I was about to pull the trigger on a pair of GM mirrors and then wondered if I can use the dash mirror controller to adjust GM power mirrors. It would be nice to be able to adjust them from the driver's seat. I was thinking it would be real nice to have heated mirrors but that means power adjust too. Yes I know I have a lot of work ahead getting them mounted!

 

On a side note...
I have had heated mirrors on a few 2nd gens and I think they are junk.

The FIRST time I used the heated mirrors on my old '01 I watched it crack in two pieces as the snow melted off it as it warmed up. I have seen a bunch of cracked heated mirrors on 2nd gen since. The heated mirrors on my '98 12V came cracked when I picked it up used in TX a few years ago.

The way I look at it it is a lot easier [also cheaper] to brush off the snow from the mirror than replace it often.

 

Interesting, the ones on my 01 are still uncracked and working as advertised. And you can imagine, I use them all the time.
As for the original question, good question. If no one else has done it, I would compare motors. Maybe even swap the motors if they will fit.

 

My 2000 Cherokee has heated mirrors, intact and working, but I don't use the defrost much.
Hopefully it's as simple as figuring what's what in the Dodge harness and same for the GM mirror harness, then connecting wires and see if it works. That's what fuses are for, right!
Heating element is going to take a new circuit.

 

Never seen cracked heated mirrors before. I like heated mirrors to get hard ice off.

 

Hey can you post a pic of the mirrors your planning on adapting. I'm planning on adapting a set of GM mirrors as well. Interested in your approach on the mounting. Keeps us posted. Thanks.

 

This is what I bought. They're aftermarket. I don't have the time to hit up autowreckers. Also, I don't know the differences between the different generations of General Merchandice mirrors. Hopefully I don't regret getting power adjust mirrors, it adds a lot more work. I see using a mounting plate over the front corner of the vent. When I have success I'll post up the results.

 

Thanks for posting a pic of it. Those are the same one's I bought. Except I got them in chrome. I plan on adapting the mirror and arms to the existing factory door mount pod. Either using 3D printing to create an adapter mount or make the adapter mount from steel in a clam shell type adapter to mount it to the factory door existing door triangle pod mount. Removing the GM triangle mount. Haven't gotten to that point yet. Not disfiguring my door or blocking the function of the vent. It just doesn't look right and looks "No Bueno" IMO. But that's just me. I will get mine out and post pics of the one's I got. Bought them back in 2010.
I have a youtube channel Rons Re-Creations diesel truck. Where I have continued my crew cab conversion build from this awsome site since photobucket ruined alot of the original postings on my build thread. I'll post my mirrors in the next couple of days. Maybe we can brain storm / collaborate together a cool new door mirror upgrade for our first gen's. Thanks, Ron.

PS "Patches" inspired my build. Just wanted to mention that too.

 

I assume that the "tripod mount" that you mention bolts here? Picture of parts truck door. I was trying to figure out how to use the factory mount plugging into the 3/4" hole but couldn't come up with something I liked. I'm not a machinist but I can burn metal together, grind and drill holes. I had considered a big rig setup but don't want something that's ridged and way up in my view. Something to consider is that the GM style mirrors are designed to be mounted way forward and are swept back quite a bit. Make sure that you can adjust the glass to work in the place you want to mount it. If you totally eliminate the GM mounting pad and make your own that probably won't be an issue. I'll still have some function of the wing vent since the mount I'm planning on will stop at the vent hinge point. I'll also clip the top of the black triangle trim.

Sidenote, pull the intake tube and give it a wipe inside to make sure your engine isn't getting dusted. I ditched my K&N a long time ago because of this.

 

Hi Big redbrick, Yes that is what i am planning on using the factory base you showed. Modifying the stainless shaft. IE making 1 longer. of the original mirror that comes out and goes at a 90 to the Dodge sideways 6x9 mirror. This would be a long shaft to reach through and to both of the GM arms. Then remove the gm mount leaving the 2 arms (and the wires of course) . Then drilling a hole through the bottom of the GM arm. Same diameter as the dodge stock mirror shaft.But a straight 1 vs a 90. 2 notes to consider. The stock dodge mirror shaft has a recessed area machined in it to keep it from pulling out of the mirror base. So this feature has to be added back to the longer shaft. The shaft also has a slight curve to it which also needs to be mimicked so the new GM mirror sets level and not aimed to the moon. Hence the longer shaft to reach the upper Gm arm. Them making some sort of eye appealing pod around the center of the arms to mimic the GM mounts stop points that cant be seen while mounted so the mirror will move and pivot as intended. This pod between the arms mounting to the shaft I was going to make in a clam shell style either by welding up some metal or 3d printing. Metal will last longer and not so as involved as 3d printing. BUT the 3D printing would allow for exactly like the innards of the GM mount are suppose to be and would be more precise. Or a cobination of both ?. The Dodge base would remove the stud from the inner brace mount glued to the door. But retain it and put it back as it adds rigidity to the door and mirror to prevent flexing in the wind. The 10 mm bolts would be mounted to the mirror base itself and you would mount the whole mirror to the door with nuts inside the door through the glued on bracket. Thus maintaining it's rigidity. The chrome dodge pod would be permanently mounted to the outside base and riveted to the bracket. Not screwed to it with a hex screw like it is now. Because once you mount the mirror to the pod and base with the shaft sticking out and mount it through the GM Arms you won't be able to remove it from the mount. I hope I am conveying what my brain is thinking. That way it would look so much more "Less Ugly" and more "Hey that looks Cool ! Howd you do that" Let me know if I can explain it better. Thanks. let me know what you think. I've been kinda brain designing it since 2010 when I got my GM mirrors. It's the best way I can figure to mount them to our trucks that I can see. Le me know what you think. Maybe you could add additional insight. As they say 2 minds are sometimes better than 1. Ron

 

I'm picking up what you're putting down, more or less! You may want to do more to stiffen the door since the new mirror is heavy and has more leverage than the stocker. The door has a lot of flex in it. I didn't have vibration problems until adding those slip on extenders. I then used Dometic Milenco add on tow mirrors that clamp onto the mirror housing and had to run paracord guy wires, one through the top of the wing vent and one tied to the hood hinge using a truckers hitch so I could tension them. Otherwise they were totally useless because of vibration. Hopefully I'll get one mocked up this weekend.

 

Spent some time mocking it up with a piece of sheetmetal.

Front view. Top 3" + of the triangle will get clipped. Thinking of 2 plates, one that bolts to the door and a second that welds to the first at the correct angle so the mirror is level that the mirror will bolt to.


Some wing vent function remains.


The mirror support bracket inside the door, from the passenger door.

 

I think maybe adding an additional largerer grab area layer of treated sheetmetal on the inside of the door. Between the inside bracket and the skin to help stiffen it up. Good additional insight I hadn't considered.. Thanks for posting additional pics. I'll have to dig my inner braces out as I don't remeber mine being as tall as your that you pictured. Could be wrong. Ya know how memory goes as you get older. Thanks for collaborating on this cool upgrade we've been brainstorming.

 

Finally got around to messing with the mirrors again. Had to do this on "Red" because I suspect that the parts truck door is bent.

First attempt with 11 gauge




Don't like how far mirror sticks out from the plate

 

Second attempt recessed the bottom in to get the mirror closer to the door.



And the front view



I'm liking this better. Now I need to trim it up, add a closure between the two plates and weld it up. Then do it again but opposite. Then there's mounting and wiring to work out. Simple!