How to Tint the Windows on a 1953 Chevy Pickup
Tinting the windows of a car or truck provides many advantages. It keeps the interior of the vehicle cooler, saves the upholstery from getting so hot and possibly cracking over time, and gives the passengers some relief from the sun. Most auto-parts stores sell varying shades of window tint and all the tools necessary for installation. Make sure to check local and state laws to determine the amount and shade of window tint allowed.
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Things You'll Need
- Tinting squeegee
- Trim knife
- Spray bottle
- Joy dishwashing liquid
- Roll of kitchen-grade wax paper
- Large flat surface
- Ammonia-free window cleaner
- Scotch tape
Instructions
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Clean the interior and exterior windows on the 1953 Chevy pickup by using an ammonia-free window cleaner. Spray down each window liberally and wipe clean with a blue shop paper towel. Blue shop towels clean better than standard paper towels and leave little to no lint behind to get stuck under the window tint.
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Scrape the insides of the windows gently with a new stainless-steel razor blade. Follow the contour of the glass to prevent scratching the window surface. Since the windows in a 1953 Chevy pickup are contoured differently than most standard car windows, follow the angle of each piece so that the razor blade remains flat against the glass.
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Mix a solution of 10 drops of dishwashing liquid per pint of water into a clean spray bottle. Joy is recommended because it doesn't have abrasives or chemicals that can cause clouding. Shake the bottle to mix the solution, and set it aside for the foam to settle.
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Cut a piece of white wax paper a few inches larger than the first window to be tinted. The wax paper will serve as a template for the window tint. Place the wax paper on the outside of the glass and flatten it gently with the hand squeegee. Press the edges of the wax paper into the edges and corners on all four sides with the hand squeegee to create a crease in the paper. Mark the crease with a pencil all the way around the glass.
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Set the wax paper on a clean flat surface such as a linoleum table. Using the trim knife, cut the wax paper along the pencil mark. Remove the scrap edges and place the formed sheet of wax paper onto the window a second time. Position the wax paper to cover the entire visible area of the window. Push the edges of the paper into the edges of the window frame and corners. Trim the excess paper away to form the paper perfectly to the window.
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Spread the window tint out on a clean flat surface. Lay the formed wax paper over top of the window tint. Tape the outside edge of the wax paper to the window tint with Scotch tape. Trim the along the edge of the wax paper and cut out the window tint. Be careful not to cut into the wax paper; doing so will cut the window tint too small for the window.
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Inspect the interior side of the window to ensure it is clean. Spray the dishwashing liquid-water solution onto the window to wet the interior surface.
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Peel the clear plastic backing from the prepared window tint. Handle the tint carefully to prevent contaminating it with dirt or dust. Place the tint onto the window and flatten it out by hand. Spray the outside of the window tint with the dishwashing liquid-water solution. This will allow the hand squeegee to easily slide over the tint and avoid scratching it. Squeegee the excess water and air bubbles from between the window tint and glass. Start in the middle of the window and squeegee outward in all directions. Press the edges of the window tint into the edges of the window frame and into the corners. Make sure the lower edge of the tint extends below the window seal if on a door window.
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Continue tinting the remainder of the 1953 Chevy truck glass in the same manner. Allow the tint to dry for two to three days before rolling the window down or washing the interior with glass cleaner. As a reminder, it's a good idea to place tape over the window handle or switch until the tint is dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Park the Chevy Truck in a garage or out of the wind in a shady area to help keep the glass and tint free of dust.
Do not use ammonia-based window cleaner on glass or window tint; ammonia will cause the tint to cloud.
References
- Photo Credit grill chevy picup truck image by Charlie Rosenberg from Fotolia.com
