Louvers will never go out of style and have been popular since the 50's ..I have always loved them on hot rods. The more the better. I am seeing less louvers on new builds I think because the painters hate them and they take longer to achieve the perfection in finish that high end owners and builders require. But on the right period build I agree that lots of Louvers are Cool and more is better. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I like the look on a hood but I guess I'd always be nervous about getting rained on. Hood side panels I can understand. I suppose a top insert on a coupe could be useful to ventilate but I never understood the purpose on a trunk lid, unless maybe the gas tank and/or battery are in there. I'm with those that say great when done with an eye for style and moderation, bad when overdone. Also, it's my understanding that you need a really clean sheetmetal panel to stamp louvers, no dents and no pitting in the sheetmetal if you want it to turn out nice. That's getting tougher to find on hoods and such from 60+ years ago, especially in Wisconsin.
Regarding building a louver press, I can't imagine how long it would take for someone to recoup their investment. Does anyone really think such a venture would be feasible? Just the mere fact that there are so few places still punching ought to tell you how popular louvers are. Anyone know where all the old louver presses went to? Gary
I built mine some 15 or so years ago. I have less than $200 in it . It paid for itself on the first paying job. 90% of it used to be something else. I have one set of dies that some machinist friends of mine made ( with some trial and error). I realize that most people wouldn't be able to gather the parts as cheap as I did. But an enterprising person with some imagination should be able to build something on the cheap. Bill
I have a press and mostly use it on my shop projects, as most of them are race inspired. I have done some big hoods, but it's painstaking !
A few on the 51 Merc, block sanding around them is a pain but they look badass Sent from my Pixel using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'm a lover of louvers,,,well in any case I like them but it is hard to keep the engine dry when it rains or when you wash the car.
These are "Hot Off The Press", punched 126 yesterday, and taught an apprentice along the way. I keep a long sample "layout strip" handy, and since the rows were parallel, I sheared strips of sheet metal to simplify the layout process, allowing for the spacing between the rows. You can tell by the grimace on my face, I don't enjoy it, but the end result is rewarding. We punched 90 in a Model A hood, and 36 in the cab guard panel for my '40 shop truck.
Boy that looks good Marty! Do you turn off the phone and put the "gone fish'n" sign on the door when you punch louvers?
Growing up in the 50's in my small town, most every gas station or repair garage had a shop truck with side-board advertising, some of them would show up as push trucks at the track on Sunday. My plan is to chrome the tube frames, clear anodize the aluminum panels, and let my sign painter go to work. The truck will be Washington Blue. Good luck on yours !
Here you go, it's one of the front hub covers I had cast to fit wide 5 race hubs. We machined it smaller on the OD, and thinned it up a bit.
I am at least one more that is doing it now. I Had my 40 Ford coupe hood louvered. Now if I can just get it done and on the road !
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