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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: iclay on July 13, 2015, 05:35:04 pm

Title: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: iclay on July 13, 2015, 05:35:04 pm: I just acquired a nice '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special w/454 for my son who just turned 16. (Yes, I know, the 454 is WAAAAAY too much for him.) :) It's missing the rearview mirror, but it has the screw holes for one in the roof. It also has a busted passenger side mirror. Of course, it's the special 3point mount trailering mirror.

I've been looking all over only trying to find a rearview that mounts on the roof and a replacement mirror for the outside broken one, but I haven't been having any luck. I really don't want a glass mount mirror as those are always terrible. They never stay mounted on long. I did find a side mirror at NAPA that I'm gonna try out here soon, but I'm not sure how well it will work. Has anyone used this as an OEM replacement? http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Mirror-Head-Universal/_/R-LIT97662_0218129147

The nice thing is that this truck has 58k original miles. But it sat for several years, so we are dealing with some rust and a few issues. But I really need to get the mirrors fixed as that is a safety issue. Thoughts??

Thanks!!
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: Sartobuilt on July 13, 2015, 08:01:37 pm: This is where I got my replacements. Great company. Nice looking mirrors but, plastic mirror and the rubber that holds the mirror in whistles. Its the best replacement for oem that I have found. You see them on Ebay once in a while but are very expensive.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: LTZ C20 on July 13, 2015, 09:25:49 pm: These trucks trucks should not have holes in the roof for interior review mirror mounts. They were all mounted to the glass. In actuality, there is nothing wrong with glass mounted mirrors, if they fall off alot, it is usually due to a few things. 1-abuse, i.e. rough handing the mirror, smacking it, blasting your radio thumpers and shaking the windows in the next town over. 2-not properly installing the mirror to the mount and/or not not properly applying the mount to the windshield.

There should be nothing wrong with putting the mirror mount back on the windshield. Mine appears to have been there for a very long time with no problems of any kind so far.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: Kren420 on July 13, 2015, 09:55:55 pm: Just as an additional tidbit, the UV from the sun will break down the glue over time, that's why on newer vehicles the mirror bracket has a blacked out part on the windshield to block UV.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: roundhouse on July 14, 2015, 08:45:29 am: Have a place that installs windshields mount the mirror

I've never been able to make one stay
You can but the glue in a do it yourself kit. But it never works for me

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: Sartobuilt on July 14, 2015, 10:35:41 pm: sorry......http://www.nickstruckparts.com/mirrors.html
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: LTZ C20 on July 15, 2015, 12:13:30 am: Quote from: Sartobuilt on July 14, 2015, 10:35:41 pm
sorry......http://www.nickstruckparts.com/mirrors.html
I just checked out this site. Awesooooome....
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: iclay on July 16, 2015, 05:50:02 pm: I find it odd that all of these trucks supposedly had windshield mounted mirrors as there is not a mark on this windshield where the mirror should have been, but there appears to be a spot to mount one on the roof. I added a pic for it.

Thanks for the link! The mirrors look great, but wow, they like their shipping costs!

I guess I'll just get a generic rearview for it. Thanks!
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: LTZ C20 on July 16, 2015, 08:24:35 pm: Either the glass was cleaned well or it has been replaced and a mirror was never attached back to it. As for those screws, someone either added a mirror or something in that spot besides a mirror.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: Jason S on July 17, 2015, 10:41:01 am: Maybe there was a hat saver there at one time?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Hat-Saver-Accessory-for-1960s-70s-Chevrolet-Cars-Trucks-Ford-GM-AMC-Mopar-/161765082541?hash=item25a9f345ad&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Hat-Saver-Accessory-for-1960s-70s-Chevrolet-Cars-Trucks-Ford-GM-AMC-Mopar-/161765082541?hash=item25a9f345ad&vxp=mtr)
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: LTZ C20 on July 17, 2015, 12:25:58 pm: Jason, now that would make total sense.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: iclay on July 17, 2015, 01:12:39 pm: Yeah, I'm kinda thinking no on the hat saver. Maybe if it was from the south. ;)

These screws are way too perfectly centered and aligned to be someone's handiwork. They look like they have to be factory for something.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: LTZ C20 on July 17, 2015, 01:46:05 pm: Unless someone actually knew what the French Toast they were doing and installed something properly without being a gorilla.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: Kren420 on July 18, 2015, 10:51:59 am: I can't recall any domestic vehicles that have that style of mirror from factory. I know Honda loves to do it, along with a handful of other imports. Here in North America we put the mirror on the glass.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: LTZ C20 on July 18, 2015, 01:37:04 pm: Quote from: Kren420 on July 18, 2015, 10:51:59 am
I can't recall any domestic vehicles that have that style of mirror from factory. I know Honda loves to do it, along with a handful of other imports. Here in North America we put the mirror on the glass.
I believe the round body style GM trucks, 1967-72 were mounted on the roof, with a little arm that hung the mirror down. My friend had a 72 C10 and another friend used to have a 70 K5 Blazer.
Title: Re: '78 C10 Big Ten Trailering Special Mirrors
Post by: Kren420 on July 19, 2015, 06:15:57 pm: Well I will have to keep an eye out next time I change one of the windshields. Now that I think of it I think you are correct there, just did a '67 couple months ago. I should have known that.