2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Mounting Hardware west coast mirrors

[aerialimage]

Wondering what the trade name is for those Expanding Nuts similar to Wall anchors. I have a some west coast mirrors that were taken off this truck just before I purchased it, They yanked some of the Nut anchors out of the doors and My rivnuts are not big enough, Looks like original hardware was an expanding anchor like Volvo Plate mounts and Hollow wall anchors. Where do I find these Maybe Napa? Thanks friends! ( 99 DRW Cummins 4x4 QC)

 

[Hammer]

The 1st Gen truck I had used those big chrome framed mirrors and I had issues with the long arms pulling the bolts out of theose nuts you describe and stripping them. What I did to fix that and clean up the outside look for show season back then was to buy 8 stainless steel hex head blts a in the same thread. Then I removed the door panels and used a nice sized nylon washer against the inside of the door skin and a nylock nut to make them stay tight. No more need to find those junk bolts that Ma Mopar used and it was alot cheaper and easier to do. I got all the needed bolts and nuts at Lowes... ... Andy

 

[aerialimage]

Thanks

I only need two or three though and It would be more work right now pulling door panels and Removing the still good expanded Anchors, I like your idea but If I can get those Anchor nuts readily I can easily install them blind from outside and be back in business, this truck had these mirrors for 120K miles with Stainless Hex bolts and lock washers with no issues. Maybe Mopar as they look to have a nice Nylon insulator between door and mirror leg I would rather have the same than just finding plain anchor nuts. I have plenty of rtv and nylon washers though so if I have to Can use a standard anchor nut.

Thanks

 

[charlessmith]

Go to a hardware store, and look for jack-nuts. Or maybe they are called jack-screws.

These are things with about 1/2" between the nut and the outer face of the jack-nut. You insert it through a drilled hole in sheet metal and when you tighten a bolt in them, the nut pulls up tight against the inside of the sheet metal and you get 4 parts that stick out against the inside of the sheet metal.

I try to coat the drilled hole with some sort of anti-rust paint before putting the jack-nut in, so you don't end up with rust a few years down the road. I use stainless bolts, so rusty bolts aren't an issue, and you can get them loose years later. You want to make sure they are tight against the sheet metal when you are installing them, so they don't turn in the door. I've sometimes had to use tiny long nosed vise-grips to hold the outer flange on the outside of the door to get them really tight.

This is what I've used to mount west coast mirror braces on my doors.

All that being said, I've been tempted to remove the west coast mirrors from my '97 and install flip up tow mirrors like I have on my '96. I really like them better, they are power mirrors that are heated for winter use, and there's probably a lot less air drag when running empty. Remember, every little bit helps for fuel mileage!

 

[Hammer]

AerialImage... .

I didn't remove the expanded anchors on mine when I did it. They were left in place and I just used the washers and nuts behind them when I tightened them down. After many miles of towing I was tired of those cheap anchor nuts wearing due to the stress in the wind and wanted a way to keep the mirrors more secure. I had the panels off/on and the mirrors secured in less than an hour and never had another issue after that. That truck had 80k on it when that happened to me and when it was sold some years later it had 195k on it and I never had another mirror issue again.



Charlie... .

Which power/heated flip up mirrors did you use on your 96,the Kool-Vue ones?.

Have you returned from up in the great white North yet?... LOL... ..... andy

 

[charlessmith]

AerialImage... .

That truck had 80k on it when that happened to me and when it was sold some years later it had 195k on it and I never had another mirror issue again.

I put the West Coast mirrors on my '97 at about 55K, and it's now got about 220k. The only mirror issue I've had was some doofus coming the other way in the city with a ladder sticking off the side of his truck that hit my driver's mirror.

Charlie... .

Which power/heated flip up mirrors did you use on your 96,the Kool-Vue ones?. Have you returned from up in the great white North yet? ... LOL ... ..... andy

I used the Kool-Vue ones. Other than the work in the first place figuring out the wiring, they've been trouble free. And yeah, I was back in Ohio in October. I put the PA Performance 200A High Output Alternator on in Anchorage, and have been very happy with it. I never had any problem with the Flex-a-Lite fans, my weight was about 12,000# and I never had any heat issues.

 

[Hammer]

Charlie...

Glad to hear that your back and the fans worked flawlessly.

I am planning a trip out to Thornville after the holidays and will call you when I come out. I am going to look into the Kool-Vue's as I want the power/heated deal back as I am getting lazy and would like the adjustment back in the cab... ... Andy

 

[AWallace]

My truck is a 95 are the flip-up mirrores easy to install? I looked on the fenderworld website but they started with the 98's. I don't have power mirrors but the plug is in the door I believe. I have towing mirrors from Camping World that replaced the orginal mirrors but they creep back under wind pressure. I have had the door panel lose and tried to shim the tubes in the bracket with no luck.



One other question do the mirrors fit tight to the door and what will I need to install them.

 

[AWallace]

I just take to Mike at fenderworld and the mirrors also come manuel which probably would be my best bet since I do not have power mirrors. He also said if you cut the wires it voids the warrenty which you would have to do to install.

 

[bmoeller]

All that being said, I've been tempted to remove the west coast mirrors from my '97 and install flip up tow mirrors like I have on my '96. I really like them better, they are power mirrors that are heated for winter use, and there's probably a lot less air drag when running empty. Remember, every little bit helps for fuel mileage!

You can get power/heated mirrors replacement heads for the west coast mirrors as well. Moto-Mirror brand on a few of our trucks. My W9 had them on both sides. The rest only have them on the pass side. All the ones we have are heated as well.



I installed the flip up power/heated mirrors on my '99 a few weeks ago. Sure beats the dinky ones that were on there stock. 5X9 on a dually, and no spots? WTH? #@$%!