Dump truck project (Mirror Question)

[afish]

Hey all Ive been posting a few questions about my dump truck project. Well I have another and figured I would share a pic since I know everyone likes seeing pictures.

The ? I would like to find a set of extendable towing mirrors that will fit it. Its a 1991 k3500 I know 88-98 parts fit but looks like the doors are unchanged till around 2002 my sherman body parts catalog looks like it confirms this but a call to the bone yard the guy told me that only 88-98 doors will work and seemed sure of himself. I know I can buy some CIPA aftermarket ones but they are pricey and would rather find a used set but I'm not sure what will fit (I dont care about all the bells and whistles ie. power,heat, turn signals . I removed west coast style and refuse to put them back on after its painted. I figured with all the talent around here someone would know.

Its off to the paint shop next week anyone guess the new paint color?

 

[Ryan03]

Write down the entire vin number, then call your local Chevy dealers parts department and ask them about the door interchange for the 3500. GM changed the 1/2 tons for the 99 model year to a newer body style, but the 3500 bodies were very similar from 88-2000. I would guess the doors from 88-2000 would interchange from 3500 to 3500, and from 88 to 98 for 1500 and 2500 to your truck, but that is just a guess. I would recomend calling your dealer to see if the part numbers are the same from 88 to 2000. Our 2000 3500 at work has telescoping towing mirrors with a spot mirror built into the drivers mirror. If you would like, I can snap a picture of them tomorrow.

 

[LRH]

Its off to the paint shop next week anyone guess the paint color?

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If the firewall plate is blank on the color code; then it is one of the SEO fleet colors, look on glove box liner for WA9414, WA5445, or WA5456; these are the most common yellows that do not require a surcharge as a special formulation. Usually requires a 10 vehicle order, or a delay in production until sufficient vehicles are in sequence for special paint option TGK. Some years, the cab and chassis models also have had a few additional colors not available on the regular pickups, but not considered special, it should have a code on plate.

 

[afish]

Ryan thanks for the offer of the pic I think I will throw the blank cover I took off and start matching it up to trucks in parking lots. I was checking out a 2500 in my kids school lot that looked like they would fit but it was defiantly newer I will see if I can find the owner and ask what year it is.

Sorry for the confusion on paint color its not staying yellow.

 

[afish]

Ok here's some more confusion I got these from the aftermarket company CIPA

one model mirror fits from 88-2000
and then the other model fits 99-06

This messes me up even more so if I had a 1999 or 2000 I could order either model Wouldn't that make it universal from 88-2006 Am I missing something. Only thing that makes sense to me is it has something to do with the wiring?

 

[Ryan03]

99-06 is probably the 1500 and 2500 light duty silverado, the 88-2000 is the 8600gvwr 2500 and 3500 models.

The lighter duty trucks changed over to the newer body style a year early, while the heavier duty trucks changed one year later, in 2000

In other words, the last year for your style truck in a 1500 is 98, while in a 2500 or 3500 it is 2000. GM just had an overlap in body styles depending on how heavy of a truck you ordered.

 

[LRH]

Aw come on, the only color better than yellow is white. On the mirrors; the 88 up stuff will fit, but most of the aftermarket companies either don't know or don't want any confusion that will cause expensive returns. GM has always offered the half tons and sometimes light duty 3/4 tons first and carried over the heavy 3/4's and 1 tons in both pickup and cab/chassis for several design cycles, and it always gives the aftermarket fits. The best mirror offered those years was the long arm tripod style that rotated out and the head flipped for a wider setting. Not quick and easy, but they worked well. The last of that body style Suburbans used some mirrors that were not offered on pickups or cab/chassis. Most GM trucks that used optional mirrors sometimes uses inner door panel reinforcement plates or brackets to prevent flex, so before painting would be a good time to decide if any is needed. So what color is it going to be?

 

[LRH]

Ok here's some more confusion I got these from the aftermarket company CIPA

one model mirror fits from 88-2000
and then the other model fits 99-06

This messes me up even more so if I had a 1999 or 2000 I could order either model Wouldn't that make it universal from 88-2006 Am I missing something. Only thing that makes sense to me is it has something to do with the wiring?

