Tryna get the '74 cleaned up a lil bit, so I can take it for State Inspection this weekend. Both outside rearview mirrors have been floppin for years, so I decided to pull the glass out and re-peen the posts that hold the leaf spring thingy that holds tension on the pivot ball. I've done it before, but on this one it was years ago, and they had loosened up over time. Anywho....took them off, took them to the shop and soaked them in mineral spirits to loosen the silycone that holds the glass to the mirror base. Had to let them sit overnight. Lacquer thinner works in about an hour, but I dint have any, so...

Got the glass out, and started peening the posts to tighten them up. Haft be careful, because they posts sit on an angle, and it's hard to press, or hammer the posts without proper support. In fact, I cracked the passenger side one years ago the first time I did it. Well...guess whut? Did it again, but this time, it broke the post clean off. 🤬 Drivers side, which is the St. Louis installed, factory original, tightened up nicely, but the passenger side was a dealer installed item when the car was sold originally, and it does have the correct dated glass. I bought a set of mirrors for this car many years ago, but dint use them because they were the large head style, which is incorrect for a '74. Have no clue where I put them....so....I ordered a new passenger side, small head mirror from Bair's earlier today. Have yet to hear anything back from them on shipping....I kinda needs it before Saturday, but ordering online doesn't give me any options for shipping at all, just "We'll get back with you on shipping". ...🤥

Oh well....moving on. Here's some pics of the mirror bases with the glass removed, so youse can see how the glass is attached to the base, and how tension is provided to keep them in position.

The first pic shows the 4 standoffs(circled in blue) that the blobs of silycone adhesive is applied to, and then the glass is simply pressed into the adhesive, and allowed to cure properly. The red circles are the two posts that the springy thing fits onto to hold tension between the mirror back, and the ball, to allow it to pivot. These are the spots that need re-peening. btw...the one with the circles(on the right) is the dealer installed, passenger side one. Notice the difference in the spring, and the shape of the peens, compared to the St. Louis one, on the left, as well as the general configuration of the part numbers. 

Second pic is just a closer view of the driver side, and you can see the extra silycone that skwished out around the posts. Also notice the better looking peening on the posts.

Last pic is of the driver side, cleaned up and ready for the glass to be re-installed. 

Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

So, if that process is successful, how do you manage the ring on the outside front of the mirror where it has dangled loosely and marked up the chrome? I have a couple with that ring. Possibly a goofball played with the head, and it was grinding on the arm and enhanced the ring on the face. 

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I recently replaced a mirror that was flopping around.  I'll have to dig it up and see about getting the glass off and doing your fix.

Before that, I had the glass of a mirror fall out and smash on the concrete floor -- I just replaced it.

Oh no! Am I part of the throw-it-away society now?

Not 'zactly sure what you are refering to.... I just looked at one of mine, and there's no way the front face of the mirror will touch the arm, no matter how I spin it....

Joel Adams
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Otay Mark! I see what you are talking about now. I went out and looked a couple other old mirrors I have, and found the "circle" on one of the large head('75 & up) mirrors. NONE of my small head mirrors have those markings. Doubt there is any way to get rid of them, but I might try some metal polish on this one just to see if it makes any difference. 

Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

A temporary fix to the flopping mirror that I've used on my 72 Cutlass is to apply Locktite to the exposed ball. Move it around to spread the Locktite. When you've done that, get in the car and position the mirror to where you want it to stay. Give it time to set. Eventually you have to do it again, but saves you taking the mirror apart. I'm chicken and won't do that. 

Jan