First-gen side-view mirror upgrade

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Combat Chuck

Combat Chuck

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Sep 16, 2008
Threads
96
Messages
2,930
Location
Freensville
Website
www.poolpartydeathmachine.com
I've never much cared for my factory mirrors on The Mule, they're just too small and too low.
While browsing Pick-n-Pull today, I stumbled across an FJ62, and got to admiring its (surprisingly) intact side-view mirrors.
Pulled 'em off, took 'em across the way to a wrecked first-gen, did a quick comparison, and the bolt holes lined up.
Bought 'em, and swapped 'em on right then and there.
Here are the results:
S6300707.jpg

S6300706.jpg

S6300705.jpg

S6300704.jpg


Visibility's nice, it's pretty well eliminated any blind spots, I don't have to hunker down to see 'em, and the passenger one doesn't rearrange itself anymore (the stock one had a tired spring).

So, for an inexpensive no-hole-drilling needed mod, FJ62 mirrors fit a first-gen.
':cheers:
 
Well, I'd find a buddy with an FJ62 who'll let you borrow a mirror for a beer, and size it up.
I don't doubt it will fit, because non-SR5 First-Gens had the bracket-style mirrors, and the bolt-pattern matches up.
I almost swapped those bracket-style ones on The Mule, but never found a decent pair.
 
x factor said:
Very cool!
One question though, does it interfere with the wing window?
Click to expand...

You know, I hadn't thought about that.
I wasn't sure, so I went out and checked, and there's no interference.
We're in the clear!
:cheers:
 
Looks unique and adds character! But personally, I like the originals. I had to go out and check mine after your comment that they're too low. I guess I need new springs in my seats 'cause mine are fine. :hillbilly: I like the TLCA sticker on your windshield. Now I know what I can do with my extra. BTW, where is Freensville? :confused:
 
Interesting, but not my thing. I hope they don't do what the mirrors on my 62 did, the glass started wobbling really badly in the housing, it was a pain to fix. Mine were power mirrors, maybe the manual ones don't do that.
 
I occasionally pull a full width car trailer with my rig. To have a mirror that is probably close to 3 times the size and does'nt require additional holes in the lower portion of the door is an excellent option. I run the small ones for wheeling and have managed to rip one off already without damaging the door.
 
80t0ylc said:
Looks unique and adds character! But personally, I like the originals. I had to go out and check mine after your comment that they're too low. I guess I need new springs in my seats 'cause mine are fine. :hillbilly: I like the TLCA sticker on your windshield. Now I know what I can do with my extra. BTW, where is Freensville? :confused:
Click to expand...

The originals are alright, but I've felt that they don't offer the picture size I really wanted. Plus mine were mismatched, and the passenger's side one kept sagging down on its own, and was useless because of this. I think that, with stock seats, it wouldn't be an issue at all, but with my Ranger bench seat, I sit a little higher, which ruins Mr. Toyoda's geometry.
It's really a solution to a problem I created.

The sticker in that corner was an attempt to legitimize why I wave at passing 40-series trucks when I see them. They look at me like I'm an outsider, and it seems like a cleaner solution than strapping my 40's bezel onto the grill of The Mule.

Freensville... I'm a big fan of Don Martin's old comics (the Mad Magazine guy), and Freensville was the name of the city that Lance Parkertip, Noted Notary Public, lived in. I put that up when I had Captain Klutz as my avatar, because I couldn't remember where he was from.



KLF said:
Interesting, but not my thing. I hope they don't do what the mirrors on my 62 did, the glass started wobbling really badly in the housing, it was a pain to fix. Mine were power mirrors, maybe the manual ones don't do that.
Click to expand...

Totally, I understand.
These do wobble, and I will look into fixing them when I paint them matte black (I hate chrome!) but my old ones wobble too, so, not a huge issue for me.
More than anything, I'm hoping that sharing this find will inspire somebody seeking a new mirror to find a means of doing so without drilling a bunch of holes in their sheet metal.
If one first gen's doors get saved because of my scrapyard experiments, then I'll know I've done some good.


x factor said:
I occasionally pull a full width car trailer with my rig. To have a mirror that is probably close to 3 times the size and does'nt require additional holes in the lower portion of the door is an excellent option. I run the small ones for wheeling and have managed to rip one off already without damaging the door.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking!
I'm hoping to get a 12' fishing boat soon, and the larger mirror will help with that alot!
 
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Combat Chuck said:
........ I think that, with stock seats, it wouldn't be an issue at all, but with my Ranger bench seat, I sit a little higher, which ruins Mr. Toyoda's geometry.
It's really a solution to a problem I created...........
Click to expand...

Understand - hey, what year of Ranger did you get the seat out of? Curious, 'cause my seats are seriously worn out. I definitely want to replace them.
 
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Combat Chuck said:
They're from an '03.
They're really nice seats, and pretty easy to install.
Here's my install thread:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyo...-60-40-bench-seats-into-first-gen-pickup.html
You do have to drill to make 'em fit, and they sit much taller, but they're worth it........
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link! I've got a '98 Ranger and been out doing some measuring. One of the things I don't like with the OEM buckets is the backs don't fold down and to get to stuff behind them is inconvenient at best. Plus like you said in your thread, with them being worn out, you're sitting at a bad angle and lower than you want. I'm 5'9" myself so finding a Ranger seat sounds like a great solution. Thanks again!

Combat Chuck said:
..........By the way: your truck is pretty damn sweet!
I love the factory two-tone paint.
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Thanks, I was lucky to find it. Just what I wanted, it's a work in progress (aren't they all?). Personally, the paint is a little loud for my taste, but I like looking out over a white hood.
 
Combat Chuck said:
.........Here's my install thread:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyo...-60-40-bench-seats-into-first-gen-pickup.html .............
Click to expand...

I noticed in your thread you have virtually the same steering wheel on your '83 as I do in my '81.

S6300637.jpg


Just curious as to what the general consensus to this wheel is with first gen owners. Personally, I like it except for one major pet peeve, and that's the horn buttons. I am constantly embarrassing myself by bumping them followed by the resulting "BEEP" in the stupidest possible moments. I'm almost ready to dis-connect the horn. Any one else share this annoyance?
 
80t0ylc said:
I noticed in your thread you have virtually the same steering wheel on your '83 as I do in my '81.



Just curious as to what the general consensus to this wheel is with first gen owners. Personally, I like it except for one major pet peeve, and that's the horn buttons. I am constantly embarrassing myself by bumping them followed by the resulting "BEEP" in the stupidest possible moments. I'm almost ready to dis-connect the horn. Any one else share this annoyance?
Click to expand...

I do rake across the buttons on occasion, but my horn hasn't worked since about a week after The Mule came home.
Gotta get on that.
As far as the rest of the wheel, I love it, it's got all the right proportions, and it's thick enough that my hands don't tire after a day's driving, but I'm looking for anyonewith tips on how to diagnose my horn.
It does beep on rare occasion when the wheel is clocked all the way to the left. :confused:
 
Cannon88 said:
Really? I think the chrome fits well with the other chrome accents on your truck. Or are you going to de-chrome the entire thing? I am sure it will look good either way.
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I'm someday going to go Ford Forest Green (non-metallic) or an equivalent, Door handles, mirrors, vents, and grille will be flat black, the lines across the hood, across the doors by the handles, and the lip of the bed will be semi-gloss red, and finish it with a khaki soft topper.
BSA Colours!
 
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