Hey everyone,
I've been thinking about doing this ever since I get my TA, but has anybody swapped out their rear window for one that doesn't have the defroster?
For those that have done this, where did you get your window? How much?

Thanks for your help

 

Mine didn't come with the defrost stuff on mine but wish it did since mine sits out in the weather and I DD my car for now. I personally would prefer to have it but it's not a big thing to me that it doesn't. I just crank the car in the mornings and let it sit and get warm enough to turn the heat on the blow it out the vents towards the back of the car to clear my back window, lol.

 

Yeah I don't blame you for wanting the defroster. With winter around the corner it could come in handy.
Personally, I don't use and never have used the defroster so its functionality has little value to me. Its the appearance of it that really bugs me. I have a black TA with 5% tint and it looks really sharp, but then you get to the rear window and the defroster lines stick out like a sore thumb.
I've been researching and I've noticed people dropping in Percy's Lexan windows for $400. I imagine it shouldn't be a problem tinting that, so thats exactly what I'm looking for. I thought I struck gold on craigslist bc I found a rear firebird window for only $25, but it had the defroster!! I think I'll search around some junk yards and see what I can come up with before I dump $400 on something that isn't a huge priority atm

 

get a razor and scrap it off?

 

I know 93 cars dont have them, or atleast mine doesn't.

 

Maybe try finding a whole hatch with out defrost, that might be a little cheaper than replacing the glass. My car doesnt have it and at first I hated it cause I had to dd my car through winter, but now I like how it doesnt cause the back window looks clean without the defrost lines.

 

I doubt you are going to find a TA hatch without defrost.

 

their are 4th gen hatch glass without defrosters ??? If so this is awesome .

 

Gfs 97 3.8 stripper camaro has no rear defrost, very clean looking.

 

are Camaro and TA rear windows interchangable?

 

I honestly dont have a clue.. The lexan windows they sell, do they specify which make/model they are for or is it just 4th gens?

 

The windows are interchangeable IIRC (used to work with a glass guy). Many of these cars (my 1SC included) came without the rear defroster.

 

The glass is interchangeable from a Camaro. I did it on my TA and it looks so much better. Cost about $500 in total with tint.

 

So question.............. If I wanted my GFs because it DIDNT have defrost... And she wanted mine because it DID have defrost....

How would I get defrost working on hers?

 

scrap it off problem solved

 

Amazing car man! That is what I want my window to look like

 

Both of my V6 Camaros (99 and 00) didn't have defrosters, not sure about Firebirds. Best bet is to get one from a junkyard, the whole hatch that is. A whole hatch at my local junkyard was $37.99, and I was even able to find a SOM one. Take a look in your local yard, you may get lucky.

 

Can u scrap it off?

 

I have a nagging feeling that the wiring is already there and all you need is the HVAC controls with the switch on them and the actual glass with defroster. Seems GM liked to put unused connectors in all the cars just for someone to discover down the road.

 

Thanks!

Here's some more info that I know:

I was told by the glass guys that the defroster really can't be scraped off completely and I searched the internet everywhere with out a clear answer.

All TA's had a defroster so you won't be able to find another hatch to replace yours. Firebirds have a different hatch and the TA wing won't bolt on.

Your only 2 options are to get a window without the defroster from a Camaro or Firebird and have them swapped, or just call a glass company to install a new window like I did. I went with a new window because it was new and I didn't feel like finding my own hatch and it was going to cost me between $100 - $150 for one. The other factor is that they wanted to charge me like $100 to take out the glass in the hatch I wanted to use. The problem was that it was going to be hard to take the glass out without the hatch being on the car. It was just too much of a hassle and it wasn't going to cost that much more to just get a new one.

Don't forget, you will have to buy a new window molding to install the new window. It costs just over a $100 IIRC.