To Tint or Not to Tint? That is the question?

[Z06ADCT]

Looks great man!! Good job!

Thanks. I would highly recommend it to others. As most of you have; I concur.

Craig

 

[Pac-man]

The solution to the bubbles at the top of the defroster is simple and works perfectly. Cut away the tint with a razor blade following the semi-circular line were the bubbles begin at the top of the rear window. Peel off tint. Mask and paper entrance to the cabin and anything else that you don't want to paint. Basically the whole back of the car. Paint bubble area with flat black spray paint. Looks perfect and there is no impairment of vision. From the outside it looks exactly like the tint and from the inside you simply don't even know its painted. This is a trick I learned from a car show guy. When you compete in shows the car must be perfect and the bubbles simply were'nt acceptable. You can always remove the paint with paint thinner but trust me you won't want to. I would go to Vette shows and people would say "how the heck did you get the top of the hatch to look perfect? So I would just say "It's paint not tint" Well guys now you know. Now how many guys are going to do it and how many guys are going to settle for the bubbled up hack job? I wanna know. This project only works with dark tint, and when you paint you must use even strokes with a depress and release style.

 

[Z06ADCT]

The solution to the bubbles at the top of the defroster is simple and works perfectly. Cut away the tint with a razor blade following the semi-circular line were the bubbles begin at the top of the rear window. Peel off tint. Mask and paper entrance to the cabin and anything else that you don't want to paint. Basically the whole back of the car. Paint bubble area with flat black spray paint. Looks perfect and there is no impairment of vision. From the outside it looks exactly like the tint and from the inside you simply don't even know its painted. This is a trick I learned from a car show guy. When you compete in shows the car must be perfect and the bubbles simply were'nt acceptable. You can always remove the paint with paint thinner but trust me you won't want to. I would go to Vette shows and people would say "how the heck did you get the top of the hatch to look perfect? So I would just say "It's paint not tint" Well guys now you know. Now how many guys are going to do it and how many guys are going to settle for the bubbled up hack job? I wanna know. This project only works with dark tint, and when you paint you must use even strokes with a depress and release style.

The installer recommended against tinting over the dot matrix. He proposed a vinyl/rubber type product and showed me a car with it. I was able to see a difference between that and the tint and therefore opted for tint. He did an excellent job though in pressing down the film among the dots. So far it looks great. If in time it lifts or bubbles, perhaps I will try your hot-insider tip of using paint. Thanks!

Craig

 

[Z06ADCT]

The solution to the bubbles at the top of the defroster is simple and works perfectly. Cut away the tint with a razor blade following the semi-circular line were the bubbles begin at the top of the rear window. Peel off tint. Mask and paper entrance to the cabin and anything else that you don't want to paint. Basically the whole back of the car. Paint bubble area with flat black spray paint. Looks perfect and there is no impairment of vision. From the outside it looks exactly like the tint and from the inside you simply don't even know its painted. This is a trick I learned from a car show guy. When you compete in shows the car must be perfect and the bubbles simply were'nt acceptable. You can always remove the paint with paint thinner but trust me you won't want to. I would go to Vette shows and people would say "how the heck did you get the top of the hatch to look perfect? So I would just say "It's paint not tint" Well guys now you know. Now how many guys are going to do it and how many guys are going to settle for the bubbled up hack job? I wanna know. This project only works with dark tint, and when you paint you must use even strokes with a depress and release style.

So I take it that the paint is thin enough to be transparent?

Craig

 

[Pac-man]

The paint trick is only for cars with a hatch, verts and hardtops do not have the bubble problem. The paint is not transparent but since it is at the top of the hatch and the way it is angled when you look out the rearview you can't notice it.

 

[Z06ADCT]

The paint trick is only for cars with a hatch, verts and hardtops do not have the bubble problem. The paint is not transparent but since it is at the top of the hatch and the way it is angled when you look out the rearview you can't notice it.

