'80's 944

I thought there use to be a post on the 944 but lets start a new one. I have one in a couple days.

Have fun buddy

oh shiot, if you have never done one, you are in for a surprise, i've done quite a few and dread every one of them, they have an imitation frit edge on the side that decomposes when it gets wet and at the top there is a 1 inch plastic trim piece against the glass, your best bet is not to try to tint under that, just put black tape on the outside at the top to cover the gap. Scrape all the black paint from the sides also. If you use a film that shrinks well and you are up to the challenge, go ahead and do it in one piece, but leave about 1 half inch extra at the bottom to get under the spoiler, or else there will be a huge light gap. If you are using metalized film, don't even try to do it in one piece.

TD...right on the money. They are do'able in 1 piece, but make sure you have the time and patience for it. Everything TD said I totally agree with.

WTF is with that goll darn fake frit???? What the hell we they thinking?

Thanks for the heads up TD.

Just tinted my first 944, holy mother of god.... took me 4 hours to fit rear screen apart from that it was fairley easy and i feel chuffed to bits...sorted

how do you shrink the back window? should i shrink it all on the outside or shrink it on the inside?

Tinting that window is not for the novice, but if you must know, shrink it on the outside.

any hints for the novice??

Take it to a professional. You wouldn't attempt to rattle-can paint your car would you?

Not trying to be harsh, but that car is difficult for even very experienced professionals.

is it easier doing two peices? dyed? metal? i have tried a couple times now and no luck

Tintdude has given you sound advice!-I've seen those cars done in 13 pieces!

with 10 years experience ive only done one, and hope to never have to do another. i wouldnt try to do anything that seasoned professionals would be skeptical about doing. take it to a place that knows about that specific vehicle.

ONE PIECE...no problem...15 minute shrink..

The last one I did a couple of years ago, and I did it in 5 pieces, and heat shrunk all 5 pieces!

wow, ya got me beat on that one, I can only shrink it in 20 min

rookie

Why is every time a 944 Post get posted I get one of them ....

Oh well It's 3 bone for me b3

This one is pretty Clean too..
I'll get pic for you all

Yeap...944's are kinda tuff. Hella lot easier than when they were new tho. Plus we getta use trim tape now, thanx to the sun beating the crud outta the black flakey crud....essentially making the glass area to be tinted smaller, and less concave. Still. I'd rather hafta one-pc. an '88 Olds Cutlass Supreme than today's 944's. Most of 'em are NOT very well restored.

This is my first post...tho I've visited this sight numerous times for info over the years. In fact, I was trying to find out how to remove the rear view mirror on this beast! (been a couple 3 years since my last 944 encounter) It just pushes out ya know...he he.

If yer afraid of doing the 944 in one pc...try this: go ahead and plop a 40" pc. of film on that old 944...and shrink away. If ya mess up...go to plan B (2-pc.) 13 pc.? sheesh!

ttl guy's and thanks for the info/fun.

I use to do em in 13 pieces before shrinking, every fourth defroster line, big piece on top, big piece on bottom, that's the way they were done, took about 2 hours.....jeez, that was a long time ago...I've heard that if you have a 60" roll you can shrink it sideways, suppose to be easy never tried, last one I did about 4 years ago was a two piece hidden seam

There is no shame in doing difficult windows in multiple pieces. It's only the cocky kids who think they can shrink everything in one piece with any film that come across like fools. The cleanest job makes the customer happy, NOT the fact that the film was tortured into one piece that the flaws will show up a couple of years later

geeze..and i thought one pc. was state of the art. oh well...go's to show ya, yer never to old to go backerds. <he he>

p.s. would someone please tell the film makers to STOP making their films so shrinker friendly.

sure thing... I'll tell em

TexasRocker is that you

TexasRocker is that you? Naaaa, Texas Rocker has a ranch next to G-dub near Austin. Ted Nugent I believe is his name. He imports exotic animals and charges rich folks thru the nose to mow 'em down with fully autmatic weapons. Real loser yeah?

I did start tinting in Texas tho, back in '79. Lived in Granbury but tinted in foat wuth. Had a shop in Livingston, just north of Houston town years later too. Dem wuz da good 'ol days! We didn't even roll down door glass during tinting operations. <he he> Heck...it was like 2 years before I found out film came wider than 20"!!! We used a lot of trim tape back then as you can imagine. (and/or experienced yerself) Hey! Let's start a yap session about how we usta could do it? That would be coolio...heh?

