TJ doors and mirrors: Early vs late mode compatibility

[Viking Jeeper]

I know the factory mirrors changed at some time, I think it was 2003. Are early mirrors compatible with late doors and vice versa? Are any mods needed to make them work?

What about early doors vs late doors? Since the mirrors changed, I wonder if there are any differences between early and late doors. Are early doors compatible with late TJs and vice versa? Are any mods needed to make them work?

I recently bought mirror relocation brackets and they had different part numbers for 97-02 vs 03-06.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

I'm wondering about both full doors and half doors.

 

[qslim]

I was just asking this same question over in another thread about half doors, @MountaineerTom & @toximus were schooling me.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/fair-price-for-half-doors-in-ok-condition.31779/post-513880

 

[toximus]

The mirrors bolt onto the door side top hinge. People replace them sometimes so check that they have the 3 countersunk holes for the main bolts plus 3 more smaller threaded holes for the mirror.

I'm wondering about both full doors and half doors.

The same.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

I am looking for half doors and now it appears I can get any year TJ half door and put the new, nicer style 2003-2006 mirrors on it.

 

[MountaineerTom]

That's what I'm doing with mine.

They are older style ('97 based on the style of seal it had, thanks @toximus ). I'm putting newer style seals and newer style mirrors on them, They are at a buddy's house right now waiting for some better weather so he can paint them. I've already repaired some cracks on the interior panels but still need to paint them and buy some new upper skins. Got them for $300 with some TLC needed.

 

[g.hayduke]

I can tell you there are at least 2 different sizes of the lock cylinders. I don't know what year they changed but the lock cylinders that came on my '05 are different (larger, IIRC) than those I found in the half doors I bought from an unknown, probably earlier year.

 

[MountaineerTom]

My (‘97) half door cylinders are smaller than my (‘06) full door cylinders.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

My (‘97) half door cylinders are smaller than my (‘06) full door cylinders.

Does that have any real negative effect?

 

[Tob]

I am looking for half doors and now it appears I can get any year TJ half door and put the new, nicer style 2003-2006 mirrors on it.

Are you going to get something like this from quadratec or try to find a salvage pair?
https://www.quadratec.com/products/13111_0320_14.htm

 

[Viking Jeeper]

Are you going to get something like this from quadratec or try to find a salvage pair?
https://www.quadratec.com/products/13111_0320_14.htm

I let a nice OEM set slip away on eBay not too long ago. Not sure yet. Bestop has some new ones also with good reviews.

 

[MountaineerTom]

Does that have any real negative effect?

I don’t think so. I rekeyed the ones that come with the half doors to match my key. It was pretty easy. Not necessary and a lot don’t do it because it’s not like soft top and uppers are the secures thing, but I did it because I just wanted it to work like it should.

There is a picture of the size different in this thread.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-re-key-half-door-lock-cylinders.26338/