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Thread: Crack in louvers

  1. #1
    Senior Member SBL's Avatar
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    Crack in louvers

    My engine cover has a crack in it at the place where the louver (the top one) connects to the vertical piece that goes down the middle. See first picture. I made a bracket (second picture) which would require one visible hole to be drilled on the louver. The bracket would go upwards with the other end and a hole being behind the louver as shown (third picture). I hope I explained this well enough. The weak part of this is that the top part of the bracket attaches to relatively thin material. Anyway, before I do this I wanted to check with the group wisdom.

    Attachment 60403Attachment 60402Attachment 60401
    Last edited by SBL; 06-15-2019 at 05:44 PM. Reason: misspelled word
    Steve Liggett
    Treasure Island, FL
    1982 automatic, VIN 10XXX, grey int

    Previous: VIN 5983, VIN 3670
    Who knows where my previous 1981 with 6 cylinder Chevy engine is these days (cannot find that VIN) ?

  2. #2
    Motors about after dark Michael's Avatar
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    Glue the mating surfaces with good epoxy and add a pair of these:

    https://www.deloreango.com/us/sunsha...t-bracket.html

    I like those over the DMC offering as the DMCH is only a single piece where these form a "sandwich" ...not as attractive but they can be painted black

  3. #3
    Senior Member SBL's Avatar
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    I can't quite see how these fit. But I assume that you do not drill the hole on the top of the louvers, so that is good. Do you have a picture of it on your car?

    It need to "pull up" the louver. I guess I worry that if the fit isn't perfect then I am left with more or less the same problem.
    Steve Liggett
    Treasure Island, FL
    1982 automatic, VIN 10XXX, grey int

    Previous: VIN 5983, VIN 3670
    Who knows where my previous 1981 with 6 cylinder Chevy engine is these days (cannot find that VIN) ?

  4. #4
    Motors about after dark Michael's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBL View Post
    .... Do you have a picture of it on your car?
    No, mine isn't broke

  5. #5
    Motors about after dark Michael's Avatar
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    Here you go. I was waiting for this member to respond himself but here is is very comprehensive writeup with pics of the installation.

    http://www.awildermode.com/2014/04/d...trips.html?m=1

  6. #6
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    I have the DMCH support bar. It's nice and painted black to match but I do wish it had two pieces to sandwich the louvre. You have to drill the holes which is a tight fit so a normal size drill doesn't work well. I used my dremel to make the holes, pretty easy.

    I agree with Michael, epoxy that part back and then pick up either support bracket and install it.

    Oh ya, if you get the DMCH one, I'd recommend spray painting the screws black or something since they come unpainted and sort of ruin the clean look of the all black Louvre and support bar.

  7. #7
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    Location:  Burnsville MN-Moving to Kalispell MT. in June 20111

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    louver crack

    My louver had a bad break about midway, so I had
    a friend who is a precision sheet metal worker fold a
    32" by 6" piece of stainless in half with a 1/4" gap.
    After notching it to fit the zig zag louvers it slipped
    neatly into place hiding behind the flat vertical tabs
    of the center rib. It does add weight but I'm using
    a support rod to hold my SS spoiler and the engine
    cover.....



    lonely guy in Montana

  8. #8
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    The repair of the rear sunshade, aka rear louvre, is pretty straightforward. Instead of epoxy a better repair is fiberglass and the addition of the metal "sandwich" or plates will keep it from breaking again. To keep it from happening in the first place (if your sunshade is not broken yet) is to always lift and lower the sunshade evenly so it doesn't twist. and not let it slam down. If the struts are weak they should be replaced. I have seen weak struts that could hold it up but with a gust of wind it gets twisted and slammed down and can crack. With the addition of the plates additional weight, weak struts may not be any good at all.
    David Teitelbaum

  9. #9
    Senior Member SBL's Avatar
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    Got it.
    Steve Liggett
    Treasure Island, FL
    1982 automatic, VIN 10XXX, grey int

    Previous: VIN 5983, VIN 3670
    Who knows where my previous 1981 with 6 cylinder Chevy engine is these days (cannot find that VIN) ?

  10. #10
    Motors about after dark Michael's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SBL View Post
    Got it.
    I have to admit, I LOL'd when I read that reply.

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