thanks!

Original was the lag bolt as noted above. I agree it was a lousy attachment method. When I did mine I noticed that the late 70s vans used what I have pictured below. Since I was looking for a better solution than the original and wasn't trying for a absolutely correct restoration I did it like the vans were. This way the doors are sealed from the elements (the exposed part is soft vinyl coated) and the mirror legs do not contact the paint. The inserts are available at NAPA stores. The bolts shown are from a van.

[DeadheadNM]

You bet! Good luck

[DeadheadNM]

x2 - I used vinyl washers for my K20 build.

[FirstOwner69]

Just to clarify what I showed in my post above (#5). The first picture in post #5 is of a jack nut that requires a larger hole, is installed and then expanded inside the door. It requires a 1/4" bolt and provides a secured nut to bolt to.

Here's a link to the jack nut and a picture on my below eyeline mirrors installed.
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...629_0006391353

[FirstOwner69]

Just found these on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-GM-And-Ch...#ht_2910wt_821

[special-K]

Nutserts

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by special-k

nutserts

x2

[catch2otwo]

Thanks for the ideas. I was thinking of how to "thread the hole". I'll swing by Napa and see what they have

[davischevy]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...m8wellnuts.jpg

[catch2otwo]

I think Im going to go with the jack nut solution linked via ebay.

Question about the nutserts.

Are those usually riveted into more substantial material, i.e. metal tubing or thicker sheets of metal. Does a door skin really have enough meat to hold a nutsert? Just curious never used them before. Thinking out loud, would they distort the door skin when you rivet it on?

[Ironhorse]

Just a thought but when I installed my camper mirrors on my '71 4x4 I used small rubber washers or grommets between the mirror arm and the steel door skin. Also used stainless bolts and nuts, got them from local Fastenal store. Keeps the door skin sealed from rain, snow and care washings. Also holds the mirror brace away from the door skin so dirt and such does not lodge between the mirror brace and door skin. Slight opening or cavity of about 1/8" or so allows water to wash past keeping area clean.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Just a thought but when I installed my camper mirrors on my '71 4x4 I used small rubber washers or grommets between the mirror arm and the steel door skin. Also used stainless bolts and nuts, got them from local Fastenal store. Keeps the door skin sealed from rain, snow and care washings. Also holds the mirror brace away from the door skin so dirt and such does not lodge between the mirror brace and door skin. Slight opening or cavity of about 1/8" or so allows water to wash past keeping area clean.

That's a major reason I used the method I posted in my 2 posts above. The vinyl covered jack nuts do all of what you mentioned.