Hey Guys,
This weekend I'll be mounting my tow mirrors on my 71 F100. They are the original style FoMoCo Stainless Mirrors with the 3rd arm. Somebody told me they were West Coast Jr. Mirrors.
Anyway, my drivers truck door already has the holes in it fot the upper and lower part of the mirror to be installed. They are a bit wollered out, so I accounted for that when I got the stainless hardware.
My question: Do I really need to mount that 3rd arm that shoots out and attaches onto the front part of the door? I've seen lots of these style mirrors that don't have that 3rd arm on them - they look exactly like mine,

just without that brace sticking out. These braces on each of my mirrors
seem a bit loose and floppy anyway. So, I'm wondering if anyone has just
mounted these style mirrors, anf left that arm off.

 

West Coast Jr's do not have the third arm. They have a lock mechanism at the top of the unit at the bracket that holds the mirror out. You can fold them in if you like. The three arm ones are fixed and you need the third arm.

 

It's OK to leave off the 'steady rest' third arm.

Nutserts (threaded rivets) I think would be a better way to attach them. However, there is a higher risk of theft (if that matters).

Western mirrors take a bit of getting used to due to their relatively large heads which can hide/screen pedestrians, bicyclists, and even entire vehicles.

 

I just installed West Coast Jr. My truck had holes for them as it left the factory with them. I removed the bondo and used the exsiting holes. For the lower mount I used 1/4" rubber nut inserts I found at Ace Hardware. They worked great. McMaster-Carr also has them. For the top I used stainless 1/4" x 3/4" long pan head screw with a 1/4" acorn nut on the outside of the door. I sourced everything from my local Ace Hardware. I was concerned about the rubber nut inserts, I looked up their specs and they are rated to hold 225lbs each.

Good info here on all the fasteners:
FORDification.net - The '73-'79 Ford Pickup Resource

 

2x with Hio.

1. The large rack 3 arm jr w/c mirrors would not come with the extra arm if it was not needed Right.

Do this, stick your arm straight out the window at 50 mph and see if you can hold it straight out with it not moving from the wind..

The short arm mirrors fold in don't use the extra bracing arm..

Plus if you come out from under you truck from working on it, you better remember the mirrors arms the stick way out. If you'll have a gash in your forehead area many times over.. Then out pops many 4 letter words other then "ouch"

After selling my c/o camper those 3rd arm mirrors were the first thing to come off my doors.

orich

 

All outside mirrors were installed by the dealers. If ordered from Ford, mirrors were placed inside the cab at final assembly.

Ford referred to these mirrors as Western Juniors (without 3rd 'steady rest' arm: C6TZ-17696-A / with 3rd 'steady rest' arm: C7TZ-17696-E). West Coast is an aftermarket term.

C6TZ-17696-A mirrors were optional for all except Camper Specials / C7TZ-17696-E 3rd 'steady rest' arm mirrors were part of the Camper Special package, optional on others.

Left/Right: Scroll down to see these two part numbers.

 

Thanks Guys. Thanks Number Genius.
I will probably begin by trying them out without the steady rest arm.
If that doesn't seem steady enough, I can add them, I suppose.
I'd like to add one of those small round "blind spot" mirrors that clamp onto the mirror assy. as well. I wouldn't want to stick one on the mirror itself.

What is the deal with these doors having pre-drilled holes? Mine don't. Not my original 71 Ranger XLT Doors, or these ones that I'm putting on now (from a 67 Truck). I'm swapping the doors because the original ones were real rusty/crusty along the bottom (we live up north).

Thanks,
Bob

 

I don't think all doors where pre-drilled. As NumberDummy stated the dealers installed mirrors and there are a several different types. My Marti report shows my truck was ordered with Western mirrors, so I knew it at least left the dealership with them. I could also see top holes on the inside of the door when it was open. Someone had filled them and installed a different style mirror. I removed the door panel and found the bondo filled lower holes inside the door.

 

Here's a pic from the 1973/79 catalog that shows the TYPE 1 C5TZ-17696-A 'Panoramic' Mirror that clamped on (21 available NOS). This mirror has a yellow reflector lens on its front side.

And ~ TYPE 2: Western Junior / TYPE 3: Western Junior with 3rd 'steady rest' arm.

 

Well what do you know, I have type 11's on the dump truck.
And I would say 2, 3, 5 and 9 and 11 are about all I ever see with 2, 5 and 9 being most popular.

 

Mine is definitely type 3. However, on mine the arm is set below the mirror, and not in the middle, like the picture. That's good to know, in case I end up using them. It looks like they just pop on, and pop off.

Bob

 

Type 9's are the best with not much hanging out there to create a forward blind spot, and they do fold easily to keep the parking lot obliviots from crumpling your doorskins. If they are not an improvement, then why does every manufacturer mount their mirrors in a similar down low fashion like the Type 9's?

 

I even see extensions for the type 9's once in a while at Pnp & ebay for towing.
This was another reason I when just installed the (#9)

One night while out fishing a long a the American canal above the Salton Sea.
I was on the narrow dirt road and was leaving when I met another vehicle coming
at me bolt going about 25mph when are mirrors clipped popped pieces in my face.

I stopped and he slowed to may be a stop then kept going. No save place to turn around and what good would it have done anyway.

Those 3 arm jr west coast mirror bracket don't give when hit it did not damage any part of the frame or door other then breaking the glass mirror.

Found a mirror shop the next day and he had no safety glass type mirrors.
Pulled the right out a used for a cutting pattern. I installed non-safety one on the right side knowing what the safety plate one did. I did have a small cut on my ear area that, I saw late when I got home the night.

About 8 yrs ago when sold the camper I sold the mirrors for $100 bucks on ebay.
And was very happy when they were gone..

I kept a backup replacement mirror in my side tool box after getting the one hit that night on the dirt road fishing.

But were great for towing when needed..
orich

 

I have the type 3 with the steady arm rest on my 70 F350 flatbed dump. I wouldn't want anything else for mirrors. They are invaluable for me when I am in traffic, changing lanes but especially when backing to load things and when backing up to dump. I added small convex mirrors which give a broader view and also show where my rear wheel are. As far as blind spots to the left or right just a small turn of my takes care of that. I think that is better than a blind spot behind me.

 

'Just wanted to highlight an apparent rarity...

The only mirror heads I have seen have either the FoMoCo or Ford oval engraved on the back. Well, my new-to-me '71 F250 wears a Rotunda-engraved head. Ford apparently offered over-the-counter kits under their accessory trade name line....