DG4 Below eyeline mirrors, replacement elbows and mirror heads

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by randy500

My high crown stainless steel acorn nuts arrived today. Machining was a little rough almost exactly as pictured above. I smoothed them a little on the belt sander and then with some scotchbrite. I may polish them later.
Im super happy with them, very close to original shape.

That was fast. Great find!

[randy500]

Dated glass on some 72 DF2 camper mirrors i had.
Pretty hard to see if can be seen at all in the picture, lower center i cleaned off to show the glass date code.
Drivers glass and passenger glass was dated 4-D-2

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by randy500

Close up pic of most common factory acorn nut. I also think the unplated washers and platic washers is correct in this picture.

I believe all 72 mirror glass is date coded at the center bottom of the mirror.

Washers are correct. Here's a shot of a 72 mirror I found in Phoenix for a board member several years ago. Same washers that were on my original 69 mirrors.

[FirstOwner69]

Let's talk elbows...
As Pete mentioned in a post above, the G series vans used similar mirrors at least through 1978 or 1979. The mirror heads were the same. The brackets look similar to the 1972 version but are different otherwise. The elbows are the same in one dimension but shorter in the other dimension. This allows mounting the head so it's closer to the door which makes the mirrors a bit less obtrusive.They are tapped for bolts rather than having studs for the acorn nuts. Those I've rescued are stainless rather than chrome plate so they don't rust and can be polished to a high shine. That's what I have currently on my truck. See picture 1.

Other elbow sources (also tapped stainless) include Fords with camper mirrors into the early 90s and, if I recall correctly, some Dodges. Dimensions my vary.

Obviously, all these tapped elbows require using a screw-in stud if an acorn nut is desired. I used cutoff stainless bolts.

Mirror heads...
I've also found these on the Fords as well as Dodges. Some have the letters "da" followed by what appears to be a maple leaf stamp on the stainless. See Picture 2. Some have been offset, some centered.

[Richard]

Good to know some parts are available. Need a set of these for my 72 for resto. Listed on the spid. Long gone when I got the truck. Several sets of mirror holes in the doors.

[DeadheadNM]

Nuts look great. Good info here.

The screws to attach the mirrors to the door always seemed characteristic for the below eyeline and camper mirrors. I’ll dig one out and post photos when possible. The head has a “P” shaped maker mark.

[jaros44sr]

Are these mounted to the door with nuts and bolts or plate

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Are these mounted to the door with nuts and bolts or plate

Just screwed to the door - no backing plates

[FirstOwner69]

Pete is correct that the mirrors are just screwed to the doors using hex head sheet metal screws. An early encounter with a parking meter convinced me that this is not the best fastening system. This is one of the not too obvious places where I varied from original on my truck. When I removed a mirror from a late 70s van, I found that GM had refined the fastening system to what is pictured below. They won't rust because they are stainless, won't tear out of the door and are cushioned so the mounting bracket won't damage the paint. The casual observer will never notice. You can see them in use in the 2nd and 3rd pictures in post 19.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-20-Jack...cAAOSwwfFeJeie

[richard2717]

Originally Posted by randy500

Interesting set of 72 only DG4, below eyeline mirrors...different styles of lower brackets on a set of mirrors

Randy
Those appear to be G series van mirrors

[richard2717]

These are the nylon washers I have been using on my mirrors

https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/126/3426

part #90295A473

Next to the last 3/8 screw size

[randy500]

Originally Posted by richard2717

These are the nylon washers I have been using on my mirrors

https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/126/3426

part #90295A473

Next to the last 3/8 screw size

Thanks for posting that Richard.

[DeadheadNM]

OEM screws

[randy500]

Here is the original sheet metal screws Pete mentioned with the artistic “P” head marking.
They are chrome plated. An internal star washer is used as shown in the picture, these are often missing or fall out when removing, kind of hidden because they are smaller than the screw head.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

OEM screws

We posted at the same time....

I have a few screws that are slightly longer with the same head marking, probably from a square body truck.

[DeadheadNM]

I need to standardize my washers - I tried a chrome outer washer. Replated OEM acorn nuts.

[randy500]

A picture of my completed mirrors. I have been hesitant to use the stainless elbows because of the hex bolts they come with, im real happy with these high crown stainless acorn nuts, i think its about as good as you can get short of rechroming the original elbows.

[randy500]

Does anybody have a better picture or the actual instructions for mounting these mirrors?
As far as i can tell the upper hole is 8 1/4” back and is 3/16 hole size.

[richard2717]

Randy
I have searched the assembly manual 3 times and have yet to find the 72 only DG4 mirrors. I did find the ones from 71. Would it not make sense that the top hole would be in the same spot for both mirrors, only measured from different points? In other words the 71 mirror has a measurement of 9.38 but it is on the lower line of the door. If that was brought up to the top line (squared from top edge) it looks to be about the 8.25 you mentioned here because of the taper back of the front edge on the door.

Here is a real clear drawing of the 71 DG4 mirrors

.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by randy500

A picture of my completed mirrors. I have been hesitant to use the stainless elbows because of the hex bolts they come with, im real happy with these high crown stainless acorn nuts, i think its about as good as you can get short of rechroming the original elbows.

Looks great! As to SS elbows, if you couldn't find studs that fit, what about screwing in a hex bolt, then cutting off the hex head? End result would be a 'stud' ready for washers & acorn nut.

[jaros44sr]

Thanks Richard, for the assembly pic, forgot to ask that. Just got my mirrors in the mail yesterday and the SS looks great, the elbows not so. Glad I bought new ones from NAPA

GREAT THREAD and thank you

[Richard]

Thank you Randy! I was given a tip when needing studs quite some time ago. When I needed one I would cut all thread or cut off a bolt. The tip is to use set screws. Come in many sizes, surprisingly long lengths (over two inches) and allen, slot or torx to screw them in. Usually can be had in steel, black oxide or SS.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Looks great! As to SS elbows, if you couldn't find studs that fit, what about screwing in a hex bolt, then cutting off the hex head? End result would be a 'stud' ready for washers & acorn nut.

Thats exactly what i did. Worked fine on the mirror end, the other end is s tad short but holding.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by richard2717

Randy
I have searched the assembly manual 3 times and have yet to find the 72 only DG4 mirrors. I did find the ones from 71. Would it not make sense that the top hole would be in the same spot for both mirrors, only measured from different points? In other words the 71 mirror has a measurement of 9.38 but it is on the lower line of the door. If that was brought up to the top line (squared from top edge) it looks to be about the 8.25 you mentioned here because of the taper back of the front edge on the door.

Here is a real clear drawing of the 71 DG4 mirrors

.

Nice find Richard and thank you.
The dimensions i posted are from me expanding the picture and guessing...at one time not long ago i had some original doors with dg4 mirrors, im on the lookout for another set to get dimensions.
I sometimes forget to look in the assembly manual.

[randy500]

The 71 DG4 Assembly manual pic posted appears to show the off center mirror head as FirstOwner stated earlier, good info, im learning a lot here.
These are good looking truck mirrors which are useable.

Funny thing tho, i put a nice set of 72 DG4 mirrors on my crew cab, i liked them but went back to sport mirrors. Im very use to cranking my head to use the sport mirrors and am accustomed to the view they provide. I added a fender mount clip on mirror for towing to the passenger side, kind of 70’s odd-cool.