Thread: how to build up plastic on mirrors?

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I have an 86 chevy pickup that I want to change the mirrors on. The originals are so ugly. I found some nice mirrors in the wrecking yard, from a mid 80s GM car, they even have adjusters from the inside of the vehicle that perfectly match the electric window controls. The problem is that the side of the pickup is close to straight up and down, and the car mirrors are on more of an angle. They are made of plastic, and I was wondering if there is a product that I can use to build up the bottom side of the the mirrror where it attaches to the side of the vehicle? Any suggestions?

You can cut the stalk down to fit some doors, I don't know how far you have to go. Body putty would work if you end up with a gap on the bottom edge.

Thanks! But if I cut the top the mirror will hit the window. I was wondering if I could build it up with fiberglass, I dont know if it will bond with the plastic.

Not much bonds well to plastic. Epoxy and fiberglass are possiblities. You may want to buy a block of plastic, hone it to the shape you want with some hand files, then fuse it to the old piece with some kind of plastic cement or solvent. It wouldn't be a bad idea to try backing the joint with some metal as well. You could even try making an entire, new mirror housing based on the old one out of fiberglass. I think hotrod.com or somebody did an article on making your own glass molds and parts to replace damaged headlight rings.

I have used a bondo type material made from EPOXY or you can buy the epoxy & mix chopped fiberglas in it.

Don

Thanks for the suggestions, I went out and bought 4 more pair that are made of the same material for practice (the wrecking yard was having a special, whatever you could fit in a 5 gallon bucket for 20 bucks). I will try your epoxy suggestion. We have horses and my farrier said that they use a plastic product to build up a horses hoof, I am also going to give that a try. Any and all suggestions would be welcome. I will report on the outcome of all the things I try.

One good technique for making fiberglass stick, is to drill little holes in the surface, lets the resin leak through and get a grip on it. Or, you could lay a single layer down, then drill and pop some pop rivets ( after it dries ) then you can add more layers till your depth is achieved. Even if the first layer separates, the pop rivets will hold it all together.

Whatever you use, you will have better luck if you rough up the surface first, with maybe a bondo file or 60 grit paper. Then, wash it down with laquer thinner.

good luck

Thanks for the input, I will keepyou guys posted as to how my project turns out.

If I understand your situation, I ran into the same problem adapting some Ford Torino mirrors to a '65 Corvair Monza I had a number of years ago.

I, ah .... appropriated some blocks of 1/4 inch thick wood-epoxy type material from my employer and sanded them down at an angle to make kind of a flat wedge. It took a little trial and error to get the angle correct so that when I held the "wedge" on the right place on the door, then held the base of the mirror against the wedge, the mirror was at the correct angle to the door.

Then I drew around the base of the mirror and cut the wedge to the shape of the mounting surface of the mirror (actually, just a little larger). Whatever the material was, it sanded and painted nicely along with the mirrors. When the mirrors were bolted down they looked surprisingly good. The car actually won a trophy or two.

Did this make sense?

Anyway, total cost of the project, Zero (unless you want to count a spritz or two of rattle-can touch up paint).

Jim