Chevy & GMC Vans

I am wondering if anyone knows what year the window tint color changed from the bronze metallic looking kind to the dark gray/black looking tint. I got the middle windows out of a 95 safari installed, but I haven't found a short van with the darker looking tint at the junkyard to get the rear quarter windows out of yet. I am starting to wonder if it is even possible to find the dark windows for my van.

I'm pretty sure you could grab any year 3rd row windows. IIRC the shorties and lengthies used the same windows, with the lengthies having more sheet metal behind the windows.

I'm going to say 95 or 96. I have the deep tint, but I'm pretty sure it looks more smokey grey/bronze than the newer style black. Your best bet would probably be to get clear windows and have them tinted rather than trying to match windows.

That's window tint on my 1994 LT?. Damm-I am a smoker and thought I just needed to clean them.

My 93 has the dark tint BUT it also is a conversion with 'aftermarket" windows in it. One has to be replaced and I found it on the net for $300 <ouch>. So if ya can I would find a clear one and have it tinted to match or tint all of them to look the same.

ihatemybike wrote:I'm pretty sure you could grab any year 3rd row windows. IIRC the shorties and lengthies used the same windows, with the lengthies having more sheet metal behind the windows.

i think the windows are different from shorties to exts actually. but it could also be an optical illusion.

They window lengths are different, I was searching at the junkyard this weekend and didn't find anything on the tint color. I am still hoping that it is the early nineties when they change, I would really prefer to have the tint in the glass. I have a project van with clear windows if I have to go that route.

After some more junkyard searching, it looks like the color changed in 1994, so if I get lucky I will find a '94 short van with dark tint some day, other wise I have a set of clear ones to get tinted. I finally got around to getting a picture of the difference today as well.

Definitely nice to have a comparison of both next to each other. Wish i had the "black" ones...they match better with the black paint.

Your van would be fairly easy to switch, I got the pair of windows from the pull and save for under 30 bucks. The rear ones take a while to get out but it isn't that bad, I think it is worth buying the tool to make cutting them out easier though.

dean89 wrote:They window lengths are different, I was searching at the junkyard this weekend and didn't find anything on the tint color. I am still hoping that it is the early nineties when they change, I would really prefer to have the tint in the glass. I have a project van with clear windows if I have to go that route.

I agree always better to have the tint in the glass. If a seatbelt bangs the tint in the right spot it can nick or tear the tint.

I had mine installed at a shop that used the good film. The tint on my back window was scratched by a flourescant light, so now a little slit is untinted. If it were in the window, this wouldnt have happened. Tint place said it is under warranty, but that is a hassle to get it replaced, and it costs them money, so they wouldnt want to replace it every time you scratch the tint.