Date:         Mon, 10 Sep 2001 22:19:38 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: retrofitting power mirrors
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>Has anyone out there had any experience putting power mirrors found on the
>newer model Vanagons on older models (such as an '85; I don't know when
>power mirrors were first introduced.)  If so, where did you get them and
>what did they cost?  What was involved in the retrofit?  Did you encounter
>any special problems?



My 84 Caravelle had nonpowered mirrors. However there are square openings
hidden under the mounts, obviously for wiring. Power mirrors should bolt
straight on. Drill doors and jambs in the correct place for boots, fit
rubber boots and thread wires; connect to factory VW switch (in whatever
illogical place VW no doubt put this) and connect switch to fuse,
preferably to one live without key.

Listees have advertised these recently.

I am fitting a pair of big chrome Japanese-only-market Toyota Hilux Surf
SSR window-mount power mirrors. I made balsa mount-mockups to fit the VW
mounts and had these cast in aluminum. They still need the cups machined
out to fit the mirrors and the rough and somewhat shrunken surfaces need
filling and final shaping with polyester resin filler. I will use a generic
Toyota adjuster switch mounted somewhere eg instrument cluster or RH door
panel, or likely on some Japanese armrest I intend to fit, on which all
window, lock and mirror switches will be conveniently mounted, Japan-style.
All will be wired to be independent of ignition switch. How often have you
removed the key, only to realize that you haven't wound a window up...




Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
ph   64 (3) 473-8863
fax 64 (3) 479-7527
84 VW Caravelle GL (to be fitted with SVX engine & Porsche G50 trans) RWD
87 Corolla 1.8 DX CE80 diesel sedan FWD
89 Corolla 1.8 DX CE96 diesel van/wagon FWD
89 Corona 2.0 D Select CT170 diesel sedan FWD
92 Toyota Estima Lucida (=Previa) 2.2 turbodiesel RWD
In a world without walls or fences, who needs windows or gates?