Tinting the t-tops
05-18-2008, 05:29 PM
#25
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I just use the shades. Best of both worlds. If I want to be able to look out at the sky without having to look through limo tint, ill take em off. If I want to keep the sun out, Ill put em on 
05-18-2008, 07:05 PM
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05-18-2008, 08:52 PM
#28
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I was told by a tint shop that the layer of tint would cause the t-tops to heat up more and maybe crack so they wouldn't tint them.
So, I just made my own shades. I got black foam board and cut it to shape. They aren't pretty when out, but when in you can't tell. It insulates it from heat and cold too. Not bad for something that cost under $5. W/tan interior it would be easy to get some tan material and to match the headliner and a can of spray adhesive to cover them. I could cover mine with material and they would look better than they do now and still be cheaper buying the factory shades.
I'm not too worried about it though. I won an award at a show with them installed.
So, I just made my own shades. I got black foam board and cut it to shape. They aren't pretty when out, but when in you can't tell. It insulates it from heat and cold too. Not bad for something that cost under $5. W/tan interior it would be easy to get some tan material and to match the headliner and a can of spray adhesive to cover them. I could cover mine with material and they would look better than they do now and still be cheaper buying the factory shades.
I'm not too worried about it though. I won an award at a show with them installed.
05-18-2008, 09:30 PM
#30
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My buddy tinted mine today with 2.5% I got from Auto Zone. They came out good, tint is very dark. On the drive home, NO sun was on my head it felt like. I like the difference already, I just want to tint my sides that dark or close.
05-19-2008, 02:42 PM
#32
I have 5% all around and on the t-tops...not really sure why people are saying it blocks heat...I live in KS and it gets alot hotter in the car now that it is tinted. The dark tint attracts more light and heat...it kept getting so hot that it messed up my alarm system, the guy who worked on it put a thermometer in it. After less than 2 hrs it was over 170 degrees in the car. He said he had never seen a car get so hot so fast and was not sure if it had something to do with my tint or not. Don't get me wrong, I love the look, but if you are trying to keep sun or heat out...put the shades back in.
05-19-2008, 05:49 PM
#33
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i did that with mine for that very reason, only mine are 5%
I was told by a tint shop that the layer of tint would cause the t-tops to heat up more and maybe crack so they wouldn't tint them.
So, I just made my own shades. I got black foam board and cut it to shape. They aren't pretty when out, but when in you can't tell. It insulates it from heat and cold too. Not bad for something that cost under $5. W/tan interior it would be easy to get some tan material and to match the headliner and a can of spray adhesive to cover them. I could cover mine with material and they would look better than they do now and still be cheaper buying the factory shades.
I'm not too worried about it though. I won an award at a show with them installed.
So, I just made my own shades. I got black foam board and cut it to shape. They aren't pretty when out, but when in you can't tell. It insulates it from heat and cold too. Not bad for something that cost under $5. W/tan interior it would be easy to get some tan material and to match the headliner and a can of spray adhesive to cover them. I could cover mine with material and they would look better than they do now and still be cheaper buying the factory shades.
I'm not too worried about it though. I won an award at a show with them installed.
they won't heat up enough to crack them just because of a little tint
I have 5% all around and on the t-tops...not really sure why people are saying it blocks heat...I live in KS and it gets alot hotter in the car now that it is tinted. The dark tint attracts more light and heat...it kept getting so hot that it messed up my alarm system, the guy who worked on it put a thermometer in it. After less than 2 hrs it was over 170 degrees in the car. He said he had never seen a car get so hot so fast and was not sure if it had something to do with my tint or not. Don't get me wrong, I love the look, but if you are trying to keep sun or heat out...put the shades back in.
i dont know how this could be, i lived in HELL (phoenix AZ) and i can tell you that with the tinted t-tops and a sun shade for the windshield my car stayed just as cool if not cooler than with the t-top shades and the sun shade....
the sun shade is a must, my dashboard got cooked one day in the sun and i had a nice 12 inch crack to come back to, and this was after less than 2 hrs... once i replaced the dashpad i got a sun shade and used it religiously
05-19-2008, 10:38 PM
#34
I usually put a sunshade for the front...but the car still gets hot real quick. So now in the summertimes I keep the shades in, which helps alittle, but it still gets hot from the back windshield and sides.
