The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs panel SAFETY with original mirrors

Hi all, I'm building a daily driver panel and would like to use as much original equipment as possible. I mocked up the mirrors today and am not sure the passenger side mirror will give me enough visability. Have any of you found original mirrors not as safe as door mounted mirrors? Any thoughts? As always thanks.

easy to get aftermarket rectangular mirrors that were an option back then [about 5x7] , and if that's not enuff, the small convex stick-ons help - works well on the TF panel

Bill

Hi Ted, I didnt like the look of the orig. mirror brackets,,they looked lopsided to me,so i went with the 4" peep mirrors with the bubble mirrors stuck to them.They dont look stock,but to me theyre cool looking and they work.
If youd like to send you a pic. just let me know.
I still have your e-mail add.
All the best,Marty

Thank you both Bill and Marty. Yes Marty I would like to see a picture of the mirrors also do you have any dash pictures? Did you get those pictures I sent you a week or so ago? I have been having mail problems and some are not getting it. Just checking. Ted

There are 5" round black convex mirrors that are available from some truck accessory vendors. It looks like an original 5" mirror but it gives a much better view of the passenger side (warning: objects in this mirror are closer than they appear).

I was thinking about using west coast mirrors on my '59 panel. I haven't done any serious looking yet. When I was in my teens, everybody was using west coast mirrors on their pickups and I kind of like the look.

What are west coast mirrors????

Yeah,,,,what ARE west coast mirrors? Being on the west coast,i, too have never heard of them.
Or maybe ive seen them but didnt know it?
Happy Truckin,Marty

west coast mirrors - overkill if yer not pullin a cargo trailer, and require drilling holes in the doors ... they were options in the day - the original style rectangular ones work great, as also originally optional

Bill

The 5" round mirror (with black painted back) was standard on Advance-Design trucks. A 5x7(?) rectangular mirror was apparently only available as part of the extended bracket (adjustable arm) RPOs (RPOs 210H & 210J).

Of course, dealers and owners most likely put larger mirrors on the A-D trucks. The trucks that I bought in the late 60s and early 70s all had 5x7 replacement mirrors (with white painted backs) on the short mirror arms.

This is most likely a case where originality, safety, and convenience (and appearance) are in conflict.

A convex mirror does help on the passenger side; and, 6" round flat-glass and convex-glass, black-back and stainless-back mirrors used to be available at truck dealers.

Thats an insult to the west coast to call those mirrors "west coast". ,,Just kidding,,but it would definitely be an insult to do something like that to your truck.
I could see putting those on a working truck,,like a two ton etc...but not a sweet lookin panel or suburban. Know what i mean?
Happy Truckin,Marty

That link to the convex mirrors is just what I was looking for. I think they are one very useful invention.

What a great thread. This site is so cool because teriffic people like you are so generous with your time and expertise. THANK YOU ALL. Keep on truckin.

Great thread......all I have to add is... I went with the rectangular ( chrome backed ) from the original round ( black back )but they have much more wind resistence at speed and the whole bracket shakes.....blurred vision....drives me...well you know! I might go back to the round flat driver's side and convex passangers side. It's not so much of an issue as the burb has lots of windows.

Don't think the west coast mirrors would work on my 63 suburban.

EB's 63

The West Coast mirrors that Red58 posted the picture of are the right idea. The picture looks like one from a big bolt though. They did make a smaller set for pickups. My dad had a '60 three quarter ton and the chrome West Coast mirrors looked really cool on it.

I can also remember building plastic model pick up kits back in the day and they included chrome West Coast mirrors.

I definitely like them way better than the big squarish rectangular mirrors. My '59 panel came with one of those on the driver's side and that's the very first thing I took off of it.

tiki - in the TF years this was it on any size truck from GM, intended for trailering or situations where the rear body of any style prevented clear rear view - the other one is the more modern aftermarket version, quite like the ones that the po of my 46 1.5T put on it around 1950

Bill

The West Coast mirrors that most smaller than one and a half ton trucks used were referred to as Jr. West Coast mirrors. Most were chrome and had large chevrons on the front side, sometimes painted yellow. Suburbs used them; I liked the look and functionallity and installed them on my 64 VW panel in 1964. I really don't like the convex passenger side mirror for backing situations, but one glued to a West Coast mirror works well for checking side traffic.

I just swapped out my 5 inch convex mirrors for the 5X7 rectangular. On the right side I put a small adjustable convex for complete coverage. The rear view is much better now, especially when backing.

A long time ago I had some of the smaller west coast mirrors on a 41 half ton. As I remember, they looked great and gave me panorama of rear vision.

Als good to rest your hand on when driving around.

I think I'm straight now. I was thinking of the West Coast Jr. with or without the yellow chevrons on the backs. They were chrome and had square corners rather than the round ones.

Thanks Baldy for clearing that up. I need to find out where I can buy a pair of those.

Red58, I forgot to mention they were not stock GM equipment. They were aftermarket.

Hey Mike those 5x7 retangular ones....do they vibrate when you 40 MPH or higher?

EB.

EB - the rectangular ones always worked fine on my various TF trucks - vibration will be a result of the way the arm is mounted, and where - I've had good west coast mirrors vibrate badly, until I rearranged the brackets to be properly braced - if your stock rounds ones vibe too much, the others will too

Bill

I haven't really, noticed very much vibration and I am satisfied with them. My brackets are a little loose and probably affect things.

The view is so much better that I can live with the vibration. I don't drive much over 40 either, must of my mileage is in town and I rarely go on a highway. The only problem that bothers me is opening the door and bumping the mirror out of adjustment.

By the way, I am talking about a 46 one ton.