Thanks for the clarification. On the Z06, the rear window viewing area is relatively small. I didn't want to lose a three inch band of visibility with the vinyl/rubber, nor with paint for that matter. Since there is still the dot matrix, time will tell as to how well the tint stays down around the bumps.

Craig

 

[lov-n-life]

Another topic...

Here's a pic of my back window tinted. The side windows have the same tint on them. I think that it may keep the interior a *little* cooler but don't expect anything drastic. I park it with the rear of the car pointed at the sun when possible.

As for LEO's, I've never had any of them pull me over for it. *YET*

Calvins.
What exhaust system do you have installed? I like the looks of your setup. Subtle, but a little more aggressive looking than stock.

 

[DocAcumen]

The paint trick is only for cars with a hatch, verts and hardtops do not have the bubble problem. The paint is not transparent but since it is at the top of the hatch and the way it is angled when you look out the rearview you can't notice it.

It is true that on the Hardtop, you do not notice it when looking out the rearview. But, you sure do see the bubble problem from outside the car!!! (Which is bothersom to me!! I wanted a clean look from outside!) That is my problem! The tint does not seem to work in the area of the Dot Matrix!

When I got my Vette,(FRC) it had been tinted. You could see that it was not sticking in that area.( not bubbles mind you, it is just one big bubble across the top!) My fist thought was that it was just a bad tint job,or had become old. So, I or should I say my daughter, took it to have it redone. They even attemppted to sand the Dot Matrix area down. But the new job looks almost the same as the one that was on it origanlly. ad

There must be a real solution to this? But, what it is I have no clue? So enlighten me!

 

[Z06ADCT]

It is true that on the Hardtop, you do not notice it when looking out the rearview. But, you sure do see the bubble problem from outside the car!!! (Which is bothersom to me!! I wanted a clean look from outside!) That is my problem! The tint does not seem to work in the area of the Dot Matrix!

When I got my Vette,(FRC) it had been tinted. You could see that it was not sticking in that area.( not bubbles mind you, it is just one big bubble across the top!) My fist thought was that it was just a bad tint job,or had become old. So, I or should I say my daughter, took it to have it redone. They even attemppted to sand the Dot Matrix area down. But the new job looks almost the same as the one that was on it origanlly. ad

There must be a real solution to this? But, what it is I have no clue? So enlighten me!

I guess if mine separates around the dot matrix, I will have no choice but to go back to the tint place and have them cut away that strip and install the rubber/vinyl product. They say that that product is more pliable and will definitely stay down around the dots. I guess time will tell.

Craig

 

[Dr Hfuhruhurr]

Tinting is at the top of my mods list and this thread has answered most all of my questions! Thanks to all!!!

 

[Patrick]

It is true that on the Hardtop, you do not notice it when looking out the rearview. But, you sure do see the bubble problem from outside the car!!! (Which is bothersom to me!! I wanted a clean look from outside!) That is my problem! The tint does not seem to work in the area of the Dot Matrix!

When I got my Vette,(FRC) it had been tinted. You could see that it was not sticking in that area.( not bubbles mind you, it is just one big bubble across the top!) My fist thought was that it was just a bad tint job,or had become old. So, I or should I say my daughter, took it to have it redone. They even attemppted to sand the Dot Matrix area down. But the new job looks almost the same as the one that was on it origanlly. ad

There must be a real solution to this? But, what it is I have no clue? So enlighten me!

This is the problem that's being described. It's really only visible if you get a close up look at the top of the back window, but it is noticeable. True, from the inside, you can't see this. The problem is that it doesn't give a uniform appearence.

I agree that only real fix for this is to cut the tint off at that top part of the window, where the bubbles begin to appear on the glass, and replace it with a solid black strip of some sort.

-Patrick

 

[BigJoe]

First mod I do to every car I own, but then the TX sun gets pretty hot, so I don't have much choice...:L

As far as the dots, if you take a towel and press the film around the dots every day during the first week when the film is still wet you can get it to look almost perfect. You have to work the film from inside towards the edge. And use some real pressure on the towel...

