Side Louvers

[jwebb]

The flat ones that come with the kit, tricks/suggestions on bending to get uniform appearance? Or go with the assembled louvers? Curious how the assembled ones attach to the body?

[Driver_WT]

Definitely go with the assembled version. They attach to the body with L brackets which are hidden inside the body.

[CraigS]

Search a few build threads for mounting details. EdwardB and Carl Williams come to mind

[wareaglescott]

I bought the Whitby louvers. They are attached with velcro to the inside of the body. They have not budged one bit.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I haven't used a set of bend to fit louvers for probably 4 or 5 years but they are pretty easy to manipulate to get both the inward angle as well as the vertical slope. Since they are so light they're easy to attach; I've used both silicone as well as HVAC foil tape. I've heard of others using velcro.

RE: the assembled louvers from FFR and ********** (they are identical, right down to the box they come in ;)). You'll need to start by massaging the factory cutouts to match the size and angle. With that done I attach a piece of 1" angle along the top of the louver with 2 rivets. The vertical side of the angle gets a 3/8" hole:

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver1.JPG

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver2.JPG

The inside of the body gets a similar 1" angle about 1/8" below the bottom of the louver opening as well as a 1/4-20 elevator bolt above which registers with the hole in the angle attached to the top of the louver, both bonded with HSRF:

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver3.JPG

Looking from the outside you see that this creates a "shelf" for the louver assembly to rest on:

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver4.JPG

When it's time to install the 'em into the body I lay a bead of silicone across the "shelf" and sink the louver into it while rotating it into position with the bonded stud coming through the top hole. Silicone secures the bottom and washer & nut hold the top.

All done!

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver5.JPG

Cheers,
Jeff

[duncalope]

Buy assembled. At Huntington beach this was one of many decisions I made. the stock bend em yourself louvers looked really cheap on the finished cars. small price to pay for something so visible and attention grabbing.

[DavidW]

It seems these threads pop up just in time to relate to questions and thoughts about my own build. The look and stability of the assembled louvers help me decide.

[Avalanche325]

The stability is all in the mounting. Velcro does not stay stuck to the fiberglass very well. It does stay stuck to aluminum. My setup looks like Jeff's pictures, with Velcro on the top of the L bracket and bottom of the louver. Use industrial Velcro, not the standard stuff.

Another hint. The ********** louvers have a different angle than the body cutouts. Match the cutout angle to the louvers and it looks nicer.

[DavidW]

The stability is all in the mounting. Velcro does not stay stuck to the fiberglass very well. It does stay stuck to aluminum. My setup looks like Jeff's pictures, with Velcro on the top of the L bracket and bottom of the louver. Use industrial Velcro, not the standard stuff.

Another hint. The ********** louvers have a different angle than the body cutouts. Match the cutout angle to the louvers and it looks nicer.

That's a great point, it makes a big difference if the cutout angle isn't matched to the louvers you decide on.

[jwebb]

I haven't used a set of bend to fit louvers for probably 4 or 5 years but they are pretty easy to manipulate to get both the inward angle as well as the vertical slope. Since they are so light they're easy to attach; I've used both silicone as well as HVAC foil tape. I've heard of others using velcro.

RE: the assembled louvers from FFR and ********** (they are identical, right down to the box they come in ;)). You'll need to start by massaging the factory cutouts to match the size and angle. With that done I attach a piece of 1" angle along the top of the louver with 2 rivets. The vertical side of the angle gets a 3/8" hole:

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver1.JPG

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver2.JPG

The inside of the body gets a similar 1" angle about 1/8" below the bottom of the louver opening as well as a 1/4-20 elevator bolt above which registers with the hole in the angle attached to the top of the louver, both bonded with HSRF:

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver3.JPG

Looking from the outside you see that this creates a "shelf" for the louver assembly to rest on:

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver4.JPG

When it's time to install the 'em into the body I lay a bead of silicone across the "shelf" and sink the louver into it while rotating it into position with the bonded stud coming through the top hole. Silicone secures the bottom and washer & nut hold the top.

All done!

http://www.ffcars.com/photopost/data/500/medium/louver5.JPG

Cheers,
Jeff

Jeff, Are your louvers flush with the outside of the body or flush with the inside?

e

[edwardb]

Jeff, Are your louvers flush with the outside of the body or flush with the inside?

e

They're flush on the inside of the body. Hopefully Jeff will agree. :o

[jwebb]

Thanks to all, appreciate the info!

[jwebb]

Another dumb one: The riveted end of the louver is the front, correct?

[Gumball]

My louvers (which are of the assembled variety) are flush with the inside. I sanded and shaped the edge of the opening to appear to look like the original cars' aluminum skin in that area, which is rolled over to strengthen the opening.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/IMG_20140925_200335099_HDR_zps78f16ef9.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/IMG_20140925_200335099_HDR_zps78f16ef9.jpg.html)