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Part of the confusion is they only show 2 truck illustrations, but show 8 different part number kits; most ikely same head desighn, but different bases to match door style and probably some wiring changes over the years.

 

[BOBBYROGERS]

i rebuilt my chevy in 2000 it was a salvage it's a 2500hd old body style and the body panels are all interchangable from i think 88 all the way to when they changed it again in 2000 and the miror holes are all the same to from what my parts suppier told me so you should not have any problems up grading if you want but i do know this i bought one mirror from chevy and one aftermarket because i got cheep the aftermarket glass vibrates so bad that you cannot use it unless your setting still , but i guess you get what you pay for

 

[afish]

Thanks I will make a trip to the bone yard and see what I can find. The after market ones I saw were around 400 for a set they will make a round trip right back to the store if I end up paying that kind of money and they vibrate so bad I cant see out of them.

The new color will be Kubota Orange seems only fitting since this will be my L-39 toter.

 

[Builder]

Thanks I will make a trip to the bone yard and see what I can find. The after market ones I saw were around 400 for a set they will make a round trip right back to the store if I end up paying that kind of money and they vibrate so bad I cant see out of them.

The new color will be Kubota Orange seems only fitting since this will be my L-39 toter.

Kubota Orange?

How about a nice Summit white?

Sorry to get off topic, but wouldn't it be awesome if GM brought back the 3500HD with 4x4 and the duramax/ally combo?

 

[GreenWannabe]

Sorry to get off topic, but wouldn't it be awesome if GM brought back the 3500HD with 4x4 and the duramax/ally combo?

Very strange. When I go to GMC.com, and select build your own, to build a 3500HD 4wd, when I choose the Duramax engine it automatically selects the Allison transmission. If I choose the gas engine, then choose the Allison, my engine selection is automatically switched to the Duramax. Apparently, the Allison is only available with the Duramax. So I don't understand your comment.

On edit: Looking at the specs, the Duramax/Allison combo is only available with a 3.73 axle ratio. The 4.10 ratio is available ony with the gas engine; probably a fuel economy issue.

 

[Builder]

Very strange. When I go to GMC.com, and select build your own, to build a 3500HD 4wd, when I choose the Duramax engine it automatically selects the Allison transmission. If I choose the gas engine, then choose the Allison, my engine selection is automatically switched to the Duramax. Apparently, the Allison is only available with the Duramax. So I don't understand your comment.

On edit: Looking at the specs, the Duramax/Allison combo is only available with a 3.73 axle ratio. The 4.10 ratio is available ony with the gas engine; probably a fuel economy issue.

Ahh, I see, you must be a younger fella. About 10 years ago, GM built a truck called the "3500HD". It was an early variant of the Ford F-450/550 trucks. It was a 15,000 GVWR chassis that rode on 19.5" rims & tires. It was only available in 4x2 (although some were sent to Monroe and converted t 4x4) and was discontinued just before the duramax or Allison was available in 2001.

Now GM has the 4500/5500 series, but the old 3500HD was a more compact truck that used a pickup body on a heavier chassis.

 

[crashz]

You can find them fairly cheap Builder, but usually there is either a probelme with the old 6.5L diesel or the transmission. That same truck with a Duramax and Allison could have dominated the market. The new 4500 and 5500 are nice but much larger.

 

[Builder]

You can find them fairly cheap Builder, but usually there is either a probelme with the old 6.5L diesel or the transmission. That same truck with a Duramax and Allison could have dominated the market. The new 4500 and 5500 are nice but much larger.

It really would have dominated. How nice a 450/550 would be with a Duramax LBZ and an Ally 6 speed?

 

[BOBBYROGERS]

i think the 4500 and 5500 are nice rides but they are just a little big 3500 is big enough for me . funny how mirror talk went to truck talk thats what is fun about tractor by net you get to talk about what ever with a bunch of guy's that do not have an attitude and are happy to share their oppinons and experiance from the field