Front Windshield tint or film?
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: daytona beach fl
Front Windshield tint or film?
Last year i was in frisco colorado and got to see the mid-america covette rally.
While browsing through covettes, my friends and I noticed some of the C4 coupes had a metalic film on the front window. it was not tinted(darkened), but was more reflective and look great.
At first we thought the were just reflective, but there is a spot on the drivers side were it looks like a square is cut out near the dash, so I know it has to have something.
I hope someone knows what I am talking about, I just want to know what this is and how if possible, one can aquire it. I am a "poor mans" corvette owner and i would love to get some info on this to put on my SS. thanks
While browsing through covettes, my friends and I noticed some of the C4 coupes had a metalic film on the front window. it was not tinted(darkened), but was more reflective and look great.
At first we thought the were just reflective, but there is a spot on the drivers side were it looks like a square is cut out near the dash, so I know it has to have something.
I hope someone knows what I am talking about, I just want to know what this is and how if possible, one can aquire it. I am a "poor mans" corvette owner and i would love to get some info on this to put on my SS. thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (camarossguy2)
I suspect you can go to one of the many tinters in FLA and get some. my guess is that the stuff you saw was a 5% tint... nearly clear.
I don't remember the laws on windshield tint in FLA.
the hole you saw was for the solar sensor - part of the automatic climate control.
if you want, I have a buddy in Lake Placid, FL (near Sebring) that has a tint shop... can look into it for ya.
***** [Edit] ******
I just got off of internet chat... and the FL law says windscreen tint is illegal... put one of those reflectives on will cause lotsa problems with the local sherrif!!
***** [/Edit] ******
[Modified by bogus, 10:42 PM 2/21/2002]
I don't remember the laws on windshield tint in FLA.
the hole you saw was for the solar sensor - part of the automatic climate control.
if you want, I have a buddy in Lake Placid, FL (near Sebring) that has a tint shop... can look into it for ya.
***** [Edit] ******
I just got off of internet chat... and the FL law says windscreen tint is illegal... put one of those reflectives on will cause lotsa problems with the local sherrif!!
***** [/Edit] ******
[Modified by bogus, 10:42 PM 2/21/2002]
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: daytona beach fl
Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (camarossguy2)
Maybe, but its was on quite a few cars, I wish i had pitures cuz then i think some one would go "oh yah i know what that is"
To my knowlage any "tinting" on the front window is illegeal. this was just a film.
I did a search and i founf this little quote "you'll know this if the inside of your windshield is covered by a translucent film" from this link http://www.sunflower.org/~fatbiker/interior.htm
To my knowlage any "tinting" on the front window is illegeal. this was just a film.
I did a search and i founf this little quote "you'll know this if the inside of your windshield is covered by a translucent film" from this link http://www.sunflower.org/~fatbiker/interior.htm
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6
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From: daytona beach fl
Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (bogus)
hate to keep replieing to my own topic, but i was told it might have had to do with the HUD. I was not aware C4s where equiped with this but are they/is that?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,524
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From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (carson)
Carson's got it right... the windsheilds on ZR-1's are polorized... look almost bronze in color. From what I hear, they are expensive if you can find one. :eek:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
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From: Boston, MA
Sounds like you saw a ZR1. :) I love those windshields.
The little cutout I believe is "official" stated as being used for the interior sun sensor to know how much sun is bearing down on the car. Although it is mostly used for radar detectors. :D
The little cutout I believe is "official" stated as being used for the interior sun sensor to know how much sun is bearing down on the car. Although it is mostly used for radar detectors. :D
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Drifting
Joined: May 2001
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From: Brandywine, Chester and Ridley Valleys Pennsylvania
Solar Coated Windshield
I'm pretty sure they were an option on all Vettes and a great many other GM cars. I've seen Callaways, ZR-1's, GM RWD Wagons and large Olds/Buick sedans most often with this tint.
My friend bought a Buick Roadmaster Wagon (and put two 150 shots of nitrous on it :eek: :eek: and it had the film. Really cuts down on the amount of sunlight that makes it through. Easy on the eyes and interior...
Officially, the hole was for a garage door opener, I believe.
My friend bought a Buick Roadmaster Wagon (and put two 150 shots of nitrous on it :eek: :eek: and it had the film. Really cuts down on the amount of sunlight that makes it through. Easy on the eyes and interior...
