Lotsa Louvers

[Tom Veale]

Last night was the last Cruise Night at McDonalds in Plymouth, WI for the season. While there were lots of more modern cars, there were also some nice rods from earlier eras, too. Since several had interesting louvers, I snapped some photos to start a page here of different ideas.

Please feel free to post or repost photos of side panel, hood, trunk and even hardtop louvers here as you find them. Some of these may have been original to the cars while some were custom. I'll start off with my '33's side panel modification I did a couple of winters ago.

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21042&d=1377696064
Jamie at Total Auto Body did the painting after we modified the panel. Total had done the original glass and paint work on my car.

Here it is on the car:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21039&d=1377696058
The color is GM Panel Truck Tan from 2008, but as you can see from the two photos, my phone camera doesn't seem to get it right.

[Tom Veale]

Here's the side of a steel body '33 Ford.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21040&d=1377696059
The craftsmanship on these louvers is excellent. They are slightly curved and of increasing length as they move toward the back of the car. This car was excellent in pretty much every way.

I believe this was a Chevy, but can't remember for sure. I don't know if the louvers were added to the "bubble" or if all of that is special work to the panel.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21041&d=1377696060

[Tom Veale]

This may be a "stock" louver, also, but I couldn't find the driver to ask:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21038&d=1377696057
I think something like this could be done with the FFR panels without weakening them at all. The Chrome strip adds a nice touch but it could be pin strip accented as well.

I like this guy's "inside" louvers as I'm sure there were plenty of sharp edges you wouldn't want on the outside.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21037&d=1377696056

[Tom Veale]

Here's a Chevy with some handsome articulated louvers:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21036&d=1377696054

More '33 photos with louvers:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21064&d=1377700272

[Tom Veale]

More '33 Louvers..................

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21068&d=1377700272

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21067&d=1377700272

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21066&d=1377700272

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21065&d=1377700272

[Tom Veale]

And some more.................

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21063&d=1377700184

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21056&d=1377699878

Please feel free to add both '33 and other car photos that show Louvers.

Thanks, Tom

[Tim Whittaker]

I have a bunch for sale I elected not to use on my build.Can be seen on my build page. Kootenai Valley Customs build page.

[Tom Veale]

Thanks Tim, I knew I'd seen yours before, but couldn't remember what build.

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21098&d=1377815665

and
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21097&d=1377815663

Best regards, Tom

[Tom Veale]

Zero Decibel Motorsports is making some very nice louvers for the 818. See them here:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?16101-Hood-Louvers-Zero-Decibel-Motorsports

Those might look nice cut into the side panels of the '33.

Or maybe he'd be willing to create some custom ones for the '33.

Best regards, Tom

[Mechie3]

Oh, hi! :) Someone (progmgr1) told me my name came up somewhere in the land of the '33's. I'd be willing to prototype something for the '33 if I have someone to work with and enough people to buy them. I can prototype on machines I have access to but I can't do production runs on those machines. I get parts quoted at a third party shop and order them in quantity (usually sets of 10, though I can do smaller runs, it just increases price). I don't have access to a '33 (that I'm aware of, unless someone is in Indy) but if I get rough dimensions of the size/shape you're looking for I can try something.

--Craig

[Tom Veale]

Thanks Craig, I thought if someone used your 818 louvers turned on their side and fastened to the Hot Rod's side panels they would have a nice and unique look. As you probably saw in the various photos here, the Hot Rod and other cars have used a great variety of louvers already.

While not probably proportioned correctly, this might be about how it would look:

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35666&d=1415834210

Maybe someone will have a specific idea that several others might also want - don't know. In the mean time maybe you'll get a bit more business on the 818 louvers!

Best regards, Tom

[Mechie3]

The louvers are a bit smaller than that. :) A square bounding box drawn around the entire louver (including a ~1/2 frame that supports the fins) is 9.46 (top to bottom as shown in your photoshop) by 7.64 (left to right). The angle of the panel is 18 degrees. I'll have a pdf of the cutout template posted sometime soon that someone can print out and put on a 33 to see if they like it.