Installed louvre brace

[MTDMC]

Anyone have a picture of their installed louvre support brace? Will it require drilling holes in the louvres? Any help would be appecieated.

[rddmc]

Which brace?

Rod
10921

[MTDMC]

This one with the DMC logo

http://store.delorean.com/p-10422-louvre-brace-with-logo.aspx

[DMCMW Dave]

This one with the DMC logo

http://store.delorean.com/p-10422-louvre-brace-with-logo.aspx

It looks like the photo.

Yes - you drill holes. Carefully. 12171

[rddmc]

Anyone have a picture of their installed louvre support brace? Will it require drilling holes in the louvres? Any help would be appecieated.

Yes as Dave says you have to drill holes. In fact, DMCMW installed mine. Keep in mind that our cars are snowflakes and not everything fits the same on all cars. When my louver brace was installed the notch slot would not meet the bracket. Changing to different gas lifts for the louver did not help. The only solution was for Mike to carefully cut a new slot in the brace with a Dremel tool. It now fits fine and I really like the addition. I did not have to remove the original bracket, it will not catch in the slot with the new brace hooked.

Rod
10921 :rofl:12176

[rddmc]

Yes as Dave says you have to drill holes. In fact, DMCMW installed mine. Keep in mind that our cars are snowflakes and not everything fits the same on all cars. When my louver brace was installed the notch slot would not meet the bracket. Changing to different gas lifts for the louver did not help. The only solution was for Mike to carefully cut a new slot in the brace with a Dremel tool. It now fits fine and I really like the addition. I did not have to remove the original bracket, it will not catch in the slot with the new brace hooked.

Rod
10921 :rofl:12176

I don't know how the yellow moving icon got attached, it was not intentional.

Rod

10921

[Tillsy]

When my louver brace was installed the notch slot would not meet the bracket.

My brace has the same problem - the striker bar does not align to the slot (see attached picture), so I latch my engine cover using the regular stay...

[Chris 16409]

In my experiance, getting this brace to line up involves a combination of the longer struts, and proper alignment of both the lovuvers and the engine compartment cover. Of course you also have to make sure the lovuvers properly catch the engine cover. I've seen many DeLoreans where the lovuvers never properly latch up to the engine cover.

[outatym2001]

Below is a copy of what I wrote in the thread below.


I use two Gas Charged Struts that are 18 1/8" (46 cm) from center of ball joint to center of ball joint. I need exactly that length due to I have installed the A1000021 Sun Shade Support Brace. The Engine Cover hooks onto the Sun Shade Support Brace only when the Louvres are high enough.

Sun Shade Support Brace available from all DeLorean Motor Company affiliated centers.
http://www.deloreanmotorcenter.com/accessories.html

Anyone ever notice...
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?4645-Anyone-ever-notice

[rddmc]

My brace has the same problem - the striker bar does not align to the slot (see attached picture), so I latch my engine cover using the regular stay...

Use a Dremel tool and just cut a new notch into the brace. You may want to talk with Mike at DMCMW for advice, he did mine and it looks and works great. It is definitely worth the effort.

Rod
10921

[rddmc]

Additional notch,
Use a Dremel tool and just cut a new notch into the brace. You may want to talk with Mike at DMCMW for advice, he did mine and it looks and works great. It is definitely worth the effort.

Rod
10921

[MTDMC]

Do I need to take the louvres off the car?

[rddmc]

Do I need to take the louvres off the car?

Not to install the brace, nor to cut an additional notch if needed.

Rod
10921

[outatym2001]

Do I need to take the louvres off the car?


Not to install the brace, nor to cut an additional notch if needed.

Rod
10921

You say the Louvre does not have to come off but I don't understand how you can reach over the Engine Cover and drill side ways into the center rib of the Louvre? You need a pretty long reach all the while attempting to drill a perfectly straight hole. If the hole is not straight then the threaded pan head bolt and nut will be crooked.

I took my Louvre off and laid it upside down on the carpet in my living room. Then I proceeded to clamp the Sun Shade Support Brace in place. Make each hole just large enough to fit the threaded bolt. Then I carefully drilled one hole. Place a bolt and nut in the new hole and move onto the next location.
Always make sure the Sun Shade Support Brace has not moved before drilling each new hole.

[rddmc]

You say the Louvre does not have to come off but I don't understand how you can reach over the Engine Cover and drill side ways into the center rib of the Louvre? You need a pretty long reach all the while attempting to drill a perfectly straight hole. If the hole is not straight then the threaded pan head bolt and nut will be crooked.

I took my Louvre off and laid it upside down on the carpet in my living room. Then I proceeded to clamp the Sun Shade Support Brace in place. Make each hole just large enough to fit the threaded bolt. Then I carefully drilled one hole. Place a bolt and nut in the new hole and move onto the next location.
Always make sure the Sun Shade Support Brace has not moved before drilling each new hole.

I watched Mike at DMCMW install my brace on the louver, which probably took him 15 to 30 minutes. The louver was not removed from the car and he did have to contort to drill the holes near the top of the louver. The "fun" part started when the notch would not fit the engine cover latch, we tried three different sets of lifts and none would let the two meet. I suggested that he cut a new notch with a Dremel tool and he gave that a try. At that point those of us who had been gathered around walked away and pretended that we were not watching him. The new notch works perfectly and has been in use over two years. The non fitting original notch probably added an hour to the install time considering the different lifts that were tried and the after market "engineering" discussions before deciding on the fix.

My advice would be that DMC California consider having the brace made with two notch cuts in order to simplify the install.

Rod
10921

[Nicholas R]

There are 2 different length louvre struts; you need the longer ones. I had Danny bring me a set at DCS as my originals (which were also longer) were too dead to hold the engine cover. I believe Toby also sells the longer ones.

[rddmc]

There are 2 different length louvre struts; you need the longer ones. I had Danny bring me a set at DCS as my originals (which were also longer) were too dead to hold the engine cover. I believe Toby also sells the longer ones.

We tried a long set of struts on my louver and the brace notch would still not meet the engine cover catch.

Rod
10921

[DeloreanJoshQ]

3307 was trouble free after I had already purchased the longer ones from Toby at DMCNW.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/308984_10151976089510696_1449046025_n.jpg