Hmmm, this is the 944 thread no? Yep...shore 'nuff iz. I wonder if that splicer fella tints the windshields on 944's (ditto other makes and models) with a splicin' in mind. Could be...kinda hard to sell tho I imagine.

Later.

I just did the last 944 I'll ever do for less than a $1,000! I wouldn't have done it today if I wasn't friends with the guy! My policy: no 944's, cutlass's, or anything old crappy and time consuming!

i hear ya man. i don't care much for tinting these dinosaurs when accords and camrys are lined up either. i still tint 'em tho...i figure if ya tint ya tint. i have a hard time turning people away 'cause of what they drive. plus, i get tired and kinda bored tinting the same "old" new cars all the time. i look forward to jumping on an '88 olds cutlass or a crusty old beretta. fact is, when these crud cars were new, i tinted 'em then and sorta paid attention. so now they're not all that difficult. plus, anyoltinter can do clean work on a spanking new car, but it's a challenge to <try> and do t**s work on yer crusty '78 vette.

i always allow myself plenty o time (like 4 hours or so for the 944) so it's layed back. i guess it's just an opportunity to show myself i still got it. i'm gettin' old ya see. ha ha

well...nice hearing from those who still hold their heads up and proclaim with firm conviction: "YES. I WOULD LOVE TO TINT YOUR OLD BENTLY TURBO R WAYNE (newton). Or...hey MIKE (tyson), sure i can re-tint those 855's while yer doin' time. what's that? red tint on the silver one, double limo on the black one and 50 all around on the red one. got it. (talk about crusty...those 3 beemers we tinted when tyson bought 'em in vegas were like 10 yrs. older...and trashed. but they turned out cherry pie.

i don't get those "guys" who are too far advanced sticker boys that they no longer tint older/dirty cars...especially when ya gotta figure if a too proud sticker boy won't re-do a job he did way back when...can ya trust him? <he-he> ok. maybe he didn't tint it...but being proud and all ya gotta figger he's got lotsa tint buddies that may have. sheesh.

well, rambling on this a.m.....kinda quiet here. later

I shrank my first 944 today

Did it in 4 pieces... And yes I had to shrink each piece! It came out beautiful though. I will try and post pics later...Mr P is out there doing the sides as I type

He stuck you with the back?

Actually I ask him to let me do it. I really enjoy the challenge...

Go figure huh

Ya crazy nut !


Your a dream employee

Uh NO...I am a dream wife

You guys need a new camera!

Nice job V

I know these cell phone pics...not so good

Mine broke :( I get a black screen, and black pictures!

When your the boss you let others do the hard ones

sides kinda suck on that one too!

nice job you 2

WAY to go!!! 4 pieces on THAT car is definately respectable!!!! I dont think I've ever seen one done in less than 6. I have done 2 in my life. (I didn't learn any better from the first one!! ) I've blown off every one since then. All 3 0r 4 of them in 20 years.

I surely hope you got righteously paid for it!!! NICE JOB!!!

shoulda done it in one piece didn't you learn nothin from the streatchy global guy

J/K looks good

I wish I would've had that sucka there when he was there

Good job Veronica, 27tint4 sounds like an azz now

you guys remove the front two roll ups or what?

Good job V ! That car required experience and old school splicing techniques IMO to get the job done right AND where you have the confidence in the longevity of the job. I personally don't think I could 1 peice that window (although admittedly I haven't attempted to with improved films over the yrs) but I'm a firm believer (as Dan mentioned) that all back windows were not meant to be done in 1 peice. Just because someone CAN, doesn't mean it SHOULD .

You can only shrink a film so much to the point where it lay down like a hizzo:

She lays for you today, but once the customer has spend his money, don't expect her to be around much longer.


I can't tell you how many jobs from the past where the competition prides themselves on 1 piecing certain cars where I would 2-3 peice them..not because I couldn't , but because it would be too much stress on the film, as a couple of yrs go by , I don't care where your from, we've all seen the cuttlass supremes driving around done in 1 peice with the bg all shot on the bottom corners

What a great post TW

So true, so true!

Here is a good pic Click to view attachment