Cheap 911 Sun Vizor Option

[75Carrera]

Many of the early 911 series cars suffered serious damage or deterioration of the sun vizors. Mine were pitiful looking. They were swollen and misshaped, dingy and a distraction to my cars appearance. I looked around in dismantling yards, on Pelican, Craig’s list and EBay for a nice used pair. No luck. Retail they sell a replacement for $155 each plus shipping... gulp.
So a friend and I came up with this approach;
1. Remove the two vizors from the car. (Keep the mounting bracket screws together)
2. On the bench, take out the keeper screw holding the bracket bar in place.
3. Pull the bracket and bracket bar straight out (there is a small key guide you’ll have to line up to come all the way out)

4.Cut the existing material off the vizors and discard.

5. Bend the remaining copper colored frame (as needed) to straighten it. it needs to be flat for this application) Note: I chose to trim the rear view mirror end of the drivers vizor to clear an space to mount my radar detector over the mirror, between the vizors. It allows a perfect radar shot to the front and out the back window and can’t be seen from outside the car. I’ve seen how an obvious detector can get a patrolman feeling a citation will teach you not to rely on the damned things! Plus my car is loud and hearing the detector in other locations was a problem. Now it’s right in my face. That’s a good thing Martha. (Sorry for the shadowed, harsh light picture, the vizors actually look really good)

Okay, Now we need some black presentation board (any extra heavy poster board) . You’ll need to cut out two sides for each vizor that are about a 1/4 inch wider (all around) than the bare copper frame.

I chose to wrap mine with black duct tape, binding the two sides around the frames.


Using a backed, Black Naugahide (sp?) material with a deep leather grain I cut the first side with about an inch (1”) of overlap all around so that once glued it would fold over the edges and stick down on the other side.

Here you’ll have to use your own technique. I sprayed the adhesive on the side to receive the overlapped piece first. Then sprayed the backed side of the material.

After allowing the two pieces to set about a minute, I carefully centered the sticky sides together and rolled the trim over the edges to achieve a tight fit. Corner cutting and trimming is necessary but fairly simple with very sharp sizers or knife.

Once that side is set (15-20 minutes) you will need to have cut out another piece of the material, but this time about 1/4-1/2 inch shorter than the edges all around. I taped off the outside 1/4 inch and edge so I wouldn’t get glue on those areas and sprayed the rest.

Now, carefully hold the trimmed material over the flat surface of the vizor (a friend’s hand here is very helpful). Slowly start to stick the piece down to cover all the overlapped edges and smooth it out.

After trimming and shoring up any corners that need a little more glue (I used a dental tool but any small and pointed will do)

Repeat for the second vizor. Use a permanent black marker to stain the edges of the material and you’ll have a nice black finished surface.

Reinstall the brackets and bracket bars, replace the set screws and install your fresh new sun viziers! Mine took about four hours total and cost me next to nothing!

And, yes I know I have a stain to get out of the headliner! Bad windscreen replacement leaked big time. Bleach White should eventually take it out, unless someone knows an easier way?

[dshepp806]

Give us a nice shot of the colorful painting in the background!!?!!!

Best,

[75Carrera]

Thanks for noticing! I just started working on a huge graphic for a local high end wrench's shop using a mid-year 911, M3 BMW and a Challenge Cup 355 Ferrari... It'll be done in a few weeks and I'll be posting it.

[Danny_Ocean]

I sent mine to these folks: http://www.autosunvisors.com

$70.00 including shipping. Quick turnaround. They look perfect (sans passenger side vanity mirror).

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

I sent mine to these folks: http://www.autosunvisors.com

$70.00 including shipping. Quick turnaround. They look perfect (sans passenger side vanity mirror).

Thanks Mr. Ocean. I have a garbage bag full of black automotive seat leather, (we tried to get into the leather dying business). Maybe they'd take the visors and leather and refurb.

[Buckterrier]

great job by the way Donny!

[ianc]

Looks good. I would have used some thin foam (like the factory visors) glued to the presentation board to flesh it out a little.

Thanks for posting,

ianc

[75Carrera]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

I sent mine to these folks: http://www.autosunvisors.com

$70.00 including shipping. Quick turnaround. They look perfect (sans passenger side vanity mirror).

I haven't seen this company before Danny. Looks like they do an excellent job. I probably would have gone with them had I known.
Although there is something "RS" about the way mine finally turned out! LOL

[75Carrera]

WE actually tried some thin foam on the first one, Ianc but the adhesive we used ate it! Now that the flat visors are complete I actually like them a lot. The foam would have been a plus if our adhesive wasn't so nasty...

[RWebb]

you know I see an opportunity for Bob/appbiz here...