The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors A.D. interior rear view mirror placement

What was the stock placement for the rear view mirror on the center division bar in the A.D. truck? My 1948 Chevy 1/2 ton has the 4-hole divider, and the mirror is attached with a small bracket. It is not screwed into a 5th hole that some of the divider bars have. I have seen the rear view mirrors fastened to either the top hole closest to the headliner, as well as the hole 2nd from the top. How were they positioned when they left the assembly line? Any evidence is always welcomed.

Thanks.

LUKE

P.S. Merry Christmas everyone!

I would like to know that too also what is that fifth little threaded hole for. mine has a set screw in it

Luke,

This is one of those that won't be a "how it left the factory" items. The mirror is an accessory item not a factory option, the best resource will be the relevant year accessory installation manual.

Does placement then really just boil down to owner preference?

The windshield divider on the 1947-1948 and some of the early 1949 model advance design trucks were drilled for the inside mirrors about 3 inches from the top (I have seen a couple of these on parts trucks I have had). Those trucks had a threaded plug installed in them. The bracket offered by many of the vendors is the other alternative. Here is a photo of the divider mentioned above from an early 49' GMC.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/11590024186/in/set-72157631868452754
Here is a comparison set-up without the mirror hole.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/11593840945/in/set-
72157631868452754
Another early 49' l had with a mirror installed in the location mentioned.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8130452603/in/set-72157631870734114
An early 49' Chevy example.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8130475544/in/set-72157631870734114
I didn't get more detail photos on these two trucks because I did not part them but resold them as found.

Based on the excellent detailed info. + photos provided by Brad Allen, I must conclude that I have the incorrect center divider trim piece in my 1948 Chevy 1/2 ton. A p.o. must have needed one, and felt that this would work. In the 1947-1954 Factory Assembly Manual, Section 1, Sheet 41.02, the Division Reinforcement to upper rail & instrument panel clearly shows the 5th hole that matches the divider trim piece. Thank you!

Do you have the 5th hole under the trim?

on my 49 the window frame has the threaded hole and the trim piece has a non threaded hole

Gus--

Thanks for the heads-up. I made the assumption...based on the diagram in the FAM. I am away for the weekend and will check 1st part of next week. My truck is up on blocks, zipped in its Car Jacket, in cold storage (pole barn) sleeping for the winter. I will report back in with my findings.

LUKE

My 50 has a threaded hole for the mirror,
I remember a past thread where Denny posted that his 50 did not.


may be one of those quirky assembly plant things.

1950, 3600:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/134142375

dg

As suspected, my center divide DOES have the 5th threaded hole under the trim piece for the mirror.

http://s160.photobucket.com/user/st...ield%20center%20divide?sort=3&page=1

My plan now is to add a 5th hole on my divider trim piece using the drill press; can someone verify the proper hole size (9/32")? I will also need to drill out my rubber seal as it is solid, blocking access beyond the threaded hole. Is there a rubber seal made with the 5th hole for the mirror? I have completely ignored this 5th threaded hole when doing any previous work in this area!

Do you have to drill the hole in the vertical rubber piece????
As I remember the mirror was held on by a THIN nut behind the metal trim with another bolt on the inside.....but I may be wrong or the ones I've seen are wrong?

You should not need to drill your gasket

Although steel gasket comes with a dimple in that area
...pic...





...old gasket...
...old gasket...

Just thread the stem of the mirror in

Men...mission accomplished! I ended up drilling a 5/16" hole in the divider trim piece. As suggested, I did not need to hog-out the rubber gasket. I threaded the mirror stem into the threaded hole and used the jam-nut to secure it in place. There is no noticeable wobble; will test her out when April arrives here in Michigan!

http://s160.photobucket.com/user/st...nder_zps637f53b1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Thanks for all the good advice--as usual. There is always something new to learn about these old, lovable trucks of ours!

Happy New Year to all!