what are flag mirror housings made of?

[ERAU944]

steel or aluminum?

[onZedge]

I would think it is GFRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic) same as the sunroof panel, but the "end of life disposal" manual doesn't really say.

[SoCal Driver]

Zinc castings.

[ERAU944]

hmm... zinc really? i was hoping they'd be something i could polish up nicely, like my gas cap lid...

[Eldorado]

are they dull?

[ERAU944]

no... i've got a spare set of mirror housings that i want to replace mine with, since the springs in mine are weak. rather than go through the BS of trying to paint match, i was hoping they were cast aluminum so that i could strip and polish them. i have just done so one a spare gas cap, and it came out pretty nice, but i haven't installed it yet (i need to flat black the backside). i work around airplanes (and polished aluminum) all the time, so i know how nice a little bit of shine can accent a nice paint job.

come to think of it, i've got a couple sets of spare bumpers... muhahaha

[SoCal Driver]

Could be aluminum. Would be more in keeping with the intent of the cars designers. I'll reconsider and say more likely aluminum.

[ERAU944]

i'm hoping they are. they just seem so... heavy! i know there's a couple little electric motors in there, some stainless, the actual mirror, a few bolts, and the spring and retainer. perhaps tomorrow, if the rain persists, i will take one assembly apart and try to strip it, and get an answer for myself... i just don't want to ruin something on a hunch that i might have otherwise been able to prep and paint without a big additional bunch of work.

on the other hand, i REALLY hope they're aluminum so i can install all the shiny polished parts together (and have mirrors that dont move around because of weak springs).

[Schumi]

I am almost 100% sure they are GFRP.

[SoCal Driver]

Springs are not weak. The retaining bolt is loose.

[ERAU944]

i've tried to tighten them as much as i could, but if i'm going to have to remove them anyway to tighten more, why not fit a pair of shiny polished ones? nobody knows the composition? as soon as i'm done mowing the yard i'll start stripping one of them.

[ERAU944]

definitely aluminum... now on to the lengthy stripping, sanding, and polishing process

[Eldorado]

i'm interested to see what this looks like... dont think i'd do it myself though.. then again ya never know..

[onZedge]

There are two parts, the housing (the part that attaches to the car) and the frame (the part that the mirror glass attaches to). Both of these are aluminum?

[ERAU944]

the gas cap cover is installed, i'll get pictures tomorrow

bumpers are on the list also, possibly a set of door handles (gotta have several pieces, you know)... muhahaha

i love aluminum

[ERAU944]

Edek - as of right now i have the piece that the mirror gets bolted to separated, and begun stripping. there are three screws that hold the largest piece of the frame to the mounting post (that's what i'll call it anyhow), i'm going to do it one piece at a time. as of right now i've confirmed that the largest piece is in fact cast aluminum. the other two pieces seem to be cast aluminum as well. give me about a month (this is going to be a LONG process) and i ought to have the pair done and installed. i can't WAIT to get on to the bumpers and/or door handles. come to think of it, i may detour and do the bumpers first, since they seem like they'll be easier to strip and do.

[onZedge]

OOO, Quasi-chrome bumpers, mirrors and door handles. Of course you already know that there are a whole bunch of other aluminum tidbits on the car that could be polished also. That would be a unique Porsche water-pumper indeed.

[Eldorado]

polish everything...
...and chrome the sunroof!!!

i somehow think there might be a law against driving a giant mirror... lol

[ERAU944]

haha, i'm not gonna go that far... i do believe the rest of the aluminum bits are hidden, and i don't feel like polishing my wheels - they're in good shape as it is. no sunroof on my '84 either. i don't think that polished bumpers would be too bad, there isn't a lot of surface on any of those parts to reflect sunlight any worse than shiny paint, it'll just look strange. since i'm using all spare parts, if i want to convert back, it'll be no big deal to switch the originals back.

[hpaulb]

I'd be very interested to see what they look like done. Has anyone else done this. What would you coat it with? (clear laquor)?