Side windows, screwless mount

[40 Bud]

I decided I didn't like the screws mounting the side windows and went for the bonded look.The windows are 3/16" thick instead of the usual 1/8". They are a little dark and if I could find something about half the darkness it would be perfect. The bon ding agent is sikaflex 295 UV - used for bonding plastic windows into boats. It is not the original look but I like it better than the screws.

 

[Cliff Beer]

Interesting and attractive look! You could be partying like rock stars behind that tint and nobody would know it (would be a very small and exclusive party of course....).

 

[Murray Cowley]

That tint looks good for San Fran, but back here in UK at the moment you would'nt be able to see anything out, all these dark rainy clouds about.
Like the look, very neat.

 

[just ernst]

verry good idea, i am happy to see it real, the car looks younger, like a modern car, and i am a big fan from sikaflex, we bond screens, boats, plastik, spoilers and it works verry good, in all situazions.
do you use a primer ??, to made a stronger hold?, we use primer to made it uv resistant, like the normal windscreens.
it looks so perfekt, like real glass

TEAM JUST

 

Bud, Have you fit the hardware yet? The bonded look, looks nice and neat!

 

[40 Bud]

The tint is a little dark. I can see in the mirrors ok, but I am a little worried about John Laws attitude. You can't see a thing inside the car. A tint about 1/2 as dark would be great. The problem is finding the right stuff that can be formed and drilled without cracking. The hinges I got from Bill and they look really nice. Especially after all of those years looking at the original GTD hardware! I cleaned the surfarces with Sika 226 and painted a 1/2 ' boarder around the inside of the window with with Sika black primer 209N. I have only installed the passenger side so far and will drive around in various stages of day light and night time conditions to test the visability before installing the drivers window. It took a lot of trimming and sanding to get the right fit so i will trim up the drivers side and use it for a template if I decide to go lighter.

 

[Bill Musarra]

Bud,
Don't know about Ca., but in Ga. there is a law limiting the amount of tint allowed. It was done for the law man's safety. They have to be able to see into the car to see if weapons are present. Might want to check into that.

Bill

 

[Mike]

1) According to the CVC it is illegal to have ANY window tint on the drivers and passenger windows in CA.

2) Why would you not just use the standard tinting films that are available? You can get them in pretty much any % of tint you want.

 

[Jack]

State laws vary from 70% to 80% light transmission through the material.
Check with the DMV in your state for the requirements. This applies to window tinting as well.

 

[Mike]

I know a guy who had a VERY light, maybe 5%, brown factory tint on his Mercedes and got a ticket here in San Diego for it. He fought it as it was part of the original factory glass and not aftermarket. He said the judge let him off because he stated how much it would be to replace the two front windows and the judge said it was too much to ask him to do it. He wrecked the car within the next six months, so I don't know if it was going to be a continual problem or not.

 

[Mike]

We just had a shooting incident that involved an 8 yr old boy in heavily tinted window car by a cop, so, down here anyways, I would bet the cops will be more fanatical about the tint issue than ever.

 

[Jack]

The incident that Crash33 points out is the driving reason for these state laws.
Several incidents wherein the cop was shot have come to mind..

 

[40 Bud]

Well I have decided that the tint is to dark for driving in anything but bright daylight. I am now trying to find a Polycarbonate or PETG that will transmit 65 to 75% of light. Not easy to find but I am checking the big plastic suppliers and keeping my fingers crossed. Easily found in Acrylic but the few holes that need to be drilled are all near the edge and I am concerned about cracking. I may end up using Acrylic and not having a hinged vent window. I would just use a 3.25" hole for the snap vent and elimenate the need for drilling hinge mounting holes. If that happens I will have a very nice set of original style hinges, done by Bill Hough , for sale.

 

[Mike]

OK, once again, WHY NOT USE A REGULAR TINTING FILM?

Also, be careful what material you choose. Acrylic will fracture into large sharp edged pieces in most cases, whereas poly will not unless seriously degraded by UV. If you happen to get in an accident, you will be much safer with polycarbonate.

 

[40 Bud]

Tinting films trap heat in the poly and cause it to get way to hot when setting in direct sun. Then the window starts to deform. Thats why I am on this quest in the first place. I had clear windows out of Simona and added the tint film. It worked fine up until a hot weekend in Reno for the Cobra Bash. One hour in the hot evenig sun at the car show and the plastic just started to sag. There was no problem during the previous 15 years of service. Adding the film was a disaster! It wont let the heat pass thru!

 

[Mike]

I assume your vehicle doesn't sit outside much, so why not try putting the film on the outside?

I must say that I really find that hard to believe. I have used Lexan poly for decades in race cars and the only time I have seen it melt is in a fire. I've used it as windshields, as rear windows, and right over engines. I have never seen it sag in normal use. While it is true that to form it you heat it, the temps are rather high and I just can't see how it would happen from window tint. In any case, the outside application should solve the problem. Might even help make the poly last longer. Poly really should be replaced after 2-3 years of service anyway due to it becoming brittle from UV. Unless, of course, you use a good UV blocker on it.

 

[Doug Clark]

This might possibly be another way to go to achieve the required result.

 

[40 Bud]

It was hard for me to believe as well. Howeverit is true. The windows have been thru extreme heat at Willow Springs and other hot climates at 100 plus degrees with no problem. I added the tint film (static cling typ) and the first encounter with high heat made the windows deform. I actually was talking to a guy about three cars away and could watch the window curve sag inward! You have to use static cling type as the adhesives used on the permanent type is not compatible with plastic. The Simona windows did not get brittle after 10 years of being installed. But they did sag!

 

[Ian K]

Hey Bud,

You could try these. Not sure how dark, but maybe you can find out.

Transparent Color Polycarbonate Sheet
1/2 X 7 X 24 TINTED, ABRASION RESISTANT POLYCARBONATE SHEET.
TDL Plastics

Ian

 

[Ian K]

1) According to the CVC it is illegal to have ANY window tint on the drivers and passenger windows in CA.

Are you sure?

According to CVC 26708 (d)

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent
material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows,
located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following
conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements
of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205),
including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and
the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal
standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability
of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle,
a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the
windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this
subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's
manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was
installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's
manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed
according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this
subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name
and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles,
or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed
or replaced.

Amended Sec. 77, Ch. 1154, Stats. 1996. Effective September 30, 1996.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.

and

CVC 26708.5. (a) No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708.

(b) Tinted safety glass may be installed in a vehicle if (1) the glass complies with motor vehicle safety standards of the United States Department of Transportation for safety glazing materials, and (2) the glass is installed in a location permitted by those standards for the particular type of glass used.

There are plenty of shops around who do this legally.

Ian