Louvers

The mail man just handed me the August issue of R&C. On page 44 there is an outragous 30/31 highboy pick up with a louvered tailgate. My question is who the hell can louver 14 gage sheet metal?? When I had my 29 apart last year for much needed paint and body work, I called every SOB I could find with a louver press to get my tailgate louvered. 16 gage is the thickest anyone could punch. Eric Vaugn's old converted rivet press had trouble with my 16 gage belly pan. The gate is painted now, but I'd sure like to know who could louver it in case I get a wild hair and want to go for it.

 

Is a Model A tailgate really 14ga.??

 

Has the 14 guage been cut out and replaced with sumpin' lighter?

 

We louvered K-MEMBERS M-1 tailgate. Kinda tuff, but worked.

 

Hey Dean,

I'm bettin' anything that thick was done on a shop hydraulic press.
A panel the size of a pu gate would fit easily between the posts.
I've seen 1/8 plate punched this way. The only limits are the size
of the panel and the size of the presses hydraulic ram.

Swankey devils C.c.

"Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"

 

We have a Mittler Bros ram and die set, with a FEDER made frame. Think its 10,000 PSI.

 

I can no prob ..just loosen the tolerance's up and oil it , but still no prob !

 

That's what mine is as well, it'll do 16, I haven't tried 14. Don't see why not, but it may need a few more reinforcements.

 

i can,and have,done some hood sides that some guy made for his coupe project.my machine grunted and then the metal went "boing".after that a nice louver was left behind.

-danny

 

Yep, Model A tailgates are all of 14 ga. The one in the mag looks to be a Brookville smoothie, same as mine. I made up an overlay out of 16 ga. Rolled the bead and thought it might be cool to have louvers on the outside, and smooth on the inside. I figured the hinges would keep it flat, but wasn't sure what to do about the outer edge. Never louvered the overlay. Sort of left that idea still born. I contacted Sir Michaels in Huntington Beach. They claim they can louver anything, but when I talked to the shop guy I heard his butt cringe when I told him the gate was 14 ga. He passed. When the mood strikes, I'll look up Louver Dude. Thanks guys.

At least I didn't get a ration like the chopped Impala guy! Can't believe he did that.

 

Dean:
I can also do 14 ga. here in Dallas.
dwrfab Don Ross

 

Hey guys, I can also do 14 ga. western Kentucky.

 

I don't mean to hijack your thread Dean, but since the subject is louvers, can anyone do large curved louvers or point me in the direction of someone who can? I am trying to replicate the louvers on the side panels of a 1934 Willys 77. Thanks guys.