2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2003 to 2001 Power Towing Mirror Swap

[ntillm01]

After a couple of months of Sundays, I finally worked on this project a little at a time enough to get them finished. For some, this is old news. For others, I hope the pictures help show what you have to do. For everybody, I have news that the special tool does work, and much better than I expected it to!



I've got all of the pictures in an album in my gallery, with the measurements and details if anyone is interested...



Credits to klenger for the write-up and Rob Thomas for the prototype



Here's the modifications:

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And the special tool:

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[Bob Wagner]

nice job

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Thanks! I swapped to towing mirrors last year, with the intention of buying 3rd gen power / heated towing mirrors and doing the conversion. Kind of on the 'back burner' for now.

 

[ntillm01]

Something else I learned, that I hadn't seen anybody post about before is the flip-up feature. As I was gathering parts, I wondered if, when flipped up, the joystick would have to be used differently because the mirrors are now 90 degrees different. I anticipated that flipped out, the right-left now was up-down. I was pleasantly surprised when they "knew" they were flipped up and follow the joystick commands correctly. There must be some kind of switch in the mirror head that flips the motor circuits around so they work in both positions. Very trick!

 

[Scrappy]

another idea

Why not take the guts out of an '03 mirror head and install it in the 2nd. gen tow mirrors? I just replaced the pass side mirror on my '03 for cosmetic damage and asked to keep the old one. I figured out how to disassemble it and it looks like it would be possible.

 

[ntillm01]

I think you could. I took the glass off one of the 03 mirrors to see if that would be easier. From what I could tell, a similar retainer nut is used to hold the flip-up pivot together. That pivot went through the guts that are the mirror motors. Looked like that retainer would have to come off, and looked less friendly to press back on, and I was deep enough into the other method so I abondoned that idea. Seems like it could be done though.

 

[b.ferrara]

what year do I need

I have a 97' 3500, I want to put on the tow mirrors.

if I want power and heat I need 3rd gen and then switch bases with my 97 mirrors correct? If I go without pwer and heat just get a 2nd gen tow mirror and bolt right on correct?

thanks Billy

 

[klaybus]

Ferrara,

I did just that. I gave up the power & heat and just bought 2nd gen tow mirrors. The power & heat are nice but I found the tow mirrors new at a Dallas TX. dealer for under $200 & they bolted right up. Good instructions & everything you need to do the job. Took 2 people & about 30 miinutes taking our time. Just be sure to specify year. They reply to email promptly. Here's a link.



http://www.mydodgeparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=be/br



Clay

 

[ntillm01]

Ferrara, 2nd gen non-power mirrors go on no problem, like klaybus said.

Putting 03 power ones on requires that you have non-power towing mirrors to begin with. The normal "sport" mirrors have a much smaller base than the towing mirrors.

 

[b.ferrara]

think I got it now

so another words if I want 03 power and heat mirrors, I need to get 2nd gen tow mirrors and take the bases off them and swap them with the 3rd gen mirrors. Wow! guess I'm going with 2nd gen mirror without power and heat. Thanks for all the help.

 

[ntillm01]

Originally posted by b. ferrara

so another words if I want 03 power and heat mirrors, I need to get 2nd gen tow mirrors and take the bases off them and swap them with the 3rd gen mirrors. Wow! guess I'm going with 2nd gen mirror without power and heat. Thanks for all the help.

Yup, that's how it works. Some have seen enough value in having them to buy both sets and make the swap. I had towing mirrors to begin with, but wanted the wire pigtail for a factory connection. I got a couple of used, inop sport mirrors for the pigtails. No matter what, you seem to end up with three sets of mirrors to make one set of 2nd gen power-heat-tow mirrors.

 

[b.ferrara]

the heat would be more of an importance to me, I don't need the power. But it seems like an awful lot of work for a guy who tows less than a dozen times a year. I guess if you tow on a regular basis, you need them. Plus my 1st gen didn't have them, now my 2nd gen doesn't, I guess in time when I go for the 3rd gen maybe I'll get them.

 

[Thomas]

"the heat would be more of an importance to me . . . "



Burco sells replacement glass for the heated OEM tow mirrors.

 

[mmi]

There are some used mirrors on ebay if someone needs the parts for a conversion. #2469634673

regards

 

[NDodge]

I am currently working on the power towing mirror conversion. I got all 4 towing mirrors used to replace my standard power factory mirrors. I was lucky, the castings of all the mirrors were identical, so none of the annoying grinding away of material. The worst part was taking the mirrors apart. I tried the homemade spring compressor technique for reassembly, but found that compressing the spring in the vice and fastening it with wire was much easier. However, I am in need of the mounting plates that go inside the door frame that the long mirror mounting studs go through (my used mirrors didn't include them). Anyone got an extra set? Can I order just the plates from my dealer? Also, if cut the pigtail off my standard power mirrors, does anyone have written down which wires go where? Thanks!