Has anyone made thier own t-top shades before?

how has it worked out?

 

Yes, made from a cardboard box. They greatly reduced the temperature on the inside and I stopped getting sunburnt when the sun is out. One day I would like to transfer the template to plastic and cover it in fabric.

 

+1 for cardboard box. Works great!

 

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I just read the thread on window tinting.

Has anyone tinted them from the INSIDE? I might do that in the spring with either a real dark shade or maybe mirror.

Whatever stock is lets in alot of sun & heat.I can't take them off @ work b'cuz if it rains I'm screwed!! I can't "just run out and put 'em in".

 

Ive done both. 2* tint on the inside of the tops of my 92 t top car.
and made a few sets of un shaded for people.

some heavy duty cardboard and some nice foam backed cloth to match the headliner. 3m spray adhesive and your good to go.

 

Yep, These are pretty old & faded, but have held up really well.Used cardboard as well.With wire in the cardboard to keep the corrugated from sagging.They're almost 10 years old!

The glass is a chrome/ bronze tint, but its not film.
Seeing as i have C&C t-tops.I also had to trim my headliner from a HT car.

 

84 1LE--
Those look good!
I think I can attempt it TPl383. Sounds like a spring project for sure!

IROCK ZZ-- are you going to try something like this?

 

Its really easy.

1. get coarboard bigger then the top.

2. Take T tops off and lay a piece of cardboard on the t-top just like its gonne be your shade.(make sure you slide the cardboard into the plastic on the top by the handle, etc. This holds it in when its in the car also)

3.Tape it to the top and flip it over so your looking at the top side of the glass with the cardboard under it.
4.trace it.
5. Take cardboard out and measure back some (i forget how much. I have a vert now so cant help here) Enough it not gonna interfere with the top sliding in under the t bar. but enough left that it sits on the lip of the t bar.

6. Cut it out. test it. Start over if not right. If your good to go on size.

take your material you bought and lay it out about an inch oversized all around this way you car wrap it over the back side to cover all the edges.

once cut to size remove it and spray some 3m adhesive on both the cardboard and materials. be careful to lay the material back on and work it smooth with your hand from the center out.

DONE. if you want to take it a step further and happen to have a sewing machine or know someone with a good one. Run a stitch all around the edge a 1/4 inch in. etc..

On the back side near the corners you can always put a few Velcro dots to help hold them in also.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Did the same basically.I cut the material about 1/2 past the edges.Enough for both sides of the cardboard shade.Then took a 3/4 wide cloth ribbon, folded in half(length wise).Wrapped all the way around the edge & stitched it inplace.

The steel wire was from an old windshield visor.The round types that unfold like a spring.If you try to bend this wire, it'll just striaghten itself when released.This has kept the corrugated material from sagging over the years.

 

SOLD!!!

Now I just need to talk my wife into garage time! LOL
Spring, my wife, the Camaro---aahhh yesss---! day closer!!!!SPRING!!!!

..............................HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE........................

 

Well thanks for the little DIY guide guys, I'll be trying this before too long I hope

 

I had an OEM set in my 91 Firebird... I didn't use them most of the time since the factory lexan tops were so dark I didn't need them. Every set of glass tops I've owned has let so much light through, the tops might as well be out since the sun shines right through.

The OEM inserts are just heavy cardboard covered in head liner fabric on one side, with piping stiched around the outer edges. They'd be easy enough to copy.

 

What I did was used the silver like heat and sound insulator material that you can pick up at most hardware stores. It is the same stuff used for the windsheild visors. It works awesome on reducing noise, light, and heat in the car.

So far it keeps its shape and the silver surface doesn't look so bad from inside the car or out.

 

Took a pair of cheap windshield screens, traced the T-Top cut them to fit now I just have to either get the wife to sew them up around the edges or do it myself, I'll take pics in the morning. Used them for a couple months greatly reduced interior heat, but I think I might tint the tops darker anyways.