Every old truck...
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 4
Every old truck...
... has whistling mirrors. I haven't been in an old truck that doesn't.
So, my question for my fellow FTE'ers today is, "Is there any way to get the blasted things quiet?"
The only noises my truck makes going down the road are the exhaust and the constant, nagging whistling from those old mirrors.
So, my question for my fellow FTE'ers today is, "Is there any way to get the blasted things quiet?"
The only noises my truck makes going down the road are the exhaust and the constant, nagging whistling from those old mirrors.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
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From: Virginia
I doubt it's the mirrors. The only trouble I have ever had was with leaky weatherstripping around the windows, and loose trim around the windshield.
Roll down the windows and see if it goes away. This is not a common problem with these trucks, and Ford would not have sold them with noisy mirrors, loose steering, etc.
Roll down the windows and see if it goes away. This is not a common problem with these trucks, and Ford would not have sold them with noisy mirrors, loose steering, etc.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 4
I doubt it's the mirrors. The only trouble I have ever had was with leaky weatherstripping around the windows, and loose trim around the windshield.
Roll down the windows and see if it goes away. This is not a common problem with these trucks, and Ford would not have sold them with noisy mirrors, loose steering, etc.
Roll down the windows and see if it goes away. This is not a common problem with these trucks, and Ford would not have sold them with noisy mirrors, loose steering, etc.
You can put your hand around the base of the mirror and the sound changes.
Dunno why mine whistle, but they do.
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
Mine don't whistle either, but then mine are the factory trailer tow mirrors. In fact my truck is almost quiet inside. You do get some exhaust drone at certain rpm, but not really bad.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 1
try buying a different pair of mirrors from your local parts store, it could just be that your mirrors have a funny shape on the backside that does funny things with the wind. or be a real bad-a$$ like me and have double mirrors on both sides
its likely that any change at all will kill the wind noise, even like guys with roof racks might get a noise, but it goes away if they move the rack even just an inch
its likely that any change at all will kill the wind noise, even like guys with roof racks might get a noise, but it goes away if they move the rack even just an inch
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Sheffield, AL
No cost experimentation!
Do you have a camper shell or bed mounted toolbox? Have you tried changing the position of the mirror? If you have swing-a-way mirrors, adjust the one on the passenger side to where it is parallel with the body and see if the whistling changes.
As was mentioned previously by Franklin2, it might be the trim around the windshield. Take some blue painters masking tape and seal the trim edges and see if the whistling diminishes. The tape can be easily removed, if not left on too long. This is a bodyshop trick. Sometimes they even tape the seams of hoods, fenders and doors in their hunt for wind generated sounds.
Good luck!
Last edited by 1986F150six; Jun 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM. Reason: Added toolbox question.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg Canada
I think these trucks came with an additional door seal at some time as an option and later became standard. That seal would be along the front post (against the "A" pillar on over the top of the window and slightly down the rear post. My 1980 has one door seal but my newer 1992 doors are like this. I don't know when this extra seal change occurred. Look at a newer truck in a JY to see what was done and you could replicate it with a pressure-sensitive adhesive closed cell foam strip.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
I think these trucks came with an additional door seal at some time as an option and later became standard. That seal would be along the front post (against the "A" pillar on over the top of the window and slightly down the rear post. My 1980 has one door seal but my newer 1992 doors are like this. I don't know when this extra seal change occurred. Look at a newer truck in a JY to see what was done and you could replicate it with a pressure-sensitive adhesive closed cell foam strip.
The "inner" seals are for water and all variants had them.
If an optional Sound Reduction package was ordered, the "outer" seals were added.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Rocky Mountain High
Ford offered the RRV (Rural Road Version, sometimes referred to as the "Country Boy Package", or CBP) on a limited number of '86 trucks. The RRV included the DCS (Deer and Cow Safety) mirrors, which emit a high-pitched whistling sound at speeds over 45 mph. Very rare.
