1972 Outside mirror

[Steven B.]

My car is a 1972 LT1 Bowtie signoff that has an assembly date of 3-3-72 with an outside mirror dated L-AX-71 that was judged to be a reproduction at the 2020 Florida Regional because of a light being able to see through it to the mirror frame. In a post dated Feb. 13, 2013 Terry McManmon
says "Any even numbered and/or AX glass automatically has to be real." It appears that the light test may be flawed. Steve Bender #44295

[Gary B.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Take the mirror off, soak it outside in a can of ethonal gasoline. The mirror glass will fall out of the frame in about 24- to 48-hours. Clean it real good, about 20-times, with everything you can think of to get the gasoline off. Acetone, windex, wax-grease remover, etc.... Then paint the back side black. Then glue it back in. Your done...
Black vinyl on the back works, like sign makers use.
No, I don't know anybody that's done that.

Gary B

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

GB,

I’ve wondered if the newer LED flashlights “we” are using if the “flashlight test” is now void.
Based on some observations, I think it may be.

PH

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

GB,

I’ve wondered if the newer LED flashlights “we” are using if the “flashlight test” is now void.
Based on some observations, I think it may be.

PH

Checked the cars currently here.

Cannot see through L-AX-71 on the 72.
Can just see through the 11-DMI-6 on the 77. Known original, but obviously less silver on the back than the other mirror.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Whenever I was shown by the judge with the light, I had a hard time seeing what he was talking about. It was up in a corner and very faint.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Thanks for the tip Gary. Sounds like I just need to eliminate the problem. None of the solvents you mention will affect the mirror silvering?

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Whenever I was shown by the judge with the light, I had a hard time seeing what he was talking about. It was up in a corner and very faint.

You have to know what's behind the glass. When you do this, you can then see the light reflecting off the chrome behind the glass.
It's subtle, and you can only see the items which are closest to the glass. Generally this is the edges, the pivot mechanism and a couple of small casting bumps.

Other info:

http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/chrome_mirror.pdf

[Gary B.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

John Ballard judged my 72 in Rochester Regional Meet, a few years ago?, and saw the inside of the mirror back thru the mirror with his 8-million lumin flashlight. It is also an AX mirror. I came home, removed the glass, sprayed the backside with PPG DP-90 black epoxy. I "glued" it back in, put it back on the car. Next time John judged the car, he spent 10-minutes trying to find reflection thru it. Kept asking, what did you do? Nothing John, I haven't touched it. You got to have some fun with the judges. "WE" are taking this stuff to serious. To this day, he still ask's about it.

Are the AX mirror different silvering thinner, different, than Donnally Mirror? Probably. Can you see through Ajax and not Donnally? Maybe. I have several of each in the shop, already out of the mirror bases. I'll have to check in the next few days.

Are we picking fly poop out of pepper? YES !! Maybe we need to limit 8-million lumin flashlights in judging that can send a beam of light from earth to Mars. But then, we couldn't pick on John

Gary Bosselman

[Tom R.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Ok, I don't get it how can light passing through a mirror, make it a reproduction. But then by removing and painting the backside, it becomes original? What am I missing here?

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Ok, I don't get it how can light passing through a mirror, make it a reproduction. But then by removing and painting the backside, it becomes original? What am I missing here?

Come on Tom. There are two ways to get originality points. Fooling the judges is one of them.

Relax Tom, and remember it is a game.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

I have decided to leave well enough alone. I feel sure the mirror is a real original no matter what a light does to it. Thanks for all the input everybody.

[Ed H.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Really fascinating thread folks. I too have encountered Mr Ballard's 8-million lumin flash light on my 72 LT-1 at Nationals this past year in Greenville. He flashed it across my passenger door glass and it showed smears and smudges. Now I have cleaned that glass till it was sparkling to the eye and all microscopes but yet smears and smudges under that high luminous light. My original to the car drivers side mirror, 5-DMI-2, survived the light test just fine.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

For those who wonder, you have me to thank (?) for John's flashlight.

Here it is:

https://illuminationgear.com/products/eagtac-t25c2

You want the Nichia 219c 4000k multi-LED of the EagTac T25C2.
And yes, you want a higher output battery as the website mentions.

These LEDs are 92CRI, and about as close to a correct spectrum as you're ever going to get.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

Personal opinion, judging has gotten to the point of being ridiculous when you have to use a flashlight to determine if a mirror is original. The fun tent is folding in a hurry, that is the reason I quit judging.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1972 Outside mirror

judging has gotten to the point of being ridiculous when you have to use a flashlight to determine if a mirror is original.

The Practice of "Benefit of the doubt goes to the owner" should change to benefit of reasonable doubt...goes to the owner. Your point underscores why.