side panels with louvers

[Kruisin Kat]

I have wanted louvered side panels for sometime and I've been reading up on having them punched. I don't want to do my originals. That means buying a set of panels and then paying for the louvers and then paying for painting.

Long story short, I've been thinking if it's possible to use my original panels to make molds, add the needed louver shapes into the molds and then make some fiberglass panels.

Question is: How difficult is this and is there anyone out there that has made a mold and fiberglass parts.

Is it cheaper and faster just to buy some panels and have them punched?

Just wondering out loud, lol.

[halicat]

Hey Paul,

I heard there is a guy up here that charges $2 / louver to punch them out. I remember someone saying that the Aluminum tends to crack in the punching process and needs to be repaired after the process. Eastwood sells pre punched steel panels for a pretty decent price but then you would have to somehow get them attached to a stock aluminum panel. probably they would have to beset over the panel and blended in with filler, obviously they would not be functional this way...

check out this link

http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=louvers&submit.x=35&submit.y=7

the louvers would look pretty sharp....

it is possible that a new side panel would have to be fab'd up in steel to get this look and not break the bank.

[carnutdr]

Take off your panels and buy one louver Panel only,
Than take the left side and tape the louver to your panel and make a mold out of plaster of Paris. Now take the other side and take the same louver and tape it to the other side upside down and make a mold. Since these panels are virtually flat no need to worry about warping. Buy the fiberglass and epoxy resin (will not burn) and lay your glass in the mold about six layers and walla you have your side panles with louvers. Now cut your openings and the job is done.
I cut corners to simplify it but that is the method. You will turn it out for the cost of your time, the glass and resin plus the one louver.
Mort

[Krzy Kat]

If someone is good with glass work, this would be great. And if they cut out the holes of the louvers to keep the engine compartment even cooler, so much the better. Would be a nice mod IMHO.

[halicat]

and once you have the mold... others would want some made..8-)

[Krzy Kat]

YEP :tu::tu: