LMC Mirrors Chome VS Stainless Whats the difference?

[K10blueChevy]

Hey Guys, I'm looking at getting a set of replacement mirrors for my 83 chevy k10. I see that LMC has the mirrors in both Chrome and Stainless steel.

What is the difference other than the $3.00 price increase?
Part numbers
LH 38-5832 (Chrome) 38-5834 (Stainless)
RH 38-5825 (Chrome) 38-5827(Stainless)

LMC sent me pictures, the both look like shiny chrome.

I know the factory used a plated plastic where the mirror meets up to the door are these the same way?

 

[86Peter454]

just right off a word of warning.

i purchased the paintable LMC mirrors for my truck and they did not fit for ****. i ended up just having to refurbish my old ones.

i certainly would not recommend LMC mirrors.

 

[75Monza]

Would also verify if the "stainless" are really stainless steel. Cheap chrome mirrors will rust out in a few years where real stainless steel never rusts and should be a lot more than $3 more than chrome.

 

[shiftpro]

just right off a word of warning.

i purchased the paintable LMC mirrors for my truck and they did not fit for ****. i ended up just having to refurbish my old ones.

i certainly would not recommend LMC mirrors.

Quality of imported replica parts is everywhere, up down sideways inside out... always changing as these parts are made in several factories.
So what I'm getting at is possibly the set of mirrors (or cab corners or door shells, whatever) they might be stellar! Or... worse than the buggered up set you got.
It's crap shoot imo... but I'm still thankful we can get what we get even if sometimes the part will never see use.

I've heard of cab corners so deluxe the body man said BETTER than GM original... and I've SEEN cab corners that looked as if they were for a completely different make of truck!

 

[Craig 85]

I got stainless from LMC. The only reason I went with LMC is because they are they only ones I've seen carry the convex passenger mirror.

I had a hard time getting the mirrors to fit over the plastic backing. I realized after I damaged the plastic, I should have used the plastic washers between the mirror and body to slightly space it out so the mirror so the stainless lower cover slid on easier.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[K10blueChevy]

I got stainless from LMC. The only reason I went with LMC is because they are they only ones I've seen carry the convex passenger mirror.

I had a hard time getting the mirrors to fit over the plastic backing. I realized after I damaged the plastic, I should have used the plastic washers between the mirror and body to slightly space it out so the mirror so the stainless lower cover slid on easier.

You must be registered for see images attach

Craig, can you give me some more details on how the mirror was constructed? Is everything on the mirror stainless? I know the clam shell that mounted to the door from the factory was plastic. Is the LMC version metal? How have your mirrors held up?

 

[bucket]

The factory base cover was stainless steel, not plastic. I do remember seeing some aftermarket look-alike mirrors with the plastic cover though. Iirc, the mount had a smaller footprint.

 

[Craig 85]

The heads and base covers are stainless. I think the plastic he is referring to is part of the clamping system for the OEM mirror arms. The LMC one have a piece of rubber that is compressed to hold the mirror in position. I've only had the mirrors on a couple of months, but no issues with them.

One thing to note, if you currently don't have this style of mirror, don't use LMC's hardware for mounting it to the door! They use plastic inserts like you would use for a license plate and sheet metal screws to hold the mirror base to the door. The factory used barrel nuts and screws (30-0427), not sold with the mirror kits. Also be sure to get the mirror support bracket too (38-5883).

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Kim Burke]

The heads and base covers are stainless. I think the plastic he is referring to is part of the clamping system for the OEM mirror arms. The LMC one have a piece of rubber that is compressed to hold the mirror in position. I've only had the mirrors on a couple of months, but no issues with them.

One thing to note, if you currently don't have this style of mirror, don't use LMC's hardware for mounting it to the door! They use plastic inserts like you would use for a license plate and sheet metal screws to hold the mirror base to the door. The factory used barrel nuts and screws (30-0427), not sold with the mirror kits. Also be sure to get the mirror support bracket too (38-5883).

You must be registered for see images attach

Will be installing these exact mirrors on the 79. Thanks for the tip. Anyone want some Ford mirrors? They are AWFULLY nice?

 

[K10blueChevy]

Guys, thinks for the the info. I bought this truck used several years ago and have been fixing odds and ends on it. The reflective part of the mirrors have gotten so bad it will no longer pass inspection. I assumed these were factory mirrors.

View media item 8410I have indicated the plastic part by the red arrow.

Reading the replys above it appears that I don't have factory mirrors.


I haven't removed these mirrors yet. Is there any way to know if I need to purchase the mirror support bracket (38-5883) without removing them?

 

[Craig 85]

The reflective part of the mirrors have gotten so bad it will no longer pass inspection.

I haven't removed these mirrors yet. Is there any way to know if I need to purchase the mirror support bracket (38-5883) without removing them?

You used to be able to buy just the replacement glass for the mirrors from most auto parts stores. I don't know if they carry this style anymore.

You might be able to look down into the door to see if the brace is present. Put the window down all the way and look just ahead of the vertical support for the wing window. The bar attaches to the inner door panel then warps around the front side of the wing window support and bolts to the bottom bolt of the mirror base.

If you remove the mirror's base cover and slide it up, it will allow you to remove the bottom screw. If it is a threaded screw you probably have the support. If you find a sheet metal screw, it probably doesn't.

 

[87_stepper]

I am fairly picky with parts but was surprised when I ordered the LMC stainless premium mirrors I reused my original GM mounting brackets only used the stainless components and they fit pretty decent and the finish is good.......everything else from LMC has been dissapointing though.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[MikeB]

The heads and base covers are stainless. I think the plastic he is referring to is part of the clamping system for the OEM mirror arms. The LMC one have a piece of rubber that is compressed to hold the mirror in position. I've only had the mirrors on a couple of months, but no issues with them.

One thing to note, if you currently don't have this style of mirror, don't use LMC's hardware for mounting it to the door! They use plastic inserts like you would use for a license plate and sheet metal screws to hold the mirror base to the door. The factory used barrel nuts and screws (30-0427), not sold with the mirror kits. Also be sure to get the mirror support bracket too (38-5883).

You must be registered for see images attach

Craig -- How does the mirror support bracket install? And did you have to remove the window glass to mount it? Also, any issues with a truck that did NOT have this type of mirror from the factory?

 

[Craig 85]

How does the mirror support bracket install? And did you have to remove the window glass to mount it? Also, any issues with a truck that did NOT have this type of mirror from the factory?

To install the bracket the door panel needs to be removed. The glass does not need to be removed. I believe the screw in the red box is the inside bolt of the bracket. Here it has a square piece of foam under the bolt head. The bracket is shaped to go around the vertical post of the wing window. The other side of the bracket has a bolt the goes through the bottom whole of the mirror mount.

Back in the early 90's I installed a set on my K5. It was really easy. Luckily the bases cover the old mirror holes for standard mirrors.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[JoeR Jr]

Sorry to be reviving an old thread, but I suppose it's better than opening a new one to rehash some of that is said here.
I have an 86 C10 that was pretty rust free, but had more dents in it than straight metal. I have taken advantage of being home for the virus outbreak, and also taken a body shop up on an offer to coach me on repairing the body. It's about ready for paint, so I need to get all new door glass seals and new mirrors.
My doors were pretty ugly around the mirrors. Each side has 10+ holes in them where various mirrors were installed over the years. I welded sheet metal to the back of the door skins, filled the holes with weld and then cover it all in body filler. It came out way better than I expected on the right side. The left side ended up getting a new door. I've seen complaints on the LMC mirrors, saying that they don't fit the curve of the door properly. Other folks seem to like them. I'd like to use their stainless ones, and get a convex mirror in the right. Any final verdict on them? I'd hate to bend up my fresh doors trying to get a replacement mirror to fit properly.

Any help appreciated.
Joe