Art & Inspiration Just Louvers////////

Hello,

This cool, lowered, chopped, custom Chevy truck had just enough louvers to be functional and stylish. It is a pure 50’s styling design and function, which included: Lancer hubcaps, Frenched headlights, Appletons, etc. It is a well-known Chevy truck in So Cal and almost to the day, last year, I saw it in attendance at a drag racing museum event.

Hood louvers started it all with the function of allowing heat to escape. There were just enough on the hood and side cowl to do the job. But, as we found out in the 60’s, those cool looking hood louvers in daily drivers, all season long, had some difficulties.

During the wet season and in the snowy climate regions, So Cal daily drivers were inundated with water dripping in and onto the motor, causing all sorts of problems. Up in local, Big Bear and Mammoth Mountain regions, during snow ski season, it did the same if it snowed.

We tried all sorts of methods to keep the water from the motor, but it was just something that was part of the “look” that we had to put up with in our daily drivers/cruisers. For others, it was just part of the racer look that was part of the game…

Jnaki

Was this custom, purple truck low to the ground? It was about two fingers worth of low clearance in the back.

 

Here is my homemade louver tool. I use it with hydraulic press (home made too). Also picture of my barbeque grill with louvers made by that tool.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wLAdxJ1iB_aw-0ohEs6V14bzr4IiJsL5/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hdWHY7u6aoPoL4P4x_AXB6wxhY4HFVQF/view?usp=drivesdk

 

@-kustom- very cool burger grill but due to being non Hotrod nature of it keep it a link but I sure would like to see the Press you made...the link doesn't work...

Hey Kustom please do share any Hamb friendly work with were all eyes as you know...

 

I know that the stuff wasn’t around in the 50’s, but I have a piece of thermoplastic roofing membrane that I slide up between the cross bracing and the hood in mine when it turns ****py out. I just roll it up and throw it in the back when not in use that way it’s always in the car if a thunderstorm pops up. It’s cheap and easy and effective!

 

Hey @jnaki do you have a bigger pic of that pickup...of course showing the Louvers......I'd like to see the full effect...looks like a very cool Chevy...I tried looking for it online...no go...

Yes the water and louvers has been discussed here on other threads...

Some fasten panels underneath to channel the water away to a drain area that could be done in a roof area and have it drain via a concealed hose depending on the car you could do it under hood as well...trunk lids would be difficult to hose away, It may not look to cool either.... My car has an open engine bay and I just don't drive in rain period. If your going away there are things to ponder.

 

Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

@-kustom- thank you...the link to your home made press works now.
I am posting a full size pic on your behalf to make it easier for the members to see it...

@-kustom- Homebuilt Louver Press




Kustom
Any pre-slicing to the panels?
Have you done any vintage car/truck work?

The questions are just to help out any Hamber that might like to take on making a similar tool...thanks again for sharing your tech...

There was tech shared some years a go with a Hamber making a hand held louver die tool that was hammer hit to create the louver. Hamber Homemadehardtop also hand hammers louvers. He is in a couple of posts in this thread...

What you did on the hot dog cooker looks pretty cool it just ain't a Hotrod...
albeit quite creative. The fellas can click on the link if they want to see it.


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Hey S,
Here is the full side shot for you. The Chevy truck was one of the nicest at the Lions Dragstrip Museum a year ago, yesterday. It was parked in front of Tommy Ivo’s clear gl***, race car, carrier trailer. It was the best looking truck at the event and IMHO, one of the coolest custom trucks around.

Appletons, Lancer hubcaps, Frenched headlights, fog lights, custom rear tire skirts, a radical chopped top, nicely done louvers, and a custom bed cover all added to the custom truck look.

Jnaki
Here is another photo provided by SANCHO, here on the HAMB. It belongs to Jack Rudy according to him.
SANCHO, JUL 24, 2017 !REPORT!
SHARE POST#5918 UNLIKE + QUOTE REPLY

 

As Big as it can be made

 

Thanks fellas my day is more louverly now......Those ole fat fendereds make nice Customs.

 

posted by Tom davison here:https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...a-roadsters-2018.1111181/page-5#post-12620667



posted by STRAYKATKUSTOMS here:https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ee-some-kustoms.946075/page-361#post-12620729

 

Hello. No Pre-Slicing needed. I made the cutting edges from old chevy leaf spring. I think they are hardened steel. My first american car was -64 Bel Air. Then I bought a -57 Chevy (see link), which I have owned now 11years ( and restored mostly). I also built a -51 Chevy kustom few years back. (picture in link).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GVFd4OtefF278t6AVGv2kBatxiXt3vF0/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nZOJJXMezayE0qP3RL4GXfhOHdggrmhI/view?usp=drivesdk

 

Sharp looking machines @-kustom- we need to see more of them around here. You didn't punch any louvers in them?

Not sure what your running underneath your rides but from the outer visuals they would be very fitting a****st the crowd here and there is always room for Hamb friendlies. There is a great vintage Hotrod /Custom scene your way...never tire of seeing great stuff from your part of town. Thank you.

 

posted by 40ragtopdown here:https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/a-few-pictures-from-our-local-cruise.1112250/

 

Credit to Photographer, Owner

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http://www.leroyfrench.com/photography.php




https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...eroy-frenchs-1949-plymouth-4dr-custom.558831/

https://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?***le=Leroy_French's_1949_Plymouth

Credit to Photographers, Owner

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Hamber @Pete's Hotrod TROG 2017

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-32-nobody-wanted.1033822/

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/recap-2017-race-gentlemen/

Credit to Photographer, Owner


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Rolling Bones TROG 2017

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/recap-2017-race-gentlemen/

Credit to Photographer, Owner


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Stock Louvers are cool too

Credit to Photographer, Owner

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posted by TB33ANDA3RD here:https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/rumblers-terryville-2018.1100219/

 

Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

posted by Ron in the link in here:https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/james-dean-spring-show-pics.1112912/

 

Some of mine.