Simple Louver Press

[hotrod--willys]

I wanted to have 6" louvers on the drivers side inter fender well. I could not find any one local. So I decided to make my own little press. I had some hard wood, ply wood, 1/8 angle, and grinders. These are the results that I had making 6" louvers.

And Yes I used a big hammer to make the Louver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last pic shows the original Willys pass. side louver panel.

 

[hotrod--willys]

This is how the drivers did turned out. They are exactly like the passenger side

 

[hotrod--willys]

This is how the louver look with the headers installed: thumbup:

 

[Zeke]

Those are some damn fine louvers. Nice and tall. I don't see how you didn't rip the sides.

 

[aggierailroad]

Let me know if I'm seeing this correctly:

You line up the jig over your marks, put the wood buck inbetween the angle iron and then hit it with a big hammer?

I love it.

 

[kazlx]

That's bitchin. Do you pre-cut the split or what's actually doing the shearing? I've wanted to get/buy/make one of these for a while. So many cool applications.

 

[hotrod--willys]

OK. I do the louver lay-out. I use my grinder with a 3/64th cut off wheel to cut the slot. To line up the louver, I use the guide piece of aluminum that fits into the slot I cut with the wheel. It is between the die block. Set the die block in the jig, get a big hammer and POW. You have a 6" louver. Then move to the next louver lay out ,cut the slot, set the die, hammer away. The sheet metal I used was 18 ga

 

[signcrafter]

I really like your creative thinking! Panels look great.

 

[PCO6]

Nicely done hotrod--willys. I have used my shop press along with home made hardwood dies to make small pressings in auto door jams, trunks, under the hood etc. The time it takes to make them is usually more than made up and you get consistancy for multiple pressings or louvres in your case. Good job!

 

[ilovevocs]

Nice work, thanks for sharing.

 

[bullnerd]

That is friggin cool!

Looks great with the headers exiting behind them.

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

There's nothing better than when a jig works EXACTLY how its supposed to. Did it take long to get the jig together and dialed in?

 

[willymakeit]

A new use for the bfh. Nice work and thanks for posting.

 

[hotrod--willys]

There's nothing better than when a jig works EXACTLY how its supposed to. Did it take long to get the jig together and dialed in?

I guess it took a hour or so. I did one stamp with light aluminum and it tore the ends. Then use a piece of 18ga and was good to go. It's one of those projects that you build in your mind and then go for it. Most of the time that works

 

[zkling]

Those are some damn fine louvers. Nice and tall. I don't see how you didn't rip the sides.

X2, color me HIGHLY impressed. Great job

 

[theknurl]

hotrod--willys;
outstanding work...

how long is the cut in relation to the ends of the louver?

 

[Justanoldguy]

I'm lookimg at doing something similiar in alumimum.
Will it tear out?

 

[hotrod--willys]

I'm lookimg at doing something similiar in alumimum.
Will it tear out?

As You Cam See

My 18 ga Aluminum test was not good. The ends tore each time. I'm not sure if it makes a difference with the size of the louver.

The louver mouth cut is 7" on these. This was a match to the original Willys louvers. Once you cut the slot. You must use the jig plate to line up the die. To press the louver.

 

[rodknocker]

Way to out smart the metal! thats great.

 

[LXCam]

Kickass!.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Innovative! I think it's great. Thanks for showing us your tool.

 

[nonhog]

Nice work. I had a plan to do 7" louvers. Car is gone and plan is not needed.
I was considering using these guys to make the cuts. I'm not as steady as I wish I were.

http://www.lcnw.com/

 

[hotrod--willys]

Nice work. I had a plan to do 7" louvers. Car is gone and plan is not needed.
I was considering using these guys to make the cuts. I'm not as steady as I wish I were.

http://www.lcnw.com/

How the hell can us humans compete with a machine

 

[theknurl]

I'm lookimg at doing something similiar in alumimum.
Will it tear out?

not if you increase the fillet radius at the base.....and use some lube