How to replace the mirror glass in rearview mirror?

[davepl]

Is it possible? I'd rather use my original mirror than the garbage repops, because the ball-socket joint on the repros is always so loose.

I also found a very nice example of the optional accessory map light mirror, but it has staining on the glass.

So, to use either, I'll need to replace the mirror glass. But how? I'm sure I can get it cut locally, it's the remove & replace part that I need help with.

Thanks,
Dave

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by davepl

Is it possible? I'd rather use my original mirror than the garbage repops, because the ball-socket joint on the repros is always so loose.

I also found a very nice example of the optional accessory map light mirror, but it has staining on the glass.

So, to use either, I'll need to replace the mirror glass. But how? I'm sure I can get it cut locally, it's the remove & replace part that I need help with.

Thanks,
Dave

You can but you lose the Day/Night feature. Here is a link to how I did it....

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=527320

LockDoc

['68OrangeSunshine]

It's tricky to do it yourself. I have heard there is a service that will refurbish your Guide mirror for not too much money, but I don't have the particulars.
Used to be, you just went to the local junkyard and pulled another one off a similar-vintage GM vehicle and gave the junkie $1 to $5 bucks for it. Those days are gone, alas. I pulled one out of a yard in Yuma that came from a Chevy station wagon that was 12" wide. Very good for freeway survival. Sadly, my big German Shepherd 'Gunji' got overexcited one day, and managed to get his neck chain hooked on the Day/Night flipper and it broke off. I'd like to get that mirror fixed if possible -- should we ever find out who does refurbish RVMs.

[Aus69c20]

I gently pulled the glass from mine and had it resilvered. It was a day night mirror and I'm pretty sure it still works as designed. The hardest part was separating the glass without damaging it as it was stuck to rubber backing. I used a couple of small screw drivers to pry it out but in hindsight a narrow blade type thing would have worked better.

[Aus69c20]

I gently worked the screw drivers under the rubber lip and worked them around like removing a tyre off a bicycle rim. I did get some minor chipping around the outside but this was covered up by the rubber lip when reinstalled.

Heres a picture of the finished product

[davepl]

Sounds like the old glass gets sacrificed (not a problem, just indicative of the difficulty) and it's not straightforward.

Any info on the company that does it 'professionally'? I found a Guide mirror with the map light and bracket, which go for $600 NOS, but if I can get the $50 unit restored, yay for me.

[Aus69c20]

Dave,
I was able to reuse the old wedge shaped piece of glass. I just had it resilvered.
It takes a gentle hand to get it out though. I used windex to help lubricate the whole procedure.

[FirstOwner69]

I need a replacement also...

As LockDoc mentioned above, if you replace your mirror with regular mirror glass, you will not have the day/night feature since the day/night mirrors use prismatic glass. Below are some links that may be helpful. The first is to a Camaro forum (CRG). It discusses removal of the glass, says mirror glass for 67-73 Vettes also fits 67 and 68 Camaros and gives a couple sources which are in the 2nd and 3rd links. The 4th link is to a mirror restoration service.

Does anyone have access to a Camaro or Vette from the years mentioned above to compare mirror size with a mirror from our trucks? If I had access to the size of the truck mirror, I'd call Paragon and Zip and see how theirs compare. Of course, that alone wouldn't guarantee a match, but it may warrant further investigation..

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=8266.0
https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35...ror-glass.aspx
http://www.zip-corvette.com/67-73-in...ent-glass.html
http://www.mirrorladypa.com/Mirror_R...phrata_PA.html

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by davepl

Is it possible? I'd rather use my original mirror than the garbage repops, because the ball-socket joint on the repros is always so loose.

I also found a very nice example of the optional accessory map light mirror, but it has staining on the glass.

So, to use either, I'll need to replace the mirror glass. But how? I'm sure I can get it cut locally, it's the remove & replace part that I need help with.

Thanks,
Dave

Dave do you have any pictures of the map light, I may go that route and where did you find them

[franken]

As a caveman, I went to the scrapyard, found one in a car, ripped it (and a chunk of glass) off the window and glued it to mine. They never saw it in my pocket.

I guess the old ones have better features and the new ones have a light. Mine was free and works. I need a last stanza but I'm no poet.

Myself, I can't tell the difference between the rearview mirrors that belong on my junk vs what's there. These aren't Ferraris.

[davepl]

Um, ok.

No sorry I don't have a picture handy, but here was the auction, which does:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121864687515...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by davepl

Um, ok.

No sorry I don't have a picture handy, but here was the auction, which does:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121864687515...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

thank you for your time, that is pretty cool, have to figure out how to search for one