Its just like wearing black or white in the sun...going to feel a lot cooler in the white...dark tint does the same.
Its just like wearing black or white in the sun...going to feel a lot cooler in the white...dark tint does the same.
05-19-2008, 11:32 PM
#35
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I'm sorry peterlaw but I think I have to disagree. I live in Kansas also and it does get very hot. If you have 5% tint all around, then 95% of ambient light is not getting into your vehicle. The reason I think it stays so hot, mine also, is that all the light/heat that comes through the front untinted windshield is then there-after pretty much trapped inside the car because it's only going to let 5% out, if you get what I'm saying
05-19-2008, 11:49 PM
#36
After less than 2 hrs it was over 170 degrees in the car. He said he had never seen a car get so hot so fast and was not sure if it had something to do with my tint or not. Don't get me wrong, I love the look, but if you are trying to keep sun or heat out...put the shades back in.
05-20-2008, 07:13 AM
#37
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...Or it is just a pain in the *** for them, and don't want to do it?
As for me... I just got a set of shades from someone else on the boards yesterday in the mail, and I love them already. They seem to give the car a different feel... almost like I could do a hard top fbod....
just kidding. Last edited by BlackonBlackTA; 05-20-2008 at 07:14 AM. Reason: I forgot half the point of my post.
05-20-2008, 10:02 AM
#38
i tinted my own ttops 3 years ago and it has worked great. Hard to do because of their bowl shape water traped at the bottom.....does not look so good from the inside but loks fine from the outside and it stays kool with them and i also had the side windows and back winodw tinted.......do it urself....
05-20-2008, 11:31 AM
#39
I have already said I put a sun screen on the front windshield to reflect the light and the shades in...so only light/heat coming in is from the sides and back which have 5%...its simple science you guys...I am not arguing with the amount of light coming in, but the amount of radiant HEAT produced...The darker the tint (ie: black) the more light energy is absorbed and converted to heat when trapped into the car (heat waves have longer wavelengths than light waves, therefore light can enter but heat can not cross the windows/tint.
If you don't believe me, get two items, one white and one black, and place them in the sunlight, after a couple hours go and measure the heat that is being given off the two objects...There have been numerous tests already done about how exterior/interior color can affect how hot a car gets inside.
As for cracking the windows, I have an alarm system that automatically rolls up the window when locked, plus KU med is not in the safest neighborhood...so definitely not leaving the chance of getting broken into.
My t/a is nbm with grey interior, I also have a black truck with grey interior and NO tint. The truck does not get anywhere near as hot inside as the t/a when they are both parked on the driveway.
I am done trying to prove my point...I am not saying do not tint...I have tint and love it, just trying to point out that it does NOT keep the car cooler while parked...now maybe it might feel cooler when you are in the car driving because not as much light is hitting you and it is reflecting some of the heat away. But I KNOW my car got hotter from going from 20% to 5% tint (as far as getting off work or class and trying not to burn myself)
If you don't believe me, get two items, one white and one black, and place them in the sunlight, after a couple hours go and measure the heat that is being given off the two objects...There have been numerous tests already done about how exterior/interior color can affect how hot a car gets inside.
As for cracking the windows, I have an alarm system that automatically rolls up the window when locked, plus KU med is not in the safest neighborhood...so definitely not leaving the chance of getting broken into.
My t/a is nbm with grey interior, I also have a black truck with grey interior and NO tint. The truck does not get anywhere near as hot inside as the t/a when they are both parked on the driveway.
I am done trying to prove my point...I am not saying do not tint...I have tint and love it, just trying to point out that it does NOT keep the car cooler while parked...now maybe it might feel cooler when you are in the car driving because not as much light is hitting you and it is reflecting some of the heat away. But I KNOW my car got hotter from going from 20% to 5% tint (as far as getting off work or class and trying not to burn myself)
