Technical LOUVER Dies to Match a Louver I Like

Found a 6 3/8 tall louver I like, how does one go about making the dies to produce them? Is every louver punch unique or are there standard die blanks that you grind to the shapes you want? Starting at square one, here are the louvers I want to stamp from a WWII Dodge Weapons Carrier hood. Thanks! Bob

 

the louver press broke in the middle of punching holes in the hood of my 46 ford when it was in the possession of the previous owner. that was around 40 years ago. ran into the owner of the louver press a few weeks ago at a swap meet. told me he'll finish my hood in the spring. fingers crossed.
still, i'd like to know the process of making a die that matches an existing louver

 

Well, if you scroll the pages, do a search, a video link to just that was posted recently.

 

on how to make a die that exactly matches an existing louver?

 

I've seen longer ones like those done with a Pullmax before.

 

Can't louvers be rolled on a bead roller as well as pressed with a die? Seems like I have run across something where someone did that. Making a long die would mean the die itself would have to be pretty strong. Some of the guys like Rootleib (?) make hoods to order for old Fords and they also aparently sell steel sheets with louvers pre-punched. They do the long louvers that Ford had on the 33/34 Ford Hood sides. I would't think they would have dies for each length louver, so thats why I'm thinking they might roll them .....but I'm guessing.

http://www.rootlieb.com/ford-1933-hoods.html

 

The louver pictured has a radius edge?

 

Here is a good video on making louvers

https://youtu.be/QVViS5ZIBJs

 

THANK YOU!

 

Post some pictures if you are able to make some

 

This is a long way off part of my build, just good to know how things are done.

 

To add to the above video, most old timers would drill a small hole at each end of louver and cut the slit between them. This will keep the metal from tearing at the end of the louver. You can also cut the slit with a thin cutoff wheel and finish with a hacksaw blade to get a nice square edge at the end of the louver.

 

You can buy a set of Dies to fit a bead roller that work pretty good and you can make the louvers any length you want. These were done with a bead roller.