Well I have viewed a lot of 3rd gen's and the rear window tint is a must in my opinion, I have done many flat rear truck cab windows with great results but never something as large and curved as the 3rd Gen Camaro, 3 concerns I have:

1. Does the rear glass need to be removed to do this properly?

2. Is a normal hair dryer adequate to make film flexible enough for curved areas of glass, or should I use a heat gun?

3. What kind of problems are the rear defrost elements going to cause me, do people leave it and put tint film over it or do they scrape off the defrost elements??

Wish I could find a video showing a 3rd gen getting tinted, any help would be appreciated, thanks.

PS going with 5% rear and nothing on sides, local law prohibits anything but factory tint on windows to left if front seat area (driver's compartment).

 

i did mine myself. i didnt use a hair dryer, i got 5% from autozone and had to do it in 2 strips. i didnt remove the defroster elements, but i suppose if you dont need them then you could. mine came out fine, but the next time i'll probably have it professionally done just because i dont feeel like doing it lol

 

The PO of my car had the hatch tinted by a local shop. They left the defroster grid and cut the tint into 4 strips that run side to side. They matched the seams up pretty well, you can't see them unless your pretty close.

I don't know if they took the hatch off or not, but I know I would. I've done a few rear windows on cars, and the tilt of he glass made it a real PITA. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be doing it upside down over my head.

 

It IS possible to tint the rear glass in ONE SOLID piece. I took mine to several tint shops before I found one that would do it. Mine doesn't have rear defrost. Turned out pretty good. Guy that did it had the whole car tinted in a half a day and didn't mention it being too difficult. $150 for 2 doors and rear glass.

 

Here's another shot

 

i've been meaning to get mine tinted for a long time. thought of doing it myself too, but also wondered about taking the hatch off. then i stumbled across this video. the guy makes it look real easy. and no, he's not tinting the outside.

idk, probably easier to just let a pro handle it?

 

Thanks for that! I also have a non defrost window so I'm only going to get it done if it can be one piece. Do you know what film he used? Looks great!

 

Gonna have mine tinted this week, tinted said he could do it all in one piece. $120 done deal good luck

 

if you tent the hatch in more than one strip, for a nice seam just overlap the strips and trim through both pieces of tint at the same time pull out the strip you trimmed off the underside piece and the one from the top should fall off... makes a matched seam every time ... just make sure your blade is sharp

 

Nice, wish I could tint the side windows but local law prohibits anything other than factory tint on windows to left and right of driver's compartment. Is that 5% on the back? Found an eBay seller that pre-cuts the tint for my car, one piece for the rear window, only problem is I have to but for all windows, and cannot use the front window pieces.

 

Did my truck back window last year, it turned purple, any suggestion as to why??? Won't be changing it, works fine keeping glare and heat out but don't want that to happen on Camaro.

 

Actually no not 5%. It's the second lightest tint the shop had available in the proper width to do in one piece. 20% maybe?

It looks really dark in the picture but in person it's not that dark. You can still see fine out of it while night driving, which is what I wanted. Just enough to protect the back seats from the sun!

 

Hmm 20% not dark enough for me, the truck has 5% on it and it's fine at night, use my mirrors and a reverse cam so not a problem. No reverse cam going on Camaro, maybe I will re-think the shade. Will grab some samples and see how they look at night.

 

Anyone got a pic of a rear window with the defrost element and window tint?

 

here is one

 

Cleaning with windex or an ammonia based window cleaner will turn'em purple

 

HAHAHA and I did use Windex, I am sure there wasn't any warning on the instructions. good to know that for future applications, anyway what should I use to clean window with? Is sunlight dish detergent OK for the soapy water mix? also does anyone know will a vinegar/water solution also turn tint purple?
Hmm still a lot to learn even though I have done several, the application of the tint isn't always the part that gets screwed up.

Funny thing is only two of the truck windows I did out of 6 turned purple (not being consistent with solutions I suppose, just used whatever was handy, and inexpensive Canadian Tire Tint Film) and the two that did turn (one is my own) nobody but me noticed.

 

Nice, love the look of those tinted windows, what is the % of tint you have back and sides.

I have seen several rear windows with the defroster elements and tint film over the last few days, both online and locally (not all Camaro's), a lot of them have air gaps around some of the heat elements, I am wondering is this caused by using the rear defroster after the tint film was applied or from just a poor cleaning before initial application of the film or not squeegeeing all the air and water/soap out of those areas?

 

Rain x has a cleaner that's safe but I use invisible glass. It's from Walmart same price as windex and u can get it in foam or spray bottle. I think the back of the windex bottle may say not for use with tinted windows but I can't be sure

 

20% back and sides. Have not used defroster since having tint installed (have used it once in 5 years of ownership), so I have no feedback on that. I thought about having the defroster removed for a cleaner job . I decided to leave it because it works and is an original option on the car. The tint is 3M and is warranted against fading, bubbling, blistering and turning purple, supposedly. I'm sure the job would be easier to do without the defroster. The business that did my tint used black vinyl to do the side edges around the outside of the defrost element The new pic offers a different perspective.

 

Nice car drjewalton- my car is supposed to look like yours. But someone painted the ground effects the same color

 

Thanks for the compliment. BTW, mine is currently for sale. Just FYI. Search the classifieds here on TGO for 1984 camaro Z28 for sale in KY to get all the specifics if interested.

 

After 36 years of tinting windows I would suggest letting a skilled installer handle the job for you. Ask for the new non metal color stable films that are currently available. I use Madico Charcool.

 

My buddy is one of the best tinters around and hates third gens. He did mine in 1 piece. The hardest part is getting around the solid element on the sides. Last minute it tore on him. Mine is the second one he has done 1 piece. Lots of patience and a heat gun. Or just do multiple pieces ending on the defrost elements since tint doesnt stick to that anyways

BTW leave the glass on. When you tint you actually cut ti the outside of the glass. Wetting the window. Then spray the inside, remove the film and apply.

Also use a light duty scotch brite and dish soap on the back window

Jay

 

All of my 3rd gens have had a rear defrost and various 5-20% tint jobs on them, I didn't have any problems with bubbling around the defroster elements. Even my '97 Convertible has 5% tinted rear glass with the defroster and looks great. From what I can tell, it is all in how you install it.

 

I have only used soap and water to clean tint. Chemicals and cheap tint will turn purple. The guy that has done all my third gens takes the struts loose from the glass and uses a rope overhead to hold the back glass as straight up as possible and stands in the spare tire area. Makes life easier.

 

Good tip thanks that should make it easier to apply.

 

I've got 2 2002 Trans Ams that I had 5% professionally done. It's well worth the price to have the large back glass done by a pro.