Side louver options in early 2025?

[Valkster]

Good evening, all. My son and I are getting closer to removing the body for the last time before final body work and paint. I would like to upgrade our side louvers to the nicer set that FFR offered. They are currently out of stock, though. I read on several posts this same kit is provided by a vendor (F.L.) that many have suggested to stay away from. For some reason some refer to them as ****** now. Not sure what that's about but have read enough to have concerns ordering from them. I have seen a set of similar louvers online from a website called vintagewheelsus. I don't know anything about them. Anyone have any experience with them or recommend another source?? The main reason I ask is because FFR shows them as out of stock and I am not sure how frequently that status changes with them. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

[Jeff Kleiner]

Call to check stock with FFR. The online parts website is often not up to date. They shipped with my Mk5 last month.

Jeff

[Valkster]

Thanks, Jeff. I didn't know the online store isn't always current. I will call them Monday. Hopefully they have them.

[Tango]

To echo Jeff’s comment, I received a pair directly from FFR of this week as part of my kit delivery.

[GoDadGo]

Until you get your upgraded louvers, why not consider using the standard set instead?
Here is a good way to make them look pretty darn good in the interim:

https://youtu.be/QyMN73IW6I8

Hope This Helps & Good Luck!

[Valkster]

Called them today. They were in stock and the lady I spoke to had someone update the website while I was on the line so I could order it. I thought about making the standard set better, but I like the radiused look at the front and rear of the upgraded set.

Thanks!
Mark

[Valkster]

To not start a new thread on a topic I have already found a lot of "older" posts about, but what are current polishing/protecting techniques of these side louvers/vents...or other finishing thoughts? We are going to paint our car Atlantis Blue with a common GM silver metallic for the stripes. We are still debating on painting the louvers the color of the stripes or polishing them out and protecting them from oxidation. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Mark

[Blitzboy54]

It's simply just preference. People have chromed them, left them alone and painted them. I painted mine and will again. I tried to powder coat them (this is an option as well) but they are tricky, mine came out thin in spots doing it myself. I would recommend if you do PC them to have a professional do it.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

As Blitzboy54 said there are a number of options. I chose painted same color as body.



Paint has stayed fresh since 2014 with no peeling etc.

[rich grsc]

Paint them body color.

[Valkster]

Thanks, again...FFR upgraded louvers show to be delivered tomorrow. I will either polish and protect, or powder coat with "near chrome" and clear.

[Valkster]

My louvers arrived today! These look really nice as is and I may test just clear coating the brackets to see if we would be happy with that alone for the louvers themselves. I have read several posts about different ideas on how to mount them. I will go with bonding studs and 3M HSRF and I will open the existing body opening to better fit the size and angle of the new louvers. I have read all of this on previous posts, so thanks to all of you for that.

Question...the body openings need to be smaller than the overall outside dimensions of the louvers. So, when making each of the existing openings larger, how much smaller do most of you make the opening than the upgraded louver, and what size radius is used in the four corners of the opening? The front and rear radii of the louvers is not the same, but most of the body cutouts do appear the same that I have seen. Thanks for any advice.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Valkster,
Send me a PM with your address and I’ll send you the pattern that I use.

Jeff

[rkl20678]

If your FFR buy fizzles I got the vintage wheels set last week. Very quick, good price and good quality. I offer my recommendation. Those delivered with the FFR kit was laughable.

[Lidodrip]

To not start a new thread on a topic I have already found a lot of "older" posts about, but what are current polishing/protecting techniques of these side louvers/vents...or other finishing thoughts? We are going to paint our car Atlantis Blue with a common GM silver metallic for the stripes. We are still debating on painting the louvers the color of the stripes or polishing them out and protecting them from oxidation. Thoughts?

Thanks,
Mark

I powder coated mine using Prismatic Powders Super Chrome Plus. You do need to top coat them with a clear powder coat for UV protection. I used Prismatic Powders Clear Vision. As noted by Blitzboy, they are more challenging to coat and my clear coat ended up being a little thick. While not perfect like real chrome or something that was professionally done, they look good once mounted and I am happy with them.



James

[Cobra2]

I had all my exposed aluminum including the louvers powder coated a color called "Polished Aluminum". I am quite happy how it all turned out. The louvers must be tricky, the coating shop did not like the way they turned out and are redoing them. The rest looks great.

[Valkster]

Hi, all. If anyone with the upgraded louvers wouldn't mind, could you give me the measurements of the body cutout(s) you have? Dimension "A" is the horizontal distance from a level point from front to back on the opening. Dimension "B" is the vertical dimension of the cutout. Dimension R is the radius of the cutout corners. Please see attached drawing. If the corner radii are not all the same, I labeled them R1-R4 on the drawing. I can get the angle for the front and rear cuts from the louvers themselves, unless there is something unusual that I need to take into account there.? Thanks for any help.


louver1.jpg

[gbranham]

Did you ping Jeff Kleiner, per his post above? He offered to send you his pattern. Maybe that's not what you're after, and I'm misunderstanding your ask.

Greg

[Jeff Kleiner]

Did you ping Jeff Kleiner, per his post above? He offered to send you his pattern. Maybe that's not what you're after, and I'm misunderstanding your ask.

Greg

Valkster,
I replied to the PM that you sent a couple of weeks ago and asked you to give me an address to mail it to but don't seem to have received that. If you want to try send that in another PM I'll mail it out. It's just a card stock pattern.

Jeff

[Valkster]

Hi, Jeff. I did reply with my address and followed up a few times to see if you had gotten it and had a chance to mail it yet. I didn't want to seem overly pushy for your kind assistance, so I drew up the template I posted. I think the last time I tried to PM you it said you had exceeded your mailbox limit, or something to that effect. I just now tried to send my address again. Let me know if it goes through this time.

Thanks much for the help!

-Mark

[Jeff Kleiner]

Yes, I got the message you sent this morning and just dropped the pattern in the mailbox. I did get notification yesterday that my box was full and deleted some old messages to make room. Maybe that's why I didn't get your earlier message.

RE: your drawing

A=8.0"
B=4.625"
R=1" on all 4 corners

Jeff

[Valkster]

Ah, thank you so much! In my earlier PMs, maybe I did something incorrectly in my reply. I am new to those. The reply box had the previous messages written in there, and I added my reply beneath it and clicked respond. Anyway, I appreciate the info and the template!

-Mark

[Valkster]

By the way, my drawing coincidentally used those exact dimensions when I created it. Lucky "guestimating".