I just thought I would let you guys, and girls, see what I have been working on in the little free time I have had. I wanted mirrors that I could actually see something out of when I drove my panel and F-4. I have the little 4" round mirrors on my F-2 and they're pretty much useless. Fortunately, on the F-2, I have windows I can look out of but with the panel and F-4 my blind spots are enlarged so I wanted some useful and looked vintage. I also didn't want to use "West Coast" style, or any other style I had to drill holes in my door for in case I caught them on something. The mirrors usually get ripped out of the door. I also wanted low maintainance so I looked around for something in stainless steel so I wouldn't have to worry about rust. Here is what I came up with:



The mirror on the right is an original style mirror. I wanted something close to it and was able to assemble this package from mirrors I bought at the local farm supply store and the adjustable rod came from a truck stop nearby. This is a short rod, which I will use on the panel, they also have a longer one I will be using on the F-4 to look past the flatbed and it's side racks.

BTW, I am using this package on both sides of the trucks but only have only one drivers' side bracket so I made forms out of 1/4" steel and made another driver's side bracket and all I have to do is flip them over and form two more sets for the passenger side. (The top set are the new ones, the one pictured above)

 

Nicely done Bob!!

I really like the look of it. I've been searching for something also as all I have is a small peep mirror that clamps on the door lip (virtually useless)

When you made the new brackets out of 1/4" did you manage to bend them up from one piece or did you weld them from several pieces? I take it that you need the longer door hinge pins also? I need to replace my pins anyways. If the brackets are 1/4" thickness doesn't that mean that the pins will need to be 1" longer?

Do you use a pair of star washers on either side of the adjustable bar to maintain its position?

Great job!!
Bobby

 

That is exactly what I've been trying to replace! I demand a FULL writeup! (Well, maybe not 'demand' but I'll certainly whine if we don't get one. How about 'beg'?) Who makes those arms and where can I GET some??

 

Bob, I would like to know as well. I will have to make a set for both my F6 Conventional cab and my F6 COE. I think the mirrors look great. What was the farm store called? We have a Tractor Supply Company here. They might have some. We also have a truck America truck stop about n20 minutes from me.

 

I used the 1/4" metal to make the forms to form the brackets over. I used 14ga steel, about the same thickness as the originals, for the brackets themselves. These aren't perfect, I plan to make two new sets and use the experience I got from making the first set, I thought these turned out pretty good.

 

I'll try to take more pictures tonight of my set up and post them.

 

Bob,
Cool, thanks, I understand what you mean now.

Again, Nice job!
Bobby

 

BRAVO!!! Very cool looking and obviously functional.

I know what you mean about the panel blind spot. When I had a 69 Econoline van, I had to become expert using those big mirrors.

 

Hey Bob,

The mirrors are cool. I think you could start a new business, it looks like you already have 4 sales. Oops, I forgot about me, make that 5.

Kevin

 

Extremely nice Bob. Job well done

 

Thanks everyone for the compliments, they aren't perfect, I need to tweak the process a little. I'll do better on the next sets.

I set up a quick web page of the procedure I used, I did it quick so there might be mistakes on it.

http://www.fatfenderedtrucks.com/mirror.html

 

Your mirrors look great and your web page impressed the heck out of me also,great illistration Bob

John

 

Dennis Carpenter does now list this type of mirror in their catalogue but they want $75 for them.
8C-18403-A LH
8C-18402-A RH

For interest sake the adjustable mirrors were stock on the F-1/2/3 trucks and the non adjustable (one pictured above on right) was used on the F-4 and up trucks.

 

I Neeeeeeeeds some of those adjustable arms as well as the new shiny mirrors.
I can't drive anything without good sideviews. I'm Ok without a rearview. Just the way I learned.

Nice work on those Mount Brackets, may want some of those myself.

 

Nathan,

I've seen them too. There's a guy on uPay that is selling the set for $159.00. I was able to build these for less than $30 a pair in parts. Not including the time it took to make the forms, it took me about an hour to make the set. Plus I wanted the advantages of stainless so I wouldn't have to deal with rust.

Also, the reproduction mirrors aren't much larger than the small mirrors on my F-2, they look nice but are pretty much useless.