The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts west coast mirrors or orignal mirrors?

I am torn between the west coast style mirror or the original style for my 57 cabover project. I like the clean look of the original single arm with a mirror but an concerned about the mirror vibrating at speed and not being able to see. I have the original brackets and thought about just fabing ip some tubing for the arm. Anyone have any experiece with the originals?

All the bigger taskforce trucks that I have seen have had west coast mirrors on them. I however have thought about using stock pickup truck bracket with the west coast brackets using the small arm for a spotter mirror provided the two don't interfere with one another.

you always see the west coast type because the tiny shaky original long arm mirrors are useless, if you've got a garage queen for show, go original, if you're going to actually use it, especially on busy crowded roads, use the west coast type, safety trumps looks

Bill

I like the west coast mirrors on my 52 6400. It makes the cab of the truck fit the dump bed. With them off the bed looks too wide for the truck.

I kind of thought they would be useless but I have never had any experience with them. West cost style it is. Thanks for all the input

Buggy,

I have both...

My Fire Engine has a 5x7 rectangle and a 5" round convex on the original single arm and I've logged over 20K miles using then. The Right side vibrates worst than the Left, but they do the job. No matter what type mirror I put on the Fire Engine I wouldn't be able to see the idiots that like to tail gate me.

The West Coasters are on my Tow Truck and they are rock solid and just what I need for backing up to hook up.

Both of these trucks can be seen in the Gallery.

Mike B

Speaking of mirrors, on a 1948, would they have been round or rectangular mirrors? I saw on your 57 fire truck they are square.

Paul - the standard mirrors were the small round ones, the larger rectangular ones [5x7] were extra cost options on the TF series, as well as adjustable long mirror arms - there were also optional west coast mirrors available then - might have been a bigger one optional for some AD years as well, you'd have to check the accessories or salesmens books

Bill

If it will make you feel better, West Coast mirrors were a Dealer installed accessoery, that were always in the Chevrolet "Silver Books", as available optional accessories.

I echo Mike B -- I went stock original when I restored my '49 4400 -- single arm with the 4-inch round mirror. It is useless! It vibrates to the point where you really can't see anything at speed. And backing up is more of an act of faith than anything else. If I were to do it again (or if I hadn't just sold that truck ), I'd put the west coast mirrors on it -- only way to fly if you actually want to drive the truck.

My opinion only -- and not an expert one at that.

John

Since this truck will see many highway miles pulling a 36' 5th wheel, I am going with the west coast style. Thanks everyone

im with mike b. my fire truck has the 5x7's and i have no issues with them. my 40 has the 4" round ones and i have no issues with them either. what i had to do on both was to add a reinforcing plate on the inside of cab where they mount to stiffen them up and tighten them tight and it works well. my dump had the west coaster and are good too. they all have 4" spots on them which eliminates running into the side of and enhances backing up.

If you do indeed go with the West Coast mirrors, I'd run a period correct style West
Coast mirror setup.

I agree with Spanky and period correct may be hard to find but certainly you can get painted arms and mirror heads and w/o reflectors or stainless parts. I cannot recall if the heads had square or round corners but I'd go with round just because they are cleaner looking IMO. Spanky may wish to explain what he feels period correct is. I think Velvac may have something close to what was being used back in the day.

I am thinking of the Grote 26012-5 black mirror kit. The mirror has rounded corners and most of the mounting bracket is black. It looks like an older style to me. I have not been able to find any pictures of the original west cost mirrors offered by GM.

Shane - the option install instructions show the style for the TF years [2 pages] - those Grote mirrors are as close as you'll find

Bill

Thanks Bill...those mirrors are really close to the originals.