I need new mirrors on my '73 4905. I have the 'bone stock' ones, but now the driver side glass is broken in two and the passenger side is not far behind. They no longer pivot or swivel and don't have a convex portion to help with the huge blind spot.
I am looking for low cost options, which probably means only replacing the heads. I don't really need heated ones, but remote control for the passenger side would be handy, as this one tends to get bumped at campsites more so that the drivers.
What has been done for GMC's that doesn't totally ruin the classic look?
Pictures would be helpful.
Thanks!
Steve Toomey
PAbusnut
I just changed the mirrors on my 4108 from stock to a set of NOW Rosco mirrors I got from Luke. Apparently there are two styles of mounts used on these. One type has the ball pivot in the arm and the threaded stud inserted into the bottom of the mirror. That's what we have. The other style has the ball pivot in the mirror and the threaded stud inserted into the mounting arm. Both types are available, and I think that Luke said he's got a pair in stock with the ball pivot in the mirror. If that's what you've got, then you're in luck. These are not terribly expensive. Mine were $99/ea but I think the ones with the ball pivot in the mirror head were much less.
Rosco still has these mirrors on their website, so I'd guess that they are available in both the black powder coat and the stainless. I got the powder coat, but repainted to match the trim on our bus.
http://roscomirrors.com/productline.php?doc_id=1118757833
Another much less expensive option is to take out the glass and have a local glass/mirror shop cut new glass for you. Should be about $20/ea. The mirrors come apart easily. Once you have them apart you'll be able to access the ball pivot to clean and tighten it. Whether the ball pivot is in the mirror or in the mounting arm, it should be pretty easy to get it to work properly once you soak it for a while with penetrating oil.
Velvac mirrors try here.
https://www.velvac.com/products/mirrors/class-rv-bus-and-truck-mirrors
https://www.zoro.com/velvac-truck-mirror-718388-5/i/G8535326/feature-product?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5Mb-xcrX3gIVGR6tBh2CngNREAQYBSABEgLfBfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
The problem with the Velvac mirrors came for me with the orientation of the bottom of the mirror in relation to the mounts. Most of the Velvac mirrors I've seen have the mounting shaft coming vertically from the bottom, and if the mounting arm needs the shaft at an angle things clash when adjustment is made. from what I've seen, most of the MCI mirrors use a shaft which leaves the mirror vertically at the bottom, not at an angle.
On my 4108 (and I think that the 4905 is the same) the ball pivot and its shaft leave the mount at an angle, not directly vertical. This required finding a mirror with a base with an appropriate angle so that there was adequate adjustment room.
On mine the ball pivot is in the mounting arm with the threaded portion sticking out. This threaded portion goes into the base of the mirror. Some were done the opposite. This is something else to check with looking at mirrors like the Velvac.
Thanks for the help -- I greatly appreciate it!
I was hoping to pull one of my mirrors this weekend to do some 'figurin' ---but the weather here has turned for the worse.
I spent three hours stuck in traffic waiting for I-83 to reopen due to the effects of snow and less than stellar truck drivers.
Several were stuck going up Reeser's Summit, and PennDOT closed the whole road both north and south as a result.---TOTAL GRIDLOCK FOR 6 HOURS!!!
Oh--and I think PENNDOT is still looking for their snow plows.
Steve T