Louvres

[dic.a.price]

Hi All
Is there anyone who knows of a company or individual you can louvre aliminium panels for my sportster? If there is could you email there details to me please i would be eternally gratefull. Near South wales would be good.
[email protected]
Regards
Dic price

[bryannewell]

Re: Louvres

Hi Dic
I have had two sets of Bonnet panels louvred in the last several years,both at the Marlin factories,first in Crediton and the new one just outside of town
So I know they have the equipment,just a matter of seeing if they will do it for you!
Worth a phone call
Regards
Bryan

[nigel]

Re: Louvres

I had mine stamped out at the factory a couple of months ago.

Just don't accept the first price they quote you............................................... .

Regards

Nigel

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Louvres

I hope to have a go at this, it can be done by hand, I have done a few test louvres and they don't look too bad. I was shown by an old hand, the tip for doing them by hand is to make an Oak block with two pins like headless nails at each end of the louvre then drill two holes at each end of the intended cut. The pins keep the metal in exactly the right place.

Take a look at this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFwjW4_muCE

Turn the sound down!

What beautiful work, who said skills are dead?

[stevejgreen]

Re: Louvres

Excellent demonstration of a declining art, that sort of machinery all to often ends up on the scrap heap, and the knowledge and skills to use it, fades away, as the need declines.
Interesting that he uses a bungee cord to support the workpiece so more recent technology still has a place for him.
My guess is that the vast majority of current sheet metal workers would only work on flat surfaces, with digitally controlled equipment.

[jon_cox]

Re: Louvres

You could try cool louvres. They used to be based in Alton, Hampshire but they appear to only show a mobile number now on the webpage. Maybe they are mobile now??

http://www.coollouvres.co.uk/index.html

[Patrick]

Re: Louvres

I used the guy in Alton, did a good job

He's in the back corner of a workshop where they work on Pugs in the middle of nowhere!



I had experimented with doing it myself but I was not happy with the results using a press/roller with a set of dies I made on the lathe.

The guy in Alton uses a big press.

[danny_nelson]

Re: Louvres

The photo makes the louvre appear flat side up, is that correct?

[Mike]

Re: Louvres

The photo makes the louvre appear flat side up, is that correct?

Yes! Patrick deliberately chose to have them like that.

[cabrioman]

Re: Louvres

I always think louvres look great but you must end up with a hell of a lot of water on the engine when the cars parked up in wet weather. I guess it might be possible to build a drainage gutter on the inside of the bonnet.

I might be tempted by louvres if I ever get round to replacing my Hunter bonnet, unfortunately my Hunter has visible rivets on the hinge which a lot if the Hunters don't have. I would at some stage like to upgrade the bonnet skins to the ones with a right angle bend at the hinge to allow hidden hinge fixings.

John

[Patrick]

Re: Louvres

Yeah I wanted them that way up so the look was clean. I don't tend to go out if there's a chance of rain so it's been fine so far. Even when it has been wet I've not had any problems. Gutting is something I've considered on and off, someday I'll get around to doing something.

[greyV8pete]

Re: Louvres

I always think louvres look great but you must end up with a hell of a lot of water on the engine when the cars parked up in wet weather. I guess it might be possible to build a drainage gutter on the inside of the bonnet.

I might be tempted by louvres if I ever get round to replacing my Hunter bonnet, unfortunately my Hunter has visible rivets on the hinge which a lot if the Hunters don't have. I would at some stage like to upgrade the bonnet skins to the ones with a right angle bend at the hinge to allow hidden hinge fixings.

John

I had a lot of water going into the air intake of my AFM and made up some gutters and drainpipes. Works a treat and even in a cloudburst keeps the engine dry!

See link below for my post #16 (first two photos) from way back in January 2009

http://www.marlinownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?2143-Cooling-for-V8-Hunter3-9i/page2&highlight=BONNET+GUTTERS

Peter.

[Patrick]

Re: Louvres

That's a very nice and elegant solution Peter

[cabrioman]

Re: Louvres

Looks really good Peter, the benefit of the look and cooling of louvres without the downside.

john

[greyV8pete]

Re: Louvres

The secret is down to the magic Sikaflex! Bonds the first strip to the underside of the bonnet. The channels then attach to that with pre-fitted 3mm screws.
Compromise was to have a large enough crank in the gutters to maintain airflow area whilst not hitting anything in the engine bay. With the V8 there isn't much room! Peter.