RaptorATF

After weeks of contemplating it, I've finally decided to get some rear window louvers. I want the aluminium ones that look like they're one solid piece when installed but I can't seem to find a place to buy them. And based on your guys personal experience, how do they compare to the ABS plastic ones? So basically, where do I buy them, and which ones don't fall apart? Budget is approximately $300.

DethVenture

Astra Hammond has some 1-piece aluminum louvers for around $297, but I don't know how quality they are. They look pretty good, but looks can be deceiving.

Anyone ever owned those?

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

I'd love to see them. Do you know the link?

DethVenture

Sure. It's the third one from the bottom, but you can choose a different one that makes provisions for a third brake light or no rear wiper.

http://www.andysautosport.com/chevro...astra_hammond/

BTW, Your car is the car I look at for louvers! I want a black and red 82-84 Z28 (like tlandoe's) with louvers like yours lol.

Ron U.S.M.C.

Hears a picture or two showing louvers mounted on Third.Gen.
http://www.google.com/search?q=third...w=1440&bih=785
On a black car with a two in. cowl it could look OK.
Not that you were asking for opinions.

scottmoyer

I had the Hammond brand back in the 80s and thought they looked good, however, my tastes have changed and I believe the factory set looks the best today.

Most of the sets are a combination of ABS and metal. The factory and Hammond used ABS side pieces that the aluminum slats locked into giving them the one-piece look. The cheaper sets out there are all plastic and look cheap. They also sit considerably higher than they should. Almost like a bubble on the back window.

RaptorATF

Looks like that site is using a stock image from a early 2000's mustang. Its hard to tell if it isnt the ones that just have them down the straight part of the window.

This picture here that I found in a different thread is exactly what I'm looking for. (as long as they're the metal ones of course)
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/f...ke/louvers.jpg

DethVenture

I love the factory louvers, it's just that they're fairly uncommon.


Nah, it's one of the 2005-2009 mustangs.

Anyway, I think they'd be a good set, judging by what scott said. I'd take the factory ones any day, but like I said above, they're hard to find.

G-reg

iTrader: (3)

Those are the factory louvers. If you do find someone selling a used set, make sure all the hardware is included. Its impossible to find. I've got the factory louvers on my car and one bolt was missing when I bought the car. Still missing and can't find anything that will work. Its a quarter turn bolt (like a dzus style fastener) but all the bolts like that just don't work right. Its getting to a point where if I saw a set for sale I might buy it just for that bolt

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Thanks IW-33! You may not want louvers like mine if your car gets driven regularly though. Mine are the Astra Hammond ABS ones.

You REALLY need to watch how you mount them, and don't think for a minute the upper holes near the hinges will line up like they should - because they don't. I had to relocate the brackets outward 1/2" on both sides or else the louver brackets interfere with the glass hinge plastic caps (that go over the bolts) and wouldn't lay flat like they're supposed to.

I can believe they would most likely warp over time in the sun, but mine is either in the garage or being driven.

EDIT: Finding a set of stock ones is a great idea....trying to find a set of those - AND - in decent enough shape worth putting on your car is another story..

91phoenix

iTrader: (5)

The astra hammond aluminum sets are three piece and look like a regular three piece set up. They do not look like the factory or cragar louvers.
I like louvers myself and have a three piece set but would prefer to find a factory set later.

scottmoyer

While trying to dispute 91phoenix's statement about the Hammond brand being the 3 piece look, I found that I didn't have Hammond many years ago. It was the Kobel brand that I had. I take back my comment that Hammond looks good. They don't in my opinion.

Guest

Check here you might find some for your ride http://www.jegs.com/p//Astra-Hammond...39359/10002/-1 .

