Tow Mirrors '68 C20

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by A 68 Wreck

Definitely after market after perusing more web sites and reading all the above posts.
I'll keep poking around as I like these 7 x 10" mirror, "tripod" mounted ones.

Thanks all again!

Perhaps your doors were replaced with later doors or the original holes welded and these mirrors added.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

To reinforce this...

After I posted yesterday, I visited the archived info. at www.gmheritage center.com and found that the option description in the literature for the 69 mirrors was below eye line even though they were called West Coast Junior on our SPIDs. The 68 info. on the website had a different option number and the description was West Coast Junior (probably the same on the SPID). I bet the SPID description for at least 69 & 70 was just carried over from 68.

Another interesting fact...
In 1970 the 396BB went to a 402 but on many SPID's the 402 in 1970 would be listed as a 396.

In 1970 the top option package was the CST (Custom Sport Truck) and in 1971 it was the Super Cheyenne (I think) ...but many times on the 1971 Trucks instead of the correct listing of Super Cheyenne it would be listed as a CST.

Go figure ...

[jocko]

Ok, now I'm REALLY confused...
I always thought:

Sport/Standard mirrors were the smallest available - normally see them on non-tow rigs, etc. Look like pic #1 (it's a 72, and I realize the base model mirrors were different in 67-68, looked more like 66 and prior mirrors with round head).

Also, always thought WEST COAST and WEST COAST JR mirrors were the hoop style that Tim displayed pics of above - Pic #2 here, just to complete the set.

And finally, I always thought below eyeline mirrors were the monsters for campers (pic #3) and granted, they had different style tripods and leg lengths for diff years.

Are we saying that #3 is not a factory mirror? And that below eyeline (on a SPID) is actually another term for West Coast or West Coast jr??

[MusicMan70]

My 70 spid description...

[FirstOwner69]

jocko

I think what we are saying is that GM got their terminology all screwed up. There were 2 types of the large head mirrors (7.5" X 10.5", I think). One is the smaller tripod type we've been discussing. The others were called camper mirrors as posted by MusicMan.

Ahh... I think I feel the nit-picking Corvette restorer coming out in me!!!

[70cst]

Originally Posted by jocko

Ok, now I'm REALLY confused...
I always thought:

Sport/Standard mirrors were the smallest available - normally see them on non-tow rigs, etc. Look like pic #1 (it's a 72, and I realize the base model mirrors were different in 67-68, looked more like 66 and prior mirrors with round head).

Also, always thought WEST COAST and WEST COAST JR mirrors were the hoop style that Tim displayed pics of above - Pic #2 here, just to complete the set.

And finally, I always thought below eyeline mirrors were the monsters for campers (pic #3) and granted, they had different style tripods and leg lengths for diff years.

Are we saying that #3 is not a factory mirror? And that below eyeline (on a SPID) is actually another term for West Coast or West Coast jr??

The Below Eye Mirror is factory correct.

For some reason the SPID would list the factory Below Eye Line mirror as a West Coast Mirror when in fact it should have listed the mirror as Below Eye Line Mirror.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

jocko

I think what we are saying is that GM got their terminology all screwed up. There were 2 types of the large head mirrors (7.5" X 10.5", I think). One is the smaller tripod type we've been discussing. The others were called camper mirrors as posted by MusicMan.

Ahh... I think I feel the nit-picking Corvette restorer coming out in me!!!

[SS Tim]

Ok there were lots of mirrors both factory RPO and GM accessory. Plus aftermarket mirrors from many sources in many styles. This thread has diverted so far from the '68 baseline question that the answers become mirky and incomplete. My chart was for '68 and pretty much '67. The later trucks began using tripod (three point mirrors and the SPIDs called the WCjs for a while until "Below Eye Line" became the usual verbage. In addition to the tripods, Camper (four point) mirrors were introduced and the WCjr style went away with only the SRs being the HD truck mirror.
The camper mirrors are easy to distinguish with the four mounting points (or a common top mount) and heads that will swing inside or outside the verticle rotation point. This gives the daily "not too wide" and the all out camper "see anything" modes.

Mark the camper mirrors on the #3 truck are correct RPO DF2 and are the most common of the camper mirrors in a minimum width position.

