How to open the large Durant mirror without braking the glass?

[Zeephyrin]

My original mirror is too loose, falls down on its own. I think I need to tighten the bolt which connects base and mirror, but can not do it through the little hole in base, nut is rusted to the bolt and opening is just too small. I think I can get there from the other end, but need to remove the mirror. Whatever I try, the plastic retaining ring stays on. Does anybody know how can I open it?

Thanks,

[edmayo]

The plastic ring you need to remove has a slight lip that catches under the mirror edge, I started with a narrow blade x-acto knife, once I got a short section slightly pulled away I stuck a very small straight tip screwdriver in the qap to hold it out, then proceeded to get another bite with the x-acto, another small screwdriver stuck in, another bite, once you get about a quarter of the way around it will get much easier. To reinstall just push the plastic ring back in until the lip snaps under the mirror edge, goes back in in about a blink!

[John912]

Ed, have you ever removed glass from a 65-67 interior RV mirror? If so, how's it done and are replacement inserts available?

Thanks

[edmayo]

Nope, never done one of those John. Wasn't there a thread recently about someone doing this?

[freezing14]

interior mirrors, i assume the silver behind is all gone
i have done a interior mirror job on my 77 esprit as the parts are even less avalable then the 911
the key is to soak it in hot water , almost boiling to soften the plastic and you can pry it off a little bit at a time , worste case you brake it in 2 or 3 pieces, the replacement are dirt cheap , go at any scap yard and get a complete interior mirror from any car or truck on the lot as long as it bigger then yours , cut the platic off to preseve the mirror ( its has a different thickness) not flat , then use a dremel with a diamond bit or other gentle grinding tool and trim down to your size and pop it back in after soaking in hot water
et voila

[John912]

Thanks Ed & Freezing 14, but I couldn't find thread on removing interior mirror for pre-68, only unanswered questions on how to do it. I guess it can't be done without damaging the steel housing, which appears to be crimped over the glass much like an instrument bezel -- undo the crimp and you leave many small impressions in the housing.

[John Straub]

I did an interior mirror and had it re-silvered. All I can say, it's not easy. I just worked the edge up little by little. It came out great, but I'm not sure I would look forward to doing it again.

John

[Zeephyrin]

Thank you Ed for your manual. In fact, I tried it this way intuitively, but the plastic ring was stubborn, and I was afraid of bending the metal lip. I will try once more prying with a bit more force.

[jeff eelkema]

I haven't done this but I'm thinking the old plastic ring would be quite hard so maybe warming it up with hot water or careful heat gun use mught help.

[911pcars]

The plastic ring you need to remove has a slight lip that catches under the mirror edge, I started with a narrow blade x-acto knife, once I got a short section slightly pulled away I stuck a very small straight tip screwdriver in the qap to hold it out, then proceeded to get another bite with the x-acto, another small screwdriver stuck in, another bite, once you get about a quarter of the way around it will get much easier. To reinstall just push the plastic ring back in until the lip snaps under the mirror edge, goes back in in about a blink!

It's easier to do if the mirror is showing it's age or already cracked, but one method is take a ball peen hammer, then wish yourself 7 years bad luck. With the mirror in pieces and gone, it's a relatively easier task to remove the plastic ring. A glass shop can cut a new mirror for not that much.

Just call me Lurch,
Sherwood