Mirrors for my 86, Help me pick. (1 Viewer)

[aztoyman]

I need to decide what door mirrors I'm going to put on my build. I have on hand a set of the "West Coast" style mirrors. This 86 originally came with the regular black plastic two bolt style.

The original black plastic ones look ok. The OEM ones are way better than the aftermarket reproductions but even the OEM ones will blow out of adjustment if a Hummingbird flies by it. Drives me nuts.

I'm leaning toward the West Coast mirrors. I like the way they look, they "seem" like they will not blow out of adjustment. The negative is that they need two more holes drilled in the middle of the door. The ones I have came off the spare 86 Xtra Cab....cab that I have.

I have heard some people hate the West Coast mirrors but I don't know why. I'm open to feedback from anyone that has run them. Also open to other mirror suggestions.

 

[gnob]

i has the top mirrors on my 79. they were way better than the garbage plastic. much larger and better view. can be folded and never really broken.

 

[msahr]

You can run mirrors from a 60 series LC on a 84-88 truck or 4runner.

I recently found a source of some NOS small black mirrors. Working on getting them.

I've even seen people run mirrors from a 70 series. The only ones available are chrome.

If you want big stable mirrors the LC ones are your ticket.

 

[aztoyman]

Thanks for the feedback @gnob. My buddy had them on his 81 and I don't remember them ever being a problem. I definitely need to be able fold back my mirrors when I get into heavy brush or too close to rocks and trees.

@msahr, Thanks for this info. I'll check out 60 and 70 series mirrors.

 

[TheBussman]

fjcruiser mirrors fit on a mini truck too.

 

[aztoyman]

My wife has an 08 FJ Cruiser. Man, IDK if those would look good on my 86. Some people think so. I need something manual and able to fold away on the trail.

Those 60 series European spec mirrors looked pretty darn good until I saw the price. YIKES! Plus they seem to be out of stock at many stores. I do like them though.

I had a pair of new OEM mirrors in my cart, ready to check out until I asked my wife if I should go with the OEM plastic or the used 1st gen SR5 mirrors I have. She paused to think then had a flashback to those plastic mirrors on her 86 4Runner. And me making her roll down the window to readjust the mirror......A LOT. She said F those plastic pieces of ......................!!!!! So I emptied my cart and went out to work on my used SR5 mirrors. A little clean and lube and they are good to go.

Thanks you guys for your help.

 

[Mudder]

The west coast mirrors are definitely better than the OEM plastic ones. I regret getting rid of mine on my 84. If I ever find another set I’m buying them.

 

[aztoyman]

There's some on eBay for ridiculous asking prices. And they're F'd up. My pivots were siezed up but I managed to get them cleaned, lubed and working again. I can probably sell them on eBay for a super ridiculous price now..... right?

 

[Manhattan]

I'm 100% in the small, cheap, plastic mirror camp. These trucks are tiny - like 2/3 scale. For me, the bigger chrome mirrors look like they were taken off a mid-90s Dodge truck and just don't match. Also, the thought of (gulp) drilling more holes in that fresh paint

Full disclosure: I'm averaging less than 1,000 miles/yr in the truck, so I am guilty of putting form over function.

 

[aztoyman]

Like I said, I had a set of the plastic ones in my cart, ready to check out. (Taking advantage of the Toyota sale while I can.) They do look better. Definitely the right choice on your truck.

But it's too scary for me to ask my wife to open her window and readjust the mirror anymore.

I can use the extra bolt holes to pull the dents after wheeling it.

 

[Mudder]

There's some on eBay for ridiculous asking prices. And they're F'd up. My pivots were siezed up but I managed to get them cleaned, lubed and working again. I can probably sell them on eBay for a super ridiculous price now..... right?

With how everything is going now a days, I bet you could get top dollar.

 

[aztoyman]

IDK Mudder, I was originally going to sell what's left of my 88 and a lot of my other parts, but this stuff is getting harder to find so I'm hanging on to some of it now.

These mirrors aren't perfect. They have some dings and scratches but, I like'em. I'll need to get some stainless bolts and maybe make some rubber gaskets when I get ready to mount them.

 

[brettk]

On my 89 Pickup, I bought a set on Amazon several years ago. They’re the plastic kind, but they have a spring in them that make them more stable. Hopefully that helps?

 

[GeoRoss]

I found a pair of electric mirrors off an 88 or 89. They are a smidge bigger than the plastic ones. I did not wire them up. They hold their adjustment well.

 

[Broski]

I'm with @Manhattan the big crome ones look like the ones that came on my 1978 F250 back in the day.
If they came on these trucks I wonder if they were port installed ?
If it's not going to be a DD then the small black ones should be perfect for trail use IMO

 

[aztoyman]

@Broski they are a small version of the old Ford ones and I like them both.
I've been ready to rip off the plastic ones after they move too many times that day. But it is at hwy speeds.

I like the bigger ones better but I thought about drilling more holes in my perfect doors. I ended up ordering new Toyota mirrors during the sale so that's what I'm going to run on THESE doors.

I'll save the bigger ones for the doors they came off of. I have 3 sets of doors. After watching a lot of videos, I'm going to have some "wheeling doors" for the bad stuff. I have more fenders and another bed too. Actually I have another bare cab.

 

[Broski]

I have 3 sets of doors. After watching a lot of videos, I'm going to have some "wheeling doors" for the bad stuff. I have more fenders and another bed too. Actually I have another bare cab.

You can't have to many spare part for a crawler

 

[Mudder]

@Broski they are a small version of the old Ford ones and I like them both.
I've been ready to rip off the plastic ones after they move too many times that day. But it is at hwy speeds.

I like the bigger ones better but I thought about drilling more holes in my perfect doors. I ended up ordering new Toyota mirrors during the sale so that's what I'm going to run on THESE doors.

I'll save the bigger ones for the doors they came off of. I have 3 sets of doors. After watching a lot of videos, I'm going to have some "wheeling doors" for the bad stuff. I have more fenders and another bed too. Actually I have another bare cab.

I’ll have to keep an eye out for another 25% off and order mirrors from Toyota for mine. I’m currently running some cheap aftermarket ones that are awful.

 

[aztoyman]

@Mudder , Those sales are great if you're not in a hurry for the parts. I got both factory mirrors and the total was $78.27. I'm still waiting for two orders.

 

[aztoyman]

Bringing this back up. I finally got the OEM mirror "ASSEMBLY (s)" I ordered thinking they included the entire mirror and they don't. I "assumed" an assembly would include the screws, gasket and cover that was in the parts diagram. It did include the screws and the gasket but no cover. The cover is discontinued. WTF? They still sell mirror assemblies but not the cover? Which is half of the housing.

Maybe I WILL be drilling another set of holes in my doors for the western style mirrors. The plastic mirrors I have are aftermarket that are sun toasted and brittle.

Do any of you guys have an old set of mirrors you'd be willing to let go of the covers? I know, stupid question.