I have found AutoZone is usually cheaper on dorman than all the others. We have Napa, AutoZone, O'Reilly's, and a few independent. I work at a dealership so I ended up buying parts there that are available.
Possibly just replace the mirror head?
http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&urlLangId=-1&productId=51040&urlRequestType=Base&langId=-1&catalogId=10002
IMHO- Fresh paint and trans rebuild would be all I would do. That is if you can get the paint done very reasonably which it sounds like you can.No need to fix what's not broken. Factory correct color on the paint also. Not allot of people are going to spend over $10K on a 30+ year old truck. Most of the built ones that are over $10k that are for sale have been for sale a while.
They are. I had bolts in there that I might go back to. Actually thinking about making some bolts with a washer and a wing nut welded to it. The NOS retainers just feel brittle.
I've seen three in the town I love in and that's it. Mine I believe it's the only one that is driven constantly. The only other ones I've seen I had to drive to Dzimms house to see his and Pete's 1/2 a Comanche.
I'm guessing 12 and 18 gauge. Not 100% sure the word were in the connectors when I got them. The larger matches some 12 gauge I had paving l laying around. The smaller wire is just a little bit smaller than the 16 gauge I have laying around so I would guess 18.