 

[safety_match]

Check your state. Tinting is fantastic but some states/provinces will no allow tinting from the driver's head positon to rear...which rules out the side and rear windows in our cars. If this is not an issue....go for it!

 

[DocAcumen]

Yep that is what mine looked like before and after the new job was done! :cry

I plan to look into this more and see if I can come up with a better job!

 

[Z06ADCT]

Check your state. Tinting is fantastic but some states/provinces will no allow tinting from the driver's head positon to rear...which rules out the side and rear windows in our cars. If this is not an issue....go for it!

In California, mine is illegal. Although I drive with the windows down, I will probably get popped. Then it will snowball: Tinted windows, no front license plate, car too low, etc I guess it will depend on the mood of the officer and if he got any the night before.

Craig

 

[Steve Calvin]

lov-n-life,

Sorry, I just noticed your question. I believe that the exhaust is a Borla. It was on the car when I bought it. If I were to replace an exhaust I'd probably go with FlowMaster though from past experience. Noticeable performance improvement when I put those on my C4.

 

[Z06ADCT]

This is the problem that's being described. It's really only visible if you get a close up look at the top of the back window, but it is noticeable. True, from the inside, you can't see this. The problem is that it doesn't give a uniform appearence.

I agree that only real fix for this is to cut the tint off at that top part of the window, where the bubbles begin to appear on the glass, and replace it with a solid black strip of some sort.

-Patrick

I'll have to watch mine real close and perhaps do the towel trick; although it has been over a week now.

Craig

 

[napacruzerC5]

Some CHP really anal about side window tint. You can get as dark as you want on the rear window/hatch but there is a "legal" limit as to how dark you can go on the sides (in California anyway). CHP stopped me just for tint. He even had a tool which he placed on the side window which measured how much light was coming in. I don't remember the percentage allowed - something like at least 40% light. I bought the car with the tint from a dealer. The officer suggested I go back to the dealer and have him remove tint since it was illegal for him to sell it that way. The dealer removed tint; no charge although I spent anothe few Saturdays removing some he missed.

Of course the officer walked around to the front and got me for the missing front plate too!

 

[lov-n-life]

Some CHP really anal about side window tint. You can get as dark as you want on the rear window/hatch but there is a "legal" limit as to how dark you can go on the sides (in California anyway). CHP stopped me just for tint. He even had a tool which he placed on the side window which measured how much light was coming in. I don't remember the percentage allowed - something like at least 40% light. I bought the car with the tint from a dealer. The officer suggested I go back to the dealer and have him remove tint since it was illegal for him to sell it that way. The dealer removed tint; no charge although I spent anothe few Saturdays removing some he missed.

Of course the officer walked around to the front and got me for the missing front plate too!

Oh man, double wammie...
Back when I was working in a detail/tint shop, the darkest legal limit was 35% on the driver's window. All others were 20%. The percentage is how much light is allowed through. Limo tint is typically 5% to give you an idea.

 

[Z06ADCT]

Some CHP really anal about side window tint. You can get as dark as you want on the rear window/hatch but there is a "legal" limit as to how dark you can go on the sides (in California anyway). CHP stopped me just for tint. He even had a tool which he placed on the side window which measured how much light was coming in. I don't remember the percentage allowed - something like at least 40% light. I bought the car with the tint from a dealer. The officer suggested I go back to the dealer and have him remove tint since it was illegal for him to sell it that way. The dealer removed tint; no charge although I spent anothe few Saturdays removing some he missed.

Of course the officer walked around to the front and got me for the missing front plate too!

I talked to a friend who is a LA County Sherrif. He said that you have to look out for the CHP's as they are the ones who are most anal. My friend said that basic city cops don't care as much. I typically drive with my windows down, and will probably do so mainly when I am on the Socal freeways.

Craig