Any window tint experts here?

**milner351** · February 25, 2010, 12:13 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Sounds like a job for the pro's.

I know they have tint material out now that is not affected by the electric defrost grids like it used to be.

I would imagine if you took the window out and took it to a tint shop - they'd probably give you a good deal on tinting it - since it will be so much easier to do out of the vehicle.

Bonus with that method is you won't see the tint cut line near the weather strip.

**Mr4Speed** · February 25, 2010, 12:21 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

It doesn't have a defrost grid-I've never seen one on a El Camino.

This would depend on me being able to get it out without breaking it of course!

**IRONHEAD** · February 25, 2010, 12:31 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Originally posted by Mr4Speed

It doesn't have a defrost grid-I've never seen one on a El Camino.

This would depend on me being able to get it out without breaking it of course!

easy, piano wire 2 pairs of vice grips.. and two people , one in the car one outside.. and saw away helps to have a 3rd guy to hold the window after your 1/2 way around..

**DanStokes** · February 25, 2010, 01:19 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Is that window a glue-in or is it held in with a weather strip? I just don't recall. Anyhow, if it's held with a weather strip a lot of times the rubber is stiff anyway and needs replaced so you just cut the rubber and the window will fall out easily. It'll cost you a weather strip but in this case you need it anyway. If the rubber is good you can work it out of the track - carefully, and save both pieces. Remember this is tempered glass and won't take much point pressure. The glue-ins have to be cut out as described.

Dan

**IRONHEAD** · February 25, 2010, 01:32 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Originally posted by DanStokes

Is that window a glue-in or is it held in with a weather strip? I just don't recall. Anyhow, if it's held with a weather strip a lot of times the rubber is stiff anyway and needs replaced so you just cut the rubber and the window will fall out easily. It'll cost you a weather strip but in this case you need it anyway. If the rubber is good you can work it out of the track - carefully, and save both pieces. Remember this is tempered glass and won't take much point pressure. The glue-ins have to be cut out as described.

Dan

glue...
panio wire... and back and forth and back and forth..

**Mr4Speed** · March 10, 2010, 08:00 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Well I got all the glass out-my Dremel multi-max tool with a flexible scraper blade made short work of it. I called two tint shops-one didn't want to do it at all unless the glass was in the car and the other quoted me $250 and said he would much rather have it in the car-said it was harder with it out. I'm calling bullshit so it looks like I'm going to have to do it myself. I want it all the way out to the edge without an untinted border so it looks like factory tint and I don't see how to get that with the window in the way it's configured on this car. I've been googling to try and figure this out, but if anyone has any advise to give I'm all ears. Trying to figure out what to buy as well. I'm looking at this stuff-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/24-x2...Q5fAccessories

Looks to be the best they have, and I like the idea of the greater heat rejection since the car is black. I'm really falling down a well with this car-it's just too nice to half ass anything-I want it to be right.

TC · March 11, 2010, 08:43 AM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

My concern is you want to tint the window to the edges, which means the glue that holds the window in will now be sitting on the tint rather than the glass. Will the glue mess up the tint, you know maybe eat it away?? and is it possible that the window could just fall out if the tint let loose??

I'm thinking you better leave a ring of glass exposed around the edges for the glue to adhere to.

**Mr4Speed** · March 11, 2010, 09:15 AM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

I thought of that and planned to leave a border that would allow the window adhesive to contact the glass directly, but not show after installation. I'm going to try a couple more local tint shops but I'm not expecting much.

**atomicsix** · March 11, 2010, 09:16 AM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

I own a tint shop, don't really like doing El Caminos, but to get it as close to perfect as possible, I would rather you drop the glass off out of the car.

The problem with doing it out of the car is the dust that will float down on it while you are working on it, in the car the dust is not as much of a problem. But, on the other hand, the reverse shrink on that glass is no fun in the car.

You could do a search on Tintdude.com there are alot of good tint guys on there, maybe one in your area would help, that happens all the time.

Try not to get the crap film off of ebay, go with a real Solarguard HP, or LLumar ATR. NO!! NR Dyed film. Get some good film with a little metal in it. Full Metal is not that great also(too shiney)

If you are thinking of the Ceramic look at LLumar ATX, these(all Ceramics) are alot harder to shrink without ghosting, but your back glass is not a bad shrink. A good ceramic is going to cost more tho.

**FoFittyFoSS** · March 11, 2010, 04:36 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Sounds like atomicsix knows what he's talking about. I could have sworn the tint shop down the street from me has a machine that cuts the tint to a perfect fit based on the car model that's entered into their computer. They also do vinyl lettering and sings so maybe they use the same machine to do both. Now I'm curious. I'll have to stop by and check it out.

**Mr4Speed** · March 11, 2010, 08:42 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Originally posted by atomicsix

I own a tint shop, don't really like doing El Caminos, but to get it as close to perfect as possible, I would rather you drop the glass off out of the car.

The problem with doing it out of the car is the dust that will float down on it while you are working on it, in the car the dust is not as much of a problem. But, on the other hand, the reverse shrink on that glass is no fun in the car.

You could do a search on Tintdude.com there are alot of good tint guys on there, maybe one in your area would help, that happens all the time.

Try not to get the crap film off of ebay, go with a real Solarguard HP, or LLumar ATR. NO!! NR Dyed film. Get some good film with a little metal in it. Full Metal is not that great also(too shiney)

If you are thinking of the Ceramic look at LLumar ATX, these(all Ceramics) are alot harder to shrink without ghosting, but your back glass is not a bad shrink. A good ceramic is going to cost more tho.

Thanks! I spent several hours on the tint dude site last night trying to figure this stuff out and found that window tinting is far more complex a subject than I ever knew(most things are). It seems to be a protected market-the outlets for the real quality stuff don't sell to the public. I'll keep looking though. I'm pretty sure the install shops would be insulted if I asked them to sell me some material too. I don't mind at all paying extra for the best quality material available, I'd actually prefer to. I'm pretty sure that only way to do the back window right in this car is to take it out, and you have to take the whole damn car apart to get it out so I want it to last.

**IRONHEAD** · March 12, 2010, 04:48 AM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

OK , I got to ask... is this rear window.. still aval..?
I'd think it still is.. wouldn't it be better, all around for cleaning it.. scratching it/etc
to have a newone made with the darktint that cars like my HHR have from the factory..
thats built into the window..
I'm looking into it for my chevelle and they are willing to do it.. and are talking to the vendors (year one/etc)
so they can make a run of more than one set..
hell I might start that biz..
but it might be something to look into..

**atomicsix** · March 12, 2010, 08:43 AM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

That's a great place for tinters to "talk shop"

There should be someone in the area that would sell some good film to you. I would.

I have a ComputerCut system also, but the older cars are usually not in their data base, and if they are the pattern is never exactly right. The computer cuts the same pattern over and over, but most cars are different even side to side(a 1/16th of an inch can make a light gap in tinting)

Newer cars are better suited for the computercut system, the tolerances, on the glass, are way better.

Good luck, be patience. It just takes time and prep to make it nice, it is not rocket science.

**DanStokes** · March 12, 2010, 06:44 PM

Re: Any window tint experts here?

Dang, atomicsix - one more reason to LOVE this forum. Another person who actually knows something and is willing to share it.

Thanks
Dan

Any window tint experts here?

Any window tint experts here?

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