2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2nd / 3rd Gen Power Towing Mirror Swap

[Tiger Rag]

Ok, I'm finally going to get around to this. I'll order parts tomorrow. Here are the part #'s



Power Towing Mirrors for 03-05 Rams: 82207298 List: $355



Other parts for my 01 2500



Power contol switch: 56021311 List: $48. 10

Lock Nut: 6503107 List $3. 10

Knob: 56007040 List $11. 95



AC/Heat mirror heat control head: 5015737AA List: $157 (*****Bad Part #, this one does not have AC. Just found that out today on a warm rainy Nov day********)



Hope this helps others as it took the guy a while to look up the part #'s.

 

[sardoghauler]

save $$$$

You can wave quite a bit of $$ on the mirrors. I got mine through Winona (sp?) Chrysler is Minnesota. Found 'em on ebay and with shipping they were significantly cheaper than anywhere else. Don't remember how much now but check 'em out.

 

[Rick B]

A little research is a good thing. Thanks for the help. Rick

 

[Tiger Rag]

You can wave quite a bit of $$ on the mirrors. I got mine through Winona (sp?) Chrysler is Minnesota. Found 'em on ebay and with shipping they were significantly cheaper than anywhere else. Don't remember how much now but check 'em out.

I personally have a "hook up" on parts. That's why I only listed the "list" price. I'm able to get all of that for around $400. Not that that is cheap by any means. But given the current manual mirrors, it will be really nice to have the power option. There is a guy at a dealership in Mechanicsville, VA on Ebay that has these mirrors for $279. That is about $10 less than I'm paying, but I won't have freight on mine and I need the other parts anyway.

 

[surfbeetle]

I bought a new (so I could get the mounting plate) set of 2nd gen manual tow mirrors from Wyatt Earp Dodge on Ebay, it was $199 including freight.



Then on ebay, I bought four other mirrors as follows, all prices included freight:

3rd gen damaged pass mirror $32

3rd gen drivers $75

3rd gen pass $74

2nd gen drivers $98

Total: $478



Then, after doing the swap, I was left with four extra mirrors. One was a brand new 2nd gen manual mirror which I sold on ebay for $120. I sold a 3rd gen power mirror on ebay for $100. I have a couple of others that haven't sold yet.



So now, my $478 minus $220 for mirrors I resold leaves me with $258. 00 spent on mirrors. As for the defroster switch, I got a $3. 00 switch at Walmart and wired it up to the mirrors from a key on only power source, works great.

 

[Rick B]

Thanks for the info, I think I may even be able to do this. (The non-mechanic). Also, thanks to everyone else that has done so much on this topic. Rick

 

[Rick B]

Thanks for updating your pictures, they look great! Just received my new mirrors that I got on ebay from Wyatt Arp Chrysler-Dodge in Texas for $ 276 including shipping. Seems reasonable from what I've read. I have standard electric and defrost mirrors and when I compare the new ones, the arm looks huge compared to my small standard mirrors. You sure this is going to work? I ordered the locking nuts and some extra retaining clips for the door panel, but I still don't understand what the locking nuts are for if I'm putting the same base back on my truck. Any comments sure would be appreciated. Rick

 

[claykelly]

When you take your old bases off, you'll booger up the retainers pretty good. It's easier to replace them rather than bend them back into shape. A word of caution here, when you pry the retainer nuts off, be careful. That spring under the retainer is quite stiff and will come flying back at your head with a great deal of speed. Ask me how I know

I found a large deep well socket and an arbor press worked great for reinstalling. Just make sure and pad the top side of the mirror arm so you don't scratch or break it.

 

[Rick B]

One last question. Tried to make mirror swap, but the mounts on my standard size electric, heated mirrors are way to small to use with the 03's that I purchased. Did I miss something in all my posts? Do you have to start with 01' towing mirrors, which I don't have? Rick

 

[pgleavitt]

Correct. You have to have the non-powered tow mirrors for the bases for the swap. The non powered mirrors come with a stamped support plate that goes into the door to support the weight of the larger mirrors. Make sure you have them if you find a pair of non powered mirrors used.

 

[CumminsAholic]

Good Info. I plan on doing the swap someday, should know everything I need to now.

Corey

 

[cap-n-cray]

I may have missed the answer, but does anyone know where to get or dealer part number for the correct plug to wire the 3 gen mirror to the 2001 harness? I have the mirrors on order.



Cary

 

[pgleavitt]

I had to add wire to the 03 mirrors to get to the plug and just hard wired them. If you had the stock power mirrors to start with you could use the stock plug off them and with trial and error figure out which wire went to the proper position in the plug and use it but I plan on keeping my mirrors and just hard wired to save on extra connections that could go bad. Solder and heat shrink worked best for me

 

[Tiger Rag]

When you take your old bases off, you'll booger up the retainers pretty good. It's easier to replace them rather than bend them back into shape.

Just got my mirrors and parts in. Just curious as I've only messed with the retainers for a minute or two and haven't taken them off yet as I don't want to ruin them completely if I need to reuse them. If I should replace them, where can I source the replacement retainers?



Thanks, Matt

 

[DaveK98]

You guys know what would be cool?



If the mirrors had a memory and adjusted to the memory when you flipped them.



I wind up keeping mine in the flipped out position because I tow 90% of the time and it's such a pain if I flip them in to adjust and readjust.

 

[Tiger Rag]

You guys know what would be cool?



If the mirrors had a memory and adjusted to the memory when you flipped them.



I wind up keeping mine in the flipped out position because I tow 90% of the time and it's such a pain if I flip them in to adjust and readjust.

Yeah, and try that when you have manual mirrors. That's why I'm doing this project. Didn't realize how much I'd miss power mirrors. Hopefully it will be worth every penny after I get it done.

 

[DLausche]

Just got my mirrors and parts in. Just curious as I've only messed with the retainers for a minute or two and haven't taken them off yet as I don't want to ruin them completely if I need to reuse them. If I should replace them, where can I source the replacement retainers?



Thanks, Matt

You should be able to easily reuse the retainer spring clips. The tabs are bent up a little bit after you get it apart, but just tap them down a bit with a hammer on an anvil and they should be good to go. At least this is how mine went. I did not need new retainers and all 4 of them were in usable condition with just a bit of tweaking needed to bend the tabs down a bit. I used a large socket and hammer to drive the circle spring clips back into place when reassembling. Do this as gently as possible on a soft surface to avoid damage to the mirror and arm.



-Deon

 

[Tiger Rag]

Working on pulling the new ones apart right now. First one came apart with a little effort, but not too bad. Second one was coming pretty good, but I broke my small screwdriver and my nail set that I was prying with. Shouldn't be too bad though. It does surprise you when that clip lets go though. Made me jump just a little.

 

[pgleavitt]

I have done 3 sets of mirror conversions and have yet to mess up the retainer enough that it can't be reused. I put a shop towel over the hole when I pry the retainer off and it stays put when it lets go. The first time I took one off was a different story as it flew past my face at mach 2.

 

[surfbeetle]

... put a shop towel over the hole when I pry the retainer off and it stays put when it lets go. The first time I took one off was a different story as it flew past my face at mach 2.

Yeah, that's a little unnerving. I wore a full face shield the first time, I was not sure how the clips would come out. I soon found out that the towel was the way to go.