V8V Wing Mirror corrosion fix, part 2

[rancidswan]

To read part 1 of this guide, go here

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

So, at this point, you will have completely rubbed down any corrosion, sanded smooth and etch primed your wing mirror arm.

So, next you will need;

1. Sandpaper - 240 wet and dry.
2. Torx bit and screwdriver
3. Masking tape.
4. Sheeting to mask the vehicle, (I used bubble wrap again)
5. White spirit
6. Kitchen towel
7. Black Satin (or Matt) aerosol paint (I used a can of Wilko Black Satin paint which I'd used on a previous project)


Step 9.
Wet your 240 wet'n'dry sandpaper and lightly sand (key) the entire wing mirror arm, this should take very little time indeed, you're just taking the surface off to ensure your black paint adheres. You will also need to lightly sand your previously primed paint, paying special attention to any lines you've created. Dry the area. Use your fingers to ensure there are no ridges, lips or rough areas, you should feel the whole area has a consistent smooth finish




Step 10.
Remove the wing mirror housing from the arm again, and secure against the side window. Now Mask the area - this time you'll need to mask accurately as you'll be spraying the entire black wing mirror arm.
Take your time here and make sure you have neat lines and no exposed paintwork. Like so...



(double cuff gingham shirt and cuff links are optional)

Step 11.
Now that you've carefully masked up against the arm, cut a whole in your bubble wrap and slot over the entire area and mask again to give yourself protection from overspray. (I actually got a bit of overspray on the wing mirror housing and window - both were removed later on in seconds with a clay bar)

Step 12.
Once you're happy with your masking and sanding, clean the area with kitchen towel and white spirit. Allow to dry (should only take a couple of minutes)



Step 13.
With the same light wafting action as before, lightly coat the area with the black paint, allow each cost to dry and repeat a few times.
It's key to say here - the way to avoid runs is never be tempted to spray too close and never hold the nozzle down continuously. Each stroke should involve just a moment where you're spraying and moving the aerosol at the same time) Here it is after coat 1, you can clearly see it's only a light coat with primer still visible




Step 14.
You might, after you've coated the area a few times, need to move the wing mirror housing into a different position, so that you can cover every angle. Take your time here. You'll need to get a light coat all over the wing mirror arm from every angle!


Step 15.
Wait as long as you can before unmasking it all. At least a couple of hours for it to harden a little.




Step 16.
Re-assemble the wing mirror body into its housing, stand back, and enjoy. Don't wash the car for 24 hours if you can help it.






Notes:
I'm pleased I went for a Satin finish and not a Matt version. The end product is virtually immaculate, certainly far better than the other side (which is why I then did the other side too - a very quick and simple rub down with 240 as it had no corrosion, and the straight on with the Satin black)

In terms of difficulty, this job gets a 2 or 3 out of ten. The original factory finish on the mirror arms is so poor that a blind man on a galloping horse throwing paint at the arms could hardly have done worse. It's also worth noting that you could sand the arms with 400, 800 and beyond if you wanted the arms to be very very smooth, but I didn't want that look)

So take your time, plan ahead and you should be able to get this result.

Any questions, give me a shout

rancid

[JimboA]

Once again, many thanks. A REALLY helpful article! 👍🏻

[rancidswan]

No problem JimboA

Next step is to either cover the wing mirror covers in CF, or buy some spare covers and apply hyrdrographic film, I'll write that up also.

rancid

[krisdelta]

Just a bump to remind people this awesome guide is here and thanks to Rancid! This is on my list for the BH weekend.