Officially, the hole was for a garage door opener, I believe.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6
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From: daytona beach fl
Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (camarossguy2)
Howdy guys got some answers fromanother board that might be valid.
"GM uses a layer of Butacite (made by DuPont) in between two thin layers of glass for the windshield - For the express purpose of cutting down glare in HUD equipped vehicles and preventing "ghosting" of the HUD display (also good for driving without sunglasses too I guess).
Anyway, it's not aftermarket, and I suspect if sandwhiching between two layers of glass is the only way to use it, it never will be (aftermarket windshield's ?).
Here's a few references:
DuPont laminated glass news (.pdf file, mentions the corvette in newsletter, with small pic) : http://www.dupont.com/safetyglass/glnews/pdfs/uk.pdf
DuPont's replacement for full windshield Butacite - goes only on part of windshield reflecting the HUD : http://www.dupont.com/automotive/new.../butacite.html
Another page detailing DuPont's replacement for full windshield Butacite - Partial Wedge Butacite : http://www.usglassmag.com/AGRR/Backi...offtheline.htm
One man's try at imitating the Corvette HUD in a '95 Z28 - without Butacite of course... : http://hud.cz28.com/ "
I not sure if thats the same thing but it does have alittle info.
You sure that it was only on the ZR1s? I remember seeing several non ZR1s that i though had it. I dunno, i will email Scott settlemire and ask him if he has any insite.
"GM uses a layer of Butacite (made by DuPont) in between two thin layers of glass for the windshield - For the express purpose of cutting down glare in HUD equipped vehicles and preventing "ghosting" of the HUD display (also good for driving without sunglasses too I guess).
Anyway, it's not aftermarket, and I suspect if sandwhiching between two layers of glass is the only way to use it, it never will be (aftermarket windshield's ?).
Here's a few references:
DuPont laminated glass news (.pdf file, mentions the corvette in newsletter, with small pic) : http://www.dupont.com/safetyglass/glnews/pdfs/uk.pdf
DuPont's replacement for full windshield Butacite - goes only on part of windshield reflecting the HUD : http://www.dupont.com/automotive/new.../butacite.html
Another page detailing DuPont's replacement for full windshield Butacite - Partial Wedge Butacite : http://www.usglassmag.com/AGRR/Backi...offtheline.htm
One man's try at imitating the Corvette HUD in a '95 Z28 - without Butacite of course... : http://hud.cz28.com/ "
I not sure if thats the same thing but it does have alittle info.
You sure that it was only on the ZR1s? I remember seeing several non ZR1s that i though had it. I dunno, i will email Scott settlemire and ask him if he has any insite.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
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Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (camarossguy2)
One man's try at imitating the Corvette HUD in a '95 Z28 - without Butacite of course... : http://hud.cz28.com/ "
That Z28 has stick on tint that you can buy at pep boys. I have been playing around with making a HUD as well. it filters out the 2 other ghost images that get reflected in normal glass and cause the reflected image to look blurred.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6
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From: daytona beach fl
Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (camarossguy2)
QUESTION: What is that little cut out I see in the bottom of the windshield?
ANS: GM used a special solar windshield in ZR-1's to cut down on solar heat. But this special windshield also blocks "radar" waves from coming though which affects the reception of radar detectors. So GM created this cut out in the solar glass so that owners would have a place to install their radar detectors
http://www.zr1.net/ZR1_faq.html#15
Question answered. it was a ZR1 thing so i guess it not availible to anyone else
ANS: GM used a special solar windshield in ZR-1's to cut down on solar heat. But this special windshield also blocks "radar" waves from coming though which affects the reception of radar detectors. So GM created this cut out in the solar glass so that owners would have a place to install their radar detectors
http://www.zr1.net/ZR1_faq.html#15
Question answered. it was a ZR1 thing so i guess it not availible to anyone else
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
Re: Front Windshield tint or film? (camarossguy2)
Fords had a golden coloured windscreen, too... but that was for a fast defroster/deicer.
I donno if you saw my edit, but Fl frowns on adding tint to the windscreen... bad idea.
I donno if you saw my edit, but Fl frowns on adding tint to the windscreen... bad idea.
