Date:         Mon, 17 Feb 2003 22:59:48 +1300
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: Power mirror conversion how to??
In-Reply-To:  <IAEGJDDNGCHLDAELNAOBIENHCNAA.hahn@speakeasy.org>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

You don't have to use Vanagon power mirrors, either. If you don't
mind small (car-size) ones, those off a doorskin-mount Subaru Leone
(1984-1988) look as though they would be easily adapted (some of
these cars have window-mounted power mirrors).

Myself, I don't like the looks or flimsy design of the VW mirrors. So
i looked around, went as far as taking off a set from a Leone (sold
in some markets as Omega) before I thought of a Hilux. So I snagged a
nice set of 1990-or-so Japanese-market-only window-mount Hilux Surf
(sold as 4-Runner in most markets) mirrors. I had to remove the
mirror mounts and use them as a pattern to make balsa mounts (lots of
carving, triomming, filing, sanding), from which I had aluminum
mounts cast (warning... make the balsas a bit larger than life, as
the alloy slugs will be rough and need finishing). The slugs fit the
van's door skins at the morror mounts.

I have yet to machine out the mirror mount cups and drill the
mounting holes... this can wait until I'm closer to getting the bus
back on the road. But those big chrome rounded-square mirrors will
look great!

The switch I have is from an 80s SWB LandCruiser, and the wiring is
done, ready to install and connect to a fuse.

In the US I guess late-model LandCruiser mirrors would be the most
similar to a late Hilux Surf's. The US Hilux mirrors I've seen in
pictures, as well as the NZ-market ones, don't look at all good...
but still better than VW items. An 80s LandCruiser Prado/s mirrors
might be easier to adapt, but don't look so good... though they are
angular, like the VW van.

If I had thought about it I'd have looked for a set with electric
foldback function... my old Skyline had this, most useful in tight
passages.