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Mirror-Matic refinishing
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   Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General DiscussionMessage format
 
imopar380
Posted 2018-02-19 10:58 PM (#558442)
Subject: Mirror-Matic refinishing



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Posts: 7205
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Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada
If any of you have a Mirror-Matic that needs the glass re-silvered, you might want to try out this stuff. "Mirror in a Can" I spent $150.00 getting mine professionally re-silvered a couple of years back.
I wish I had known about these options at that time!

"Mirror in a Can" - seems to work good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8iTQwnDaLg

Another less expensive option to having one re-silvered is to use a standard sized day night mirror from a mid-70s - mid 80s vehicle that's still in good shape.
A friend of mine used one from a GMC pickup for the Mirror-Matic in his 1960 Polara. It was the same size prismatic mirror.
He then polished out the tiny spot from the rear where the light has to enter.
Here is how he explains the process:

“The mirror I used was out of a 1976 Chevrolet 1/2 ton truck. It's exactly the same size and shape ( as the original
prismatic mirror contained within the Mirror-Matic housing). It was a bit tricky to extract it as it is moulded into the
mirror housing. I did slight damage to the glass during the process but it is covered by the mirror-matic surround
bezel.
To buff the photo cell light opening I decided to use a type writer eraser (kept from the 70's). I mounted it in the
lathe and cut the end off square with a razor knife while turning in the lathe to obtain a square cut. After mounting
the eraser in the drill press I applied some coarse valve grinding compound and then did a trial run on the old
mirror. It worked real slick except the light hole was slightly larger in diameter than the original.
I then mounted the eraser in the lathe and reduced the end diameter about .050".
After marking the new mirror, I performed the same procedure and it worked great. It made a very crisp “hole” so
that the headlights from the car behind will activate the photocell behind the mirror, causing the mirror to tip to
“NIGHT” position”.

Edited by imopar380 2018-02-19 11:05 PM




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Don Ashby
Posted 2018-02-20 10:41 PM (#558537 - in reply to #558442)
Subject: Re: Mirror-Matic refinishing


Member

Posts: 7

that's terrific, cept my car wouldn't run with a GM part on it.
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imopar380
Posted 2018-02-21 10:56 AM (#558555 - in reply to #558537)
Subject: Re: Mirror-Matic refinishing



Expert 5K+

Posts: 7205
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Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada
Don Ashby - 2018-02-20 7:41 PM

that's terrific, cept my car wouldn't run with a GM part on it.


LOL. I have a GM dual port Master cyl. on my Saratoga.
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christine-lover
Posted 2018-02-21 6:13 PM (#558575 - in reply to #558442)
Subject: Re: Mirror-Matic refinishing



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Location: Sept. 1958
I may try this Ian, I have a 60-61 mirror matic that needs resilvering.
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imopar380
Posted 2018-02-21 9:24 PM (#558588 - in reply to #558575)
Subject: Re: Mirror-Matic refinishing



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Posts: 7205
50002000100100
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada
christine-lover - 2018-02-21 3:13 PM

I may try this Ian, I have a 60-61 mirror matic that needs resilvering.


Are you thinking of the spray can job, or mirror replacement?
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christine-lover
Posted 2018-02-21 10:24 PM (#558592 - in reply to #558588)
Subject: Re: Mirror-Matic refinishing



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Location: Sept. 1958
imopar380 - 2018-02-21 9:24 PM

christine-lover - 2018-02-21 3:13 PM

I may try this Ian, I have a 60-61 mirror matic that needs resilvering.


Are you thinking of the spray can job, or mirror replacement?


Spray can, see if it actually works?
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wizard
Posted 2018-02-22 12:42 AM (#558598 - in reply to #558442)
Subject: Re: Mirror-Matic refinishing



Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+

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Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
I think that the worst part could be to clean the old mirror well enough.
I also Think that the backside of the mirror needs some protection layers over the spray paint for to last long.

It might be a good idea to get a whatever car mirror and do some tests with paint strip and polishing.

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