Short-arm rear view mirrors: application?

[Brad54]

What did the short-arm outside rear view arms come on?

And, did they have the round rear view mirrors, or the square ones?

If round, were they the center-mount style, or the ones with the offset mount?

-Brad

[jbgroby]

Didn't know there was a difference in the arm length, but the trucks originally came with round mirrors on the drivers side. The passenger side mirror (as many parts) were an option. I have both the round and the rectangular. But as I have been told the rectangular style shake badly when driving at highway speeds.

[ol_skool_chevy]

I have never seen a short mirror. But I cut a set down and welded them . And I have seen the polished aftermarket once cut down they are stainless steel so its pretty easy to cut and re polish them if they look too long

[60-66]

The G series Vans used the short arm mirrors . Heres an NOS one for 1963-1966. The Suburban term here on the box also relates to the G series again not our C series. Same offset mirror as our trucks and same bolt pattern on the bracket. 60-62 was a Cast arm shorter length for Vans. The square or rectangular mirrors were available as an accessory.

[Brad54]

I've got on of those van mirrors... I'd love to get one for the opposite side for a match.

I'm talking about the short cast-iron mirrors, like these in the For Sale section:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=694125

I've got one of them, too, but wanted to know it's application.

-Brad

[60-66]

Yes , I knew which ones you meant. The short cast mirror arms were used 1960-1962 . Maybe I used the wrong terminology I guess in saying Van , its Corvair and FC models that used that arm you are referring to.

[Brad54]

Okay... still confused.
There's the long arm that we're all familiar with, and they go on the pick-up trucks.
There's a version of the long arm that is cast, and those go on the early trucks.
There's a short curved arm that apparently goes on Corvans. (the NOS one you have)
There's also a short straight cast arm. Wondering what THAT one goes on.

-Brad

[60-66]

Okay , show us this arm your talking about ? If its the one from the thread you posted above then that's the one in the last picture I posted in post 6

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Okay , show us this arm your talking about ? If its the one from the thread you posted above then that's the one in the last picture I posted in post 6

The one in the last pic is the short, straight cast arm, and it's on a Corvain (FC).
The curved-arm NOS one you posted you identified as being from a van.

So the short ones, then, curved and straight, are FC?

In the mirrors for sale post, someone identifies the short ones as being '60 pick-up truck (or '61... I forget now).

-Brad

[jtrichard]

This is from the for sale post .. about the cast arms ....
Great question - so the answer is 1960 & 1961, and they came on both Chevy and GMC. The interesting thing is that the longer arms you see on the left are all off 1961 trucks - only 1960 came with the short version you see on the right. Most people do not know this odd fact, so you will see them at shows with the wrong mirror arms on either year because they bought them off Ebay or wherever without knowing.

[60-66]

Okay , I see Brad. Digging a little deeper here I found two perfect examples of a 1962 14,000 mile original paint Chevy with the cast mirror arm with matching paint. Then a 1962 GMC with the stamped steel mirror bracket , truck has 1700 original miles. I cant find anything to support the short mirror bracket for 1960 however looking through a 1959 dated parts book for 1960 model trucks they DO list a short AND a long arm mirror bracket .

I have an NOS RH cast short arm part number 3773368 http://gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=26914
This one is 6 inches in length.

Then go to 1960, 1961, and 1962 Chevrolet Data books and a 1960 GMC data book and each book confirms an 8 inch fixed length mirror arm as standard equipment for our trucks which is the length of the long arm mirror bracket.

It would seem to me ( I have learned a lot looking this up today ) that the short arm might be a problem viewing ? the mirror with the vent window is so close ? I dont know , never had a short arm on one of my trucks.

Interesting , now I have something else to investigate. I will ask GMCnut more about what he said.

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 60-66

It would seem to me ( I have learned a lot looking this up today ) that the short arm might be a problem viewing ? the mirror with the vent window is so close ? I dont know , never had a short arm on one of my trucks.

Interesting , now I have something else to investigate. I will ask GMCnut more about what he said.

Glad you were able to dig stuff up!
I've got one of the short arms for the driver's side--and you're right, it was impossible to see out of it, because it's right in line with the vent window frame.

I'd also be interested to know why some of the round mirrors have the off-set mounting stud, while others are center-stud.

-Brad

[60-66]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

Do all of the round mirrors have the offset mounting stud? I think I have only seen the mirrors with the mounting stud in the center of the back of the mirror.

Originally Posted by Brad54

Glad you were able to dig stuff up!
I've got one of the short arms for the driver's side--and you're right, it was impossible to see out of it, because it's right in line with the vent window frame.

I'd also be interested to know why some of the round mirrors have the off-set mounting stud, while others are center-stud.

-Brad

That I can say , for 1960-1966 there were two very similar round mirrors. Both have offset mounting studs. The 1960-1963 style was a little thicker and the 64-66 was thinner. The center stud style was used in the 59 and older trucks and then again in the 67-69 maybe 70 vintage trucks. Also remember these mirrors were replaced in their 50 plus years with different aftermarket styles. Heres a comparison picture of the original GM 60-66 offset mirrors. The thinner 64-66 is on the left.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by 60-66

for 1960-1966 there were two very similar round mirrors. Both have offset mounting studs. The 1960-1963 style was a little thicker and the 64-66 was thinner.

I thought it was reversed. Thinner being earlier. This is based upon my two untouched survivors (1965 Sub and 1966 C-10) both having thick mirrors with three adjusting screws.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by oem4me

I thought it was reversed. Thinner being earlier. This is based upon my two untouched survivors (1965 Sub and 1966 C-10) both having thick mirrors with three adjusting screws.

All I can say Bruce is that all the new Lambrecht trucks 64-66 had the thin mirrors and the 63 down had the wide mirrors. I took lots of pictures of these trucks. There was a little overlap I noticed from 63-64 . I personally have never seen an original 65 66 with the wide mirrors.

The thicker mirror is part number 3765480 . Heres one on Ebay for reference http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-GM-Mirro...p2047675.l2557

Heres the wide mirror 3765480 in the parts book. http://gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=66566
States 1960-1963

3838535 mirror in the parts book started in 1964 and is the thinner mirror. This is defined in a 1964 Chevrolet parts book.

Hope this helps.

[60-66]

This is the new 1960 with 3 miles from the Lambrect auction showing the long arm.

[60-66]

Then heres another 60 with the short arm. This was in the most original thread. Supposed to be an original paint truck also. Im noticing a pattern on the 60 trucks that the mirror arms are black.

['63GENIII]

Do all of the round mirrors have the offset mounting stud? I think I have only seen the mirrors with the mounting stud in the center of the back of the mirror.

[60-66]

For mirror arms , heres the later 63-66 arm part number 3816677 .http://www.ebay.com/itm/60-1961-1962...p2047675.l2557 Seller has it labled by mistake (common) as fitting 60-66 .

Here is this arm 3816677 in the Chevrolet parts book http://gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=66570 . This is an October 1962 parts book , this is early in the 1963 production year showing the beginning of the stamped steel mirror arm. They refer to it as a "short arm" when its the 8 inch arm.