73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: LTZ C20 on April 08, 2014, 08:27:03 am
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I have plans to build a set of power mirrors for my Cheyenne C20. It's almost completely loaded with most of the factory options. I even put in factory power windows & locks. So for this power mirror build I want to make sure it looks as close to factory as possible. I currently have the standard chrome mirror with single arm and chrome cover over door mount. I would like to keep that look going.
The Mirror:
I have been researching for vehicles with similar shape and design mirrors. The only 2 I have found where an early 90's G-van (which had black plastic extensions of the mirror housing, UGLY) and (I can't believe I'm saying this) late 90's early 2000's Dodge pickup. Does anyone know of any other vehicles that use that style mirror that are power adjust??
The Switch:
For the control switch I've considered the early 90's Chevy truck adjuster switch just carefully painted chrome. Does anyone know of any vehicles that used a factory chrome power mirror switch similar in shape and design to our trucks power window/lock switches??
I have the mounting and wiring and all that stuff figured out already. Just gotta find the best donor mirror and switches to make it all look factory. Thanks a bunch guys!
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I know your after the "chrome" look but did you look at say 90-91 burbs with power windows they were a different mirror then the standard 73-87 and they bolted to the door differently and had a piece of black out tape where the mirror covered the side glass. Maybe painted to your body color would look good?
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Here is a picture of a 1991 Suburban with the OE Power Mirror Option:
(http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2793/4521/31982260001_large.jpg?v=1)
Here is a comparison of the standard OE Mirror that we are all familiar with:
(http://images.mautofied.com/adphotos/10073882_201044171257.jpg)
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Yes, I am aware of those and I hate them lol. They look ok on a 95 but not these trucks. To me they just look like that had a new design and trying to cheaply adapt it for the last model style year. So in going for the standard OE manual mirror but power.
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Yes they are Fuggly! I would be curious to see what you find that will look like the Chrome OE mirrors, but be power! I think I would rather have heated mirrors which would be way easier to do! I adjust my mirrors once and then never touch them again.
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If I can gather all the proper pieces I want I will do a full build post on here for them. Heated mirrors would be very nice too. You can get heated mirrors from aftermarket places. They might even been in the forum store. I'm kinda leaning toward the dodge mirror (sacrilege I know) but that's probably the best bet. I could find a set of power, possibly even with heated and then just use the OE harness connectors and do all the wiring myself. The nice thing is that they are the same shape and design as our standard manual mirrors. I would just use the arm and mirror, then just mount it in our mirror mounts on the door.
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I am interested in this also. I have been tossing around ideas for power mirrors and keeping the factory looks. I would use them every time I backed up. I back my truck up in front of my rv gate and try to keep it about 6" - 8" away from the edge of the grass, so now I am getting out and looking and correcting, the reason I can not see very well to back up is it is a slope going up hill until I am close to the gate.
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I'm hoping I can get the right pieces to make it work. I did some research today. The dodge mirror, (still metal and same size/shape as ours) came in 2 different variations.
1: Chrome finish, manual or power adjusting, no heated feature.
2: Black finish, manual or power adjusting, with heated feature.
So the chrome you can get power but no heat. The black you can get power and heat but it's black finish. So you either have to find a way to get it chromed, paint it any color you want even fake chrome paint, live with it being black or get chrome with no heat.
I'm most likely going to see if I can find a set of the black power and heat mirrors. Try out a can of fake chrome paint, try painting to match truck color or stripping black paint and polishing the steel and clear coating to prevent rust.
Now I just gotta find a switch that looks about the same or is the same as the window/lock switches. Anybody know of random GM vehicles?? Cadi or Buick maybe??
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I would go with the black and paint it the color of the truck. Make sure you do a write up with part numbers and sources. That way I will be able to copy you and not have to add anymore to my plate. ;D ;)
I would use a switch that looks like this that could be mounted by the door/window lock switches. I think it might look ok.
(http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mb0g7NGdHoVi__bMADIM4VA.jpg)
Switch found here (https://www.google.com/search?q=power/heated+mirror+switch+pics&biw=1366&bih=600&tbm=isch&imgil=q15v5gXwGQrZQM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcRVZxabEuNytOhYDZTIw-3J-fAuK6BYTIthQQx1C0LTd17zvL5Wuw%253B225%253B150%253B7CmIQPp_zFhTTM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fbhp%25252Fheated-mirror-switch&source=iu&usg=__Mo5iCpK1VKZhJL_kaEXUVuo2ApI%3D&sa=X&ei=bElFU_LIJqHOyAHxw4D4Dw&ved=0CE0Q9QEwAw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=q15v5gXwGQrZQM%253A%3B7CmIQPp_zFhTTM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fthumbs1.ebaystatic.com%252Fd%252Fl225%252Fm%252Fmb0g7NGdHoVi__bMADIM4VA.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fbhp%252Fheated-mirror-switch%3B225%3B150).
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I hate having outside pieces painted to match. Drives me nuts. So won't be doin that. Also, I have a really hard time using parts that weren't made for a Chevy and putting them on my Chevy. So I've found a mirror heat switch that I think is from a 90's truck that I will prob use. Just gotta find an adjuster switch that suits my hopes and dreams LOL. It's bad enough I'm using dodge mirrors.
Don't worry, I will do a full build post with everything used and lots of pictures.
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Check out the mirror switch from 94-02 Camaros, it's a joystick, that you rotate to change left/right. I think it would look at home in our square bodies if you found a nice way to mount it.
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Now that you mention it I'm pretty sure my new 1992 dodge pickup have power mirrors.
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Timthescarrd, I know the switch you are referring too. My OCD is gonna kick in here and in gonna say that not really digging it. It would be really funny to use a switch off of a car that looks like a catfish.
Pholliday1, yes those could be equipped with power mirrors. However I don't believe they were available with heaters.
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Yea your right no heated mirrors.
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Thought so. No big deal. Just out of curiosity, what does your mirror adjuster switch look like?
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LTZ C20: My 2000 Chevy Catfish :D along with my 83 K10
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/timthescarred/WP_20130822_001.jpg)
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Hahaha. I'm glad you liked that reference. Nice truck. I have a 91 Maro.
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I don't have truck anymore but it looked like a little joystick
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Oh ok. Well good to know.
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You could make the stock mirrors power, you would just have to have custom glass made. All you would have to do is get out the old glass. Mount a power mirror actuator from any donor mirror. Custom mount it in the chrome dome, and then have glass made slightly smaller then the housing so it can move around. It would be a PITA but it would look 100% stock.
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Yes I actually considered that for a while. I even looked for small mirrors with small motors so I had room to fit the wiring and such. But I then figured out the dodge setup and with the heat option it seemed the most logical choice. If it ever stopped working then it would be easier to replace the whole mirror then having to take it apart again and find another donor motor, as full mirror assemblies are probably more readily available.
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It looked like a little joystick
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I seem to remember you mentioning that already Pholliday. Lol
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Whoops LoL
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I got a pretty good plan on the switches. Gotta find the best places to locate a set of mirrors, new or used and in good condition. Then just gotta build the set and make it all work. With pics of course.