Replacing Rear-view Mirror Glass

[archigator]

I believe the rear-view mirror glued onto my FHC windshield is stock, so I wanted to keep the stock unit, but replace the mirror glass which had become pretty decrepid over the years. I took the entire unit off the car and to a glass and mirror shop, expecting them to cut a piece of new mirror to glue over the old glass. (The unit doesn't seem to have a seam that comes apart, and there is a continuos monolithic plastic lip around the glass that holds it in place.)

The guy at the glass shop said that he had done these old rear-view mirrors before, and he told me that you 'simply' take a heat gun and heat the plastic retaining lip until it becomes pliable and you slip the glass out, Using that old mirror glass as a template, you fabricate a new mirror, re-heat, stretch the retaining lip and insert the new mirror. Only cost me $15 and looks brand new! I'd never heard of this trick before and thought I'd pass it on.

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

[ardee_selby]

I believe the rear-view mirror glued onto my FHC windshield is stock, so I wanted to keep the stock unit, but replace the mirror glass which had become pretty decrepid over the years. I took the entire unit off the car and to a glass and mirror shop, expecting them to cut a piece of new mirror to glue over the old glass. (The unit doesn't seem to have a seam that comes apart, and there is a continuos monolithic plastic lip around the glass that holds it in place.)

The guy at the glass shop said that he had done these old rear-view mirrors before, and he told me that you 'simply' take a heat gun and heat the plastic retaining lip until it becomes pliable and you slip the glass out, Using that old mirror glass as a template, you fabricate a new mirror, re-heat, stretch the retaining lip and insert the new mirror. Only cost me $15 and looks brand new! I'd never heard of this trick before and thought I'd pass it on.

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

Great to find someone "old school" with a can-do approach!

But don't know if a glued on mirror was ever an OEM fitment prior to Sprints. Have always assumed the one in my '67 Coupe was the Ford item that Stan Aarhus had identified here:

elan-archive-f16/coupe-interiro-mirror-t10719.html

Pity the link in the thread is no more.

Cheers - Richard

[archigator]

Richard, you may very well be right! I currently have my headliner off, and there is a 'bracket' of fiberglas with two mounting holes in it that certainly look right to hold a rear-view mirror. A quick glance at Google images for 'Elan Sprint FHC' reveals both roof-mounted and glass-mounted examples, but who knows? I'm still content with my restored "old, and perhaps not original" mirror.

Thanks,

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

[garyeanderson]

Hi Gary

This is the mirror that is in my April 70 Coupe, your's may have been the same. I don't know as I am not a Sprint person.

Gary

elan-f14/rear-view-mirrors-t12522-15.html

[69S4]

My Aug 69 S4 has exactly the same set up as in Gary's picture. I took a picture of it yesterday and was about to post it here but Gary beat me to it and there's no point in putting two identical ones up. I've even got the same excess glue on the headlining over by the door!

[pereirac]

My drophead Sprint has a stick on mirror which seems to fall off at least once a year .. I keep a tube of superglue in the glovebox ...

[nebogipfel]

My drophead Sprint has a stick on mirror which seems to fall off at least once a year .. I keep a tube of superglue in the glovebox ...

You need this .......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Loctite-Rear-Vi ... B0001P0DLU

I've tried all sorts of things in the past but now wouldn't use anything else.

I am amazed by the Amazon poor reviews and can only assume they are not following the instructions. It cures by UV light so is best done on a nice bright (preferably sunny ) day. The glass needs to be clean and dry and IMO it's no use trying to use it on a screen with a black pad on the glass because it blocks the UV and prevents it curing properly. Use as per instructions and it does an excellent job.

[richardcox_lotus]

You beat me to it John - I used some of this stuff about 7 or 8 years ago & the thing is rock solid.

[ardee_selby]

My drophead Sprint has a stick on mirror which seems to fall off at least once a year ..

I've tried all sorts of things in the past

The mirror on my MG Midget kept falling off so I stuck it on the outside. The wind pressure helped keep it in place. Never looked back after that

R

[nebogipfel]

The mirror on my MG Midget kept falling off so I stuck it on the outside. The wind pressure helped keep it in place. Never looked back after that
R

[Elan45]

The S1-S2-Coupe parts book still lists Ford p/n 211E-17700. Obviously this for early FHC. The mirror in my pre-airflow FHC looked just like the ones in my Mk1 and Mk2 Cortinas and they do fasten into the body with 2 wood screws into a molding which is part of the roof.

Roger

[Elan45]

Just found this posted on UK Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SS:US:1123.

The seller also has a white mirror from an earlier Escort also on auction. Not 100 pct this is the right mirror, but I'll leave it to our friends on the right side of the pond to examine the offering.

Roger

[l10tus]

You need this one for a Sprint DHC, it fits on the chrome wire Windscreen support. O.E.

From MGB Parts UK

Part no. BHA4806C Mirror Interior >70
3B8