We could all probably post up a bunch more pictures with "I've got this or that". But I don't see this getting a lot clearer. The problem seems to be people keying in on "mirror" without realizing the year to year variations which was not the root of this thread.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

...Ahh... I think I feel the nit-picking Corvette restorer coming out in me!!!

Reminds me of the drilled vs punched emblem holes over in the Camaro camp.... too much fun!

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

Reminds me of the drilled vs punched emblem holes over in the Camaro camp.... too much fun!

...and the "TR", "WB", etc. bolt head markings on early Vettes. Yup, that was fun!

[jocko]

Ok, got it, I am now a mirror officianado. Well, not quite, but I get it, and apparently am not losing my mind yet. Good news. Thanks guys!

[PAWS 72]

Originally Posted by A 68 Wreck

I cannot find a new set of tow mirrors that match my old rusty ones on my '68 Chevy C20!? They can be stainless or chrome, use the 3 point mounting, and have the rectangular mirror.
~8" from hole to hole on bottom, and up to the center top hole from either of the bottom holes, ~10".
Could use the help, thanks!

Try campingworld or any camper place. I think that maybe the one's you are looking for.Also try,I don't think you want to hear this,maybe a f,,, f-250 or f-350 early to 1997 model.They had some nice mirrors that didn't rattel to bad.
I think the ones you are wanting will rattle more when you put them on aftermarket than factory.

[Steve Hafner]

. . . .

The mirrors I bought for my 70's restoration from J C Whitney are the closest I could find that looked like the 1970 "camper mirrors".

They ARE butt-ugly, but at least I'll be able to see around a boat that's eight feet wide.

. . . .

[Mayo]

My extra set is the tripod kind, but the bottom holes are about 11 1/2 inches apart.

[A 68 Wreck]

Thanks All.

Mayo, you appear to have the larger, more common, true Chevy ones.

I have to think mine are after market, and were once quite nice.

Ill keep checking the FS fourm/listings.

Thanks again...

[Mayo]

Originally Posted by A 68 Wreck

Thanks All.

Mayo, you appear to have the larger, more common, true Chevy ones.

I have to think mine are after market, and were once quite nice.

Ill keep checking the FS fourm/listings.

Thanks again...

Yeah, I don't know if they are factory ones or if they are aftermarket. I bought them off here but then decided to go with the smaller kind from the 71-72s, so I am just going to try and sell the bigger set for what I paid for them.

[PAWS 72]

Originally Posted by Steve Hafner

. . . .

The mirrors I bought for my 70's restoration from J C Whitney are the closest I could find that looked like the 1970 "camper mirrors".

They ARE butt-ugly, but at least I'll be able to see around a boat that's eight feet wide.

. . . .

A 68 Wreck those are the one's I was thinking about.

[neteng01]

A couple late comments to this thread if I may. My 72 Custom Camper has the same SPID RPO callout as MusicMan. The pick Jocko posted with the over the door frame mounts are the ones that mine came with (well, the holes are there anyways) the PO removed them and placed a JC Witney based generic on there and was nice enough to leave me the holes.... I am going to veer off that original part search myself and go with the deluxe sport mirror on my restoration. That is way too much mirror arm for me down my doors. I think you all have nailed it right on the head that there are WAAAAYYYYY too many variations available to sort out. I gave up a week ago after I spent several days looking and several aspirins from crossing my eyes.. LOL.

[midniteblues]

I got another? boy the op is gonna be really confused. the mirrors tim pic'ed and described as jr wc mirrors on the first page are listed in my 67 spid as jr rv mirrors. I'm guessing it must be just differnt terminology for a early 67

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

I got another? boy the op is gonna be really confused. the mirrors tim pic'ed and described as jr wc mirrors on the first page are listed in my 67 spid as jr rv mirrors. I'm guessing it must be just differnt terminology for a early 67

The trick with RPO codes is to remember the code defines the option in the GM system. The description seems to be highly variable between years, dealer data books, literature, parts books, SPIDs and especially assembly plants.

[midniteblues]

hey tim thanks for clearing that up my spid does read d29 before the jr rv.