I have a 1937 Chevy 2-door sedan that was built about 13 years ago. We have put a lot of miles on it and it still looks great. The top is chopped 2 inches in front, 1.5 inches in the window post and pie cut the back without ever removing the top. It really looks good that way. Anyway, I was wondering if anybody ever tried to reverse sides on the hood louvers? I have been told that due to an early presentation to management by the design team that the louvers were upside down. If you look at them, I believe the story. I wonder how difficult it would be to cut them out using a template and weld them in on opposite sides, in effect uprighting the louvers. Any ideas?
A friend always claimed that story to be true. He said he was going to change his but haven't seen him in several years to varify.
Do you mean like this? I flipped them and also lowered them 2-1/2" to match the lowered '38 headlights...
Hi guys. Have admired your coupe for a while, Lead...I always wondered what a well-done custom '37 coupe would look like...now I know. I don't doubt the story fellas, but if you notice, in stock configuration, the lines formed by the "hump" that the fins are within, match the angle of their adjacent character-lines. In other words, the upper horizontal line of the hump, which is actually the ends of the fins themselves, are parallel to the character-line in the hood, where the top and sides meet. The lower line of the hump is on a slight angle, matching the angle of the famed "speed-line". Im-a-gonna leave mine as is. - Rick
I'd go for it specially after seeing LeadSledMerc's Its one of those things that you'd know was done but most people wouldn't catch. Some people would actually notice something is different but wouldn't be able to really identify. I wouldn't lower them just change sides.
It's always fun when that 1% catch it and asks...usually ends up with a whole lot of other questions and talk! I lowered mine to line up with the lowered headlights, but if your lamps are't lowered, I wouldn't lower the louvers either. They need to line up.
This pic should give you all you need...the width of the panel would be the same on both sides of the spear if you don't want it dropped. I hope this helps.
My first attempt at attachments. Hope it works. This is our favorite cruiser that we are thinking about reversing the hood louvers.
Nice car! I would think the same technique will work, you'll just have to fill the handle holes and add some new holes once the spears are flipped.
...that is a true story; I read an article in an old magazine from the mid-60's where they interviewed one of the original stylists who worked on the 37 Chevy design. The hood louver design was the last thing to get ok'd on the car; they threw the design down on the table to be ok'd and it spun around and was signed that way...upside down. ...the 37 Chevs were always one of my all-time favorite cars, but those hood louvers definitely look upside down and kinda bug me, but so far I'm leaving mine as produced...but may have em "corrected" some day. ...I do enjoy pointing this feature out to other 37 owners tho. ...here's my coupe...
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