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Old Aug 18, 2017 | 12:14 PM
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Default New Outside Mirror Question

I bought a new passenger mirror from Corvette America and was wondering if there is a way to stiffen up the action on the pivoting of the mirror. Definitely not as tight as the OEM. Doesn't take much to knock it off location. Heck, even lightly cleaning the mirror moves it.
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Old Aug 18, 2017 | 12:28 PM
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Return it to them as a "defective" mirror. No way should a NEW mirror be 'loosey-goosey'. Tell them to check the next one they send you and make sure it's tight.

{I wonder how many times they've got that mirror back and then re-shipped it to another customer...hoping that someday, someone would be fool enough to keep it?}

Last edited by 7T1vette; Aug 18, 2017 at 12:31 PM.
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Old Aug 19, 2017 | 12:40 AM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Return it to them as a "defective" mirror. No way should a NEW mirror be 'loosey-goosey'. Tell them to check the next one they send you and make sure it's tight.

{I wonder how many times they've got that mirror back and then re-shipped it to another customer...hoping that someday, someone would be fool enough to keep it?}
Hi 7T1vette and sorry for putting you on the spot,
You have great constructive solutions in posts I have read. About the mirror ... having said that, what if it were an original factory mirror (my problem). I can't afford to fix it too tight or the mirror/body would sustain damage. Any ideas muchly appreciated
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Old Aug 19, 2017 | 02:49 PM
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The 'usual' fix for a loose mirror head is to:

1. Soak the head (face down) in gasoline overnight (cover with alum foil to keep vapors at bay; don't put it near flame ). This will separate the mirror glass from the head.

2. Make two thin metal "C" shims that you can force under the spun-rivet heads that had worn loose. They need to be pretty snug, or you'll be doing this again, next year!

Once you have it tight:

3. Put generous blobs of Permatex Ultra Black RTV on the mounting posts in the head and carefully drop the mirror glass into position. Don't push it down tight--just let it 'rest' in place.

4. Find a flat surface that will fit within the frame of that mirror and sit the assembly FACE-DOWN on that flat surface while the RTV is curing. This will prevent the glass from having any distortions in it.

Good luck!!
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Old Aug 19, 2017 | 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
... 1. Soak the head (face down) in gasoline overnight (cover with alum foil to keep vapors at bay; don't put it near flame ). This will separate the mirror glass from the head.
Wow! ... OK! ... what damage is done by soaking in gasoline??
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Old Aug 19, 2017 | 11:16 PM
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Glass? Metal?

None....
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Old Aug 20, 2017 | 10:42 PM
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Has anyone tried using a heat gun to loosen the glue to get the glass mirror out? I've seen this done for Harley mirrors that were loose. I'm planning on trying it on some sportster mirrors and if it works, I'll try it on my C3.
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Old Aug 21, 2017 | 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnnieUtah
I bought a new passenger mirror from Corvette America and was wondering if there is a way to stiffen up the action on the pivoting of the mirror. Definitely not as tight as the OEM. Doesn't take much to knock it off location. Heck, even lightly cleaning the mirror moves it.
Both the original LH and the RH I recently bought were a bit loose. I took them off, laid them face down and put a drop or two of superglue on the ball in the back at the top of the stem. Rotated it around a bit so it didn't stick in place. Invisible and it 'roughened' it up enough so they don't move around the way they did. Been driving around all summer like that. Still completely adjustable.
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Old Aug 21, 2017 | 09:27 AM
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Here's a little helpful tidbit of info to keep in mind if you are using a repro mirror glass from the vendors. Before you glue it place make sure to carefully spray the back of it with flat (any)black paint. That way you can't see through it. If you shine a flashlight into a new repro mirror you'll be able to see the inside of the mirror, thru it.... Dead giveaway during judging!
Tooch
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