I need to replace the mirror on my '70. Mine is the type that has the built in map light so I'd like to keep the mirror housing. Has anyone ever replaced the mirror glass with one from a donor? If so, how did you do it and is it at all possible? The reason I need to replace it is because it has that "crazing" inside. Thanks a lot.

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1970 Chevy Custom El Camino aka Kaileigh
Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Factory Dual Exhaust
Non-SS with Factory Rallies!
TH-350 Automatic - 2.73 Posi Rear
My El Camino Home Page - www.dreamelectric.com (http://www.dreamelectric.com)

Shawn,
Glass is very difficult to remove but sometimes it can be done without breakage. I think that it is easier to break the original glass. Then pick up any 12" mirror and remove the glass by carefully triming off the plastic mounting. Have the good glass resilvered and install it in good housing. It's a lot easier to install the glass than remove it.
I have a glass I am planning to get resilvered but haven't followed up yet.

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Fred Aldrich
Web Site: www.GeoCities.com/~69_chevelle (http://www.GeoCities.com/~69_chevelle)


[This message has been edited by Fred Aldrich (edited 01-11-2000).]

I have fiddled with this a little and have found that removing the old glass is sometimes easy, just go slowly. If you can find a good glass in a salvage yard, then that would be easier than re-silvering the original. That may be a project for me for this weekend. I will let you know how it works out as I have several cars that need the upgrade including one with the map light.

Hello,

I agree with Fred, that is how I replaced mine. Do not attempt to remove the glass from your mirror until you get a donor as a backup. What makes the mirror so difficult to remove is that it was installed with adhesive on the back (silvered) side, also to an extent the grey (at least for '70)rubber that wraps around the edges. You can try to get a small putty knife between the glass and the grey rubber to cut through the adhesive and free the mirror, but be careful not to damage the rubber.

Else brake the glass in your mirror, to save the rubber. And then cut the rubber off the donor mirror that (w/exacto or single edge blade) wraps around the edge of the glass. Now you can easily insert a putty knife to cut through the adhesive. Do not try to pry the mirror up! You can crack the glass that way. Take glass to get resilvered.

When installing mirror, let the sun warm the grey rubber to make insertion easier and do not glue in place. It will not fall out!

Hope this helps

Shawn
I just did this a few weeks ago. Peeled back the rubber gasket and slide a very thin knife blade behind mirror. Worked the blade toward one edge pulling the rubber back as I went. Was very careful not to cut into rubber.
The mirror has a very light "glue" on back and the blade broke it loose easily. Pulled mirror out after the rubber on top (bottom?) was behind mirror. I didn't use glue when I replaced mirror.
Resilvering the mirror only cost me $15.00. Reassembly was easier than disassembly.

I would not intentionally break the mirror to get it out. The day/night mirror is wedge shaped and new replacements are near impossible to find.


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Rick
72 El Camino
TPI350/700r4
TC#00038
ACES#00140

Interesting post. I have the same problem with my map light mirror. Great tips on removing / replacing, however I thought I could get a new glass cut from a mirror shop as most of the ones at the swap meets have the same problem with hazing. Is this a special shape / cut glass?

Frank
If it is a day/nite mirror it is special. The glass is wedge shaped. Before I had mine resilvered, I tried several large glass/mirror shops. All said that they could make any flat mirror, but not the day/nite.
rick

Rick, Thanks, it is a day/night with map light...I'll start looking for a good 12" day/night doner at the swaps.

I also had the same problem with my map light mirror ,, I pryed the old mirror out and went to the junk yard looking and Ill be dammed if later model GM 12 inch glue on windshield type mirrors are not the same exact size !! and there are tons of them in wrecking yards !! ,, I found a perfect one and pryed mirror out and paid my 2 bucks and glued it back in my old miror houseing and it looks like new !

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John
Catapiller Mechanic
Salinas,Ca
70SS 454 Clone {in construction}