I did exactly that on my '84 years ago, and it was a permanent fix.  It's
just discouraging that I have to upgrade a brand new part.

Stuart

From: Richard Koerner [mailto:rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 11:15 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM; Stuart MacMillan
Subject: Re: Power mirrors on an '85?

I fixed the floppy mirror syndrome on my 85 about 8 years ago by
cross-drilling a hole in the base of the mirror so as to pin the stud into
the pot-metal part.  Now it can't pull out (which is why you can never get
the nut tight enough...the stud is slipping).  Use a roll-pin (spring pin)
or a solid 1/8" diameter dowel pin coated with epoxy glue like I did.  I
used a drill-press to drill the cross-hole; doesn't have to go precisely
through the centerline, just so it goes through both stud and pot-metal.
And, grease the faces of that tightening nut, spring and mating surfaces so
that when you do tighten things up everything smoothly engages; now you can
adjust the compression spring to your liking and degree of firmness.

Worked so good on the driver side I did the passenger side too.

Anyway, it will cost you almost nothing to try.  If done correctly, it's
pretty bulletproof.  Renew the exterior of mirrors with satin-black spray
paint and you've got yourself solid, good looking mirrors for pennies.

Rich
San Diego

--- On Wed, 9/5/12, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Power mirrors on an '85?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2012, 9:59 AM

I've got new mirrors from BD on my rig, and I've had to tighten down the
stud to the point I may pull it out to keep them from flopping back at 65
mph.  Anyone put on mirrors from a later van?  It might be worth it even if
I just left them manual.

Stuart

'85 Westy