wing mirror holes - ideas please

[DerekJ]

All,

I have changed the look of my car from a stock concours look to a more sporting race look, removing the bumpers & wing mirrors and fitting side exhaust & sprite overriders etc.

This has left me with two holes in the wings. I have a perfect paint job so I dont want to fill them and repaint. Anybody got any good ideas other than plain rubber hole plugs?

 

[lesingepsycho]

You could stick a decal over it. That would help give it even more of a "sporting race" look and everyone knows a well placed sticker can add 15hp! Heck, maybe even make it a racing stripe and who knows what the power gains will be!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Randy Harris]

Derek
Frankly, your options are limited. #1 You can have a body shop lead-fill or patch the holes and then carefully color-blend in paint to match the fenders - ultimately the best option. #2 You can find suitable rubber plugs (grommets) and paint them body color - not a very slick or dignified solution but it will cover the holes. #3 You can bondo-fill them yourself and then blend paint - a slightly better solution that #2.

Really there's no shortcut here. Have a body shop take care of this for you and the result should be invisible. You'll only feel the pain once.
Randy '66 BJ8, '68 E-type OTS

 

[kch]

What about fitting another mirror (which has the same type of holes for mounting), like a race-type mirror that holden.co.uk sells ? I have those targa style mirrors on my car. Looks cool, but totally useless.

 

[DerekJ]

Go faster stickers probably do work on MGs! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

I'm also upgrading the engine.

I've seen some cars with what look almost like the chrome "bases" of wing mirrors. The result is like a small chrome embellishment. I was hoping somebody may know of something like this, otherwise the colour coded grommet is probably simplest and easiest, which gives me the option to put the car back the way it was if I ever decided to sell it

 

[bob hughes]

This is going to the exteme, what about a visit to your local plumbing centre and get a blanking plug for a tap hole in the sink, they come chromed and should be able to be fixed with a large washer and possibly a smidgen of silicone sealant for good measure?
Bob
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif

 

[Cottontop]

Most good hardware stores will have these in virtually any size and finish.

Tim

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Derekj, It all comes down to what is acceptable to you. Sicker, plug, or weld the hole and paint via body shop. I would not recommend filling the hole with bondo and painting, for the bondo will shrink down the road. Then you will see where the hole was. If you choose to go the plug route, find a Paintless Dent Removal guy in your area. He should have an assortment of plugs. My finish plugs are really thin and the outside lip diameter of the plug is only 1/8" larger than the hole. Lightly sand the top and paint. Should be the best way to go, if you choose a plug. I removed my mirrors and had the body shop weld and paint. But I am a perfectionist. Hope this helps. Good luck. Roger

 

[DerekJ]

Great ideas guys.

If I was ready for a paint upgrade I'd definitely have the holes welded properly but I cant justify the cost & effort and risk that it might not match exactly the rest of my lovely paintwork. So I think I'll take a trip to the plumbers!!! and see what I can find.

If I was restoring a Healey I wouldn't put those wing mirrors on, it spoils the purity of the line and they are pretty useless anyway, plus they were an option, so you don't even need them for concours.

 

[Keoke]

Well Derek, you might just visit an Auto Jumble and see if you can find a pair of real Talbot Mirrors made in West Germany they are not useless and have a racy look.That will fill der hole.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

 

[anthony7777]

simple answer,find someone willing to wave from the back seat,that way you could stick embassy parade flags in the holes.sorry,couldnt contain my self,i would agree that filling the holes and repaint is ultametly the right way to go.