Door Hinge Pin Mirror
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 586
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From: East Palestine, Ohio
Door Hinge Pin Mirror
Finally put passenger side mirror on my 48F1. I used 1/2"" socket to fit over head of pin and used a 6" "C" clamp to fit over socket and bottom end of pin that protrudes below bottom of hinge. Once bottom of pin was flush with hinge i used a 1/4" door hinge pin removal tool with a flat end. This allowed a flat area to use tool and hammer to pound pin out the rest of the way. The pin removal tool i bought at home depot for 6 bucks. To install new pin all you need to use is the "C" clamp. Only took about a half hour. Be careful not to hit side of door with hammer (speaking from experience) Tape a piece of cardboard to door before you start.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2004
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Hi TLB
I've considered installing a pair of those mirrors, but have had two reservations -
First - the ads for the mirrors often state that some hinge material may have to be ground off to make the mirrors fit - did you have to do any grinding?
Second - does the swivel on the mirror head allow you to properly see back down the side of the truck? I bought a set of peep mirrors a few years ago, but the mirror heads had a very limited amount of swivel to them - the passenger side mirror couldn't bend enough to let me see what I was potentially backing into.
Thanks
Brian
I've considered installing a pair of those mirrors, but have had two reservations -
First - the ads for the mirrors often state that some hinge material may have to be ground off to make the mirrors fit - did you have to do any grinding?
Second - does the swivel on the mirror head allow you to properly see back down the side of the truck? I bought a set of peep mirrors a few years ago, but the mirror heads had a very limited amount of swivel to them - the passenger side mirror couldn't bend enough to let me see what I was potentially backing into.
Thanks
Brian
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 561
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From: Minneapolis
I have the same concern regarding the grinding. Terry, did you need to grind? I wonder why they suggest grinding the hinge. Given the choice, I would prefer to screw-up the mirror rather than my door.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 586
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From: East Palestine, Ohio
I did not have to grind the door hinge but i did grind a small taper on the end of the pin to allow pin to fit into bottom hole of bracket. There is enough adjustment in the mirror head but the diameter is to small to have a real good view rearward. I bought the mirror from Bob Drake Reproductions.
I do have a mirror on both sides. I does help backing out of gararge.
I do have a mirror on both sides. I does help backing out of gararge.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 485
Likes: 2
I've got a set of the hinge-mounted mirrors that I'm looking to install, and i can't see any possible way to install them without grinding off part of the hinger. I don't believe that I'll have to grind enough to weaken the hinge, but it will be visible. Fortunately, we're doing this before the paint, otherwise I would be a little upset about doing it.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28
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From: Vancouver, B.C. Canada
I put hinge pin mounted mirrors on my old 1952 F-1 and had to grind a lot off of the hinge; as mentioned above not enough to weaken it but you definitely want to do it in the mock up state.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Gunbarrel, Co.
My truck was already painted when I got it and the hinge mirror came with the truck so I was bound and determined to install it. Definite some grinding is needed, but like others have said use protection everywhere possible if your grinding.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
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From: Poway, Ca.
I installed the hinge pin mirrors and didn't need to grind anything. I did have to sand off the 10 or so coats of old paint and primer - buity it was all loose, rusty and flaking off anyway.
One thing I did have to do was drill a small recess in the hinge to allow the set screw some place to bite - very small - like a dimple.
Otherwise the thing would creep backwards from wind blast while I was driving, no matter how solidly I tightened the set screws.
One thing I did have to do was drill a small recess in the hinge to allow the set screw some place to bite - very small - like a dimple.
Otherwise the thing would creep backwards from wind blast while I was driving, no matter how solidly I tightened the set screws.
FTE fan
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: paradise, northern calif.
i put some on my 50 a few years back. At the time i strugled to and finaly got the old pins out with a long punch and a hammer, not to bad. i just bought a door pin remover from Mac's because im going to have to pull both doors to repair rusted door bottoms. i did not need to grind and the mirrors work well in my opinion.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 485
Likes: 2
The mirrors I bought look like this:
There must be two types of mirrors out there, one with slightly larger brackets that don't require grinding. Do those of you who didn't have to grind remember where you bought your mirrors? They all look exactly alike in the photos.
-DV
There must be two types of mirrors out there, one with slightly larger brackets that don't require grinding. Do those of you who didn't have to grind remember where you bought your mirrors? They all look exactly alike in the photos.
-DV
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 195
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From: Iron Station, NC
The mirrors I bought look like this:
There must be two types of mirrors out there, one with slightly larger brackets that don't require grinding. Do those of you who didn't have to grind remember where you bought your mirrors? They all look exactly alike in the photos.
-DV
There must be two types of mirrors out there, one with slightly larger brackets that don't require grinding. Do those of you who didn't have to grind remember where you bought your mirrors? They all look exactly alike in the photos.
-DV
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 485
Likes: 2
I just spent about an hour shopping around at the various early Ford parts houses for hinge pin mount side mirrors that do not require that the hinge be ground down. The mirrors that I have came from LMC, and there is no mention of grinding the hinges in the LMC catalog, but I can confirm that they will not work without grinding down the hinge.
Here is what I found at the other suppliers:
C&G - Has a note that the hinge requires modification
Classic Haulers - Has a note about grinding the hinge
Dennis Carpenter - Has a note about grinding the hinge
Sacramento Vintage Ford - Has a note about grinding the hinge
Mid-Fifty - Doesn't appear to carry this type of mirror
F100 Central - No photo... can't tell if they carry it
MAC's Antique Auto Parts - No mention of modifying the hinge
Early Ford Store - Specifically states that this mirror will not work on a pickup
Blue Oval - No mention of modifying the hinge
Bob Drake reproductions - No mention of modifying the hinge
-DV
Here is what I found at the other suppliers:
C&G - Has a note that the hinge requires modification
Classic Haulers - Has a note about grinding the hinge
Dennis Carpenter - Has a note about grinding the hinge
Sacramento Vintage Ford - Has a note about grinding the hinge
Mid-Fifty - Doesn't appear to carry this type of mirror
F100 Central - No photo... can't tell if they carry it
MAC's Antique Auto Parts - No mention of modifying the hinge
Early Ford Store - Specifically states that this mirror will not work on a pickup
Blue Oval - No mention of modifying the hinge
Bob Drake reproductions - No mention of modifying the hinge
-DV