So, I finally got around to getting those stupid flimsy Advance Autoparts $20 specials off my truck. About a month ago, I ordered a West Coast Mirror kit from ebay (came complete with mirrors, mounts, and miscellaneous hardware for $120, delivered). It's a universal kit, so I figured I'd have some tweaking to do. But really, aside from some bending, there wasn't much to do.

I thought I'd give a little write up in case anyone else is interested. The kit is from a company called Peterson Manufacturing. I'm not sure if they're still in business, but the seller I got mine from had hundreds of them. So they're out there (and relatively cheap).

Before I begin, I know I could have bought a set of mirrors specifically for my truck, but where's the fun in that?

First, you have to remove the factory mirrors. I had the type that sit on elbows. So, you'll need a T-30 torx bit (used one on a socket wrench for leverage). I thought you'd have to pull the door panels, but the nuts for the bolts are actually welded / molded into the door. So, they don't fall off. But, to install the new mirrors, you'll need to remove the panels anyway.

The instructions tell you to use the included self-tapping screws, but I didn't trust them. So I used 1/4" bolts on the bottom hangers where I could get to the inside of the doors. On the tops, because of the weather stripping and how Ford made the doors, I was forced to use the self-tapping screws. If they don't hold, I'll just come up with something else. But so far, they've been good.

You'll have to bend the top mirror arms so that they line up (mostly) with the top of the cab. The angle of the top of the door sort requires that. The mirror mounts are 8 inches apart on both the top and the bottom. Now the pictures!









A couple of tips/observations:
I used RTV to seal up the new holes I drilled (you can see a little in the pictures) and the seal up the factory holes.
When I get around to painting the truck, I'll fill the holes from the factory mirrors properly, but simply putting the plastic back works for now.
Make sure you put the drain holes (if yours have them) for the west coast mirrors pointed down.

I love them. You can see for miles behind you on the interstate with no vibrations. They don't block the vent windows up (SD mirror installs do). I think they look great and don't create huge blind spots when pulling out from an intersection. Oh, and they are no wider (mirror end to mirror end) than a SD with the mirrors telescoped out (I'm at 112" inches and the SD was 111.5").

 

Looks like you need a wide load sign hung on the front and back of the truck. LOL Very rugged looking though. Should put some marker lights at the very outside edge. That would make a lot of drivers coming at you pull over thinking you are taking up the whole road. Thats how it sometimes looks with the superdutys.

 

Yeah, marker lights would be cool. I can pull the wires through the big gaping hole Ford was kind enough to provide in the factory mirror mount.

 

Holy huge mirrors, and I thought my factory tow mirrors were big! You need some cats eyes on those bad boys, just my .02