1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

[Timothy K.]

Evening-

Hoping someone can recall the Driveline article more than several years now which has a fix for this? I've poured through old issues hoping I would come across it. I remember the writer soaked the mirror in perhaps acetone to loosen the mirror glue, tightened the screws and reassembled it. If some recalls the issue number, let me know and thanks-
Tim
26883

[Terry M.]

Re: 1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

Evening-

Hoping someone can recall the Driveline article more than several years now which has a fix for this? I've poured through old issues hoping I would come across it. I remember the writer soaked the mirror in perhaps acetone to loosen the mirror glue, tightened the screws and reassembled it. If some recalls the issue number, let me know and thanks-
Tim
26883

The answer is someplace in the archives here, and maybe even in the similar threads below (I see at least three likely suspects), but I can provide more help.

I was the author of the first article, in the late 1980s; but it only dealt with removing the mirror glass. I used acetone, but a more recent article (arn't they almost all?) found that the more modern adhesives respond to lacquer thinner. That article also dealt with the techniques used to tighten the friction on the pivot ball. Unfortunately I have no additional references to either article.

Slightly off topic: The more modern mirror glass is treated with a less effective reflective product, and the reproduction glass is easily detectable in judging. This will result in a date deduction for the mirror glass.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

I use 10% ethanol gasoline to remove the glass. The glass falls out after about 12 to 24 hours of soaking. All the normal warnings apply, smoking 100-miles away, leaving outside, don't let the squirrels drink it, etc. I have pictures on shop computer, I'll look in the morning for them.
Gary B

[Ron G.]

[Russ S.]

Re: 1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

After you have the glass removed, support the back side with something hard but something that won't scratch the chrome. Then peen over the rivet/material that holds the retaining bar until tight. You will need to tap quite hard on it so that is why you need a hard back support so that the back won't be deformed. A pine 2x4 is too soft. A hardwood such as oak should be fine.

[Timothy K.]

Re: 1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

Thanks Guys-
The mirror is soaking now-
Any thoughts on an adhesive to use on reassembly that won't affected the mirror backing?

[Gary B.]

Re: 1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

After you soak in gas, the mirror should come off pretty freely, if you need to pry it, soak it some more. It should come off with your fingers. GM used a black silicon, which really likes gasoline! It should look like this when it comes off.



Once the mirror is off you will see where the factory, rolled and/or peened the ends of the die casting over onto the plate to hold the ball against the mirror head. Overtime, these come loose, wear out. Grind the heads off flush with the metal bars, then lift the metal bars off.



A picture of the bars removed, revealing a couple small holes in each stud.



I drill and tap them with a #8-32 tap, use some short screws, apply a little red lock-tite and re-install the plates and tighten the screws tight.



A little clear silicon on the mirror head, filling the 4-holes and create about a nickle size puddle, and then gently lay the mirror down onto the silicon, pushing it down to squeeze onto the silicone. Let it dry overnight. Your good to go.

Gary B

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

Terry's article on removing the glass was in the Spring 1989 Restorer. The method described by Gary is the only way, in my opinion, to make a permanent repair since re-peening only recreates the weak original process which will not hold. I wrote an article in the Spring 2008 restorer describing this method which has held nicely to this date. The only real difference is that I filed down the posts that were tapped a bit to increase the pressure on the ball and I used a 4-40 screw.
Jeff

[Steve L.]

Re: 1973 Right Side Outside Mirror Head Loose

Tim
You probably know, but the 73's didn't come out of the factory with a right hand mirror.

Also, are you replacing the mirror with a flat or convex mirror? I did find a source for a convex mirror that fits the GM RH mirror head. I can look it up if you need it.