91phoenix

iTrader: (5)

I searched many many many hours trying to find a nice new aluminum set a few months back. All the aluminum ones I could find are the three piece and have the three piece look. If there is a nice new aluminum one out there I would truely like to hear about it. In my searching I cross referenced many part numbers trying to get actual pics of the style. Unfortunately the only one piece look louvers I found are used factory or cragars and the Kobels or the ABS plastic louvers. I hadn't found a set of factory louvers that I could afford with shipping when I was looking and had to settle .
Scottmoyer I wish we could find some nice new aluminum ones still.

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

i love my cragar ones and the mounting hardware is pretty straight forward. ive broekn a clip or too since theyve been on the car since 86 but they look easy to fix. i say shop around on craigslist or a junkyard and see what you can find but keep a sharp eye open. a majority of louvers ive seen people have no mounting hardware but like i said with my cragars they are easy to copy

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

I lot of aftermarket companies made these for third gens back in the day. Most were not like the factory originals...probably on purpose. Let's face it, most either like 'em or hate 'em.

One person might think one kind is ugly, and then you'll run across a few that say "I love those louvers"....I have a set of aluminum ones hanging in my garage....they're a brand not even mentioned here yet. Of course, they're missing a couple of the clips, and I don't care for the flat look on the center panal myself. That being said, I STILL might throw those on if the ones I have on now warp out or anything...

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

^ pics?

RaptorATF

Thank's for the help, guys! I might put up an ad on craigslist to see if anyone has something laying around. There are a ton of beat up third gens here that might be willing to sacrifice them if they have it...

Got any pics of your cragar set, tylercamaro?

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

should be some in my albums

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

RaptorATF

I found a set of brand new factory louvers on ebay going for $600 but that's way more than I want to spend. And I take it that the Cragar ones are just about as hard to find after a quick google search. Are there any other brands that have this same look but just aren't so rare or expensive?

Here is the ebay link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-NOS-Part-...#ht_500wt_1289

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

everynow and then i find a set for cheap on cragslist that are missing hardware. i picked up another set of brand new cragars off cl for 40 bucks missing the hardware. i copied my hardware and sold them for 200. just keep searching their bound to pop up eventually. also junkyards have wierd stuff ive found too. you never know where youll come across odd stuff

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

OK...here's a couple crappy ones, I'll need to see what brand they are

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

those are astra hammonds or they look close to their other style of louver

91phoenix

iTrader: (5)

It is hard to tell for sure but those do look like what I had to settle with for the time being. The mounting appears to be the same but can not tell about how the center section latches.
All three pieces of mine are aluminum. I will agree that they look like they could be Astra Hammond, just not the new stuff as that is generally plastic on the outsides.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

No - not Astra Hammond's...I know what all those look like. Just went and checked, and they're "Chastain Shadows!" (and yes, it has the ! on it too)..all aluminum...

Center section has slide clips that disconnect it from each side piece so the center can be raised to clean the window - or at least the center part of it..lol

EDIT: But they do kinda look like the other flat stle of the Astra Hammond - except the side pieces are different...I got them off a buddy's '82 Camaro...

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

i dont like them mostly because they look too edgy due to the side pieces. thats funny how theres the exclamation in the name too

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

I agree...if the center piece had a little curve in it, I'd like them alot better...."Edgy"?? That describes my car anyway....

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

well those definitely look like they are 3 piece while some 3 pieces flow together well. the sides look flatter compared to the center pece. and yeah your car does look edgy but its still awesome

Michael21

tylercamaro...they look awesome on your car...i'm not a huge fan of the louvers..but.. maybe its cause they're painted the same as the car...IDK..car looks awesome with them though

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

thanks theyve been on their forever and only plan on taking them off to swap to the other car

91phoenix

iTrader: (5)

I will give a thanks too. Now I feel that mine are the Chastain Shadows! !!!!
May not be much but I like knowing the name brand.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Here's the ones I'm running now...Astra Hammond ABS ones. They look a lot like the factory aluminum (I think)...but alas, just plastic.....

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

i wonder if you can paint those either gloss or body color.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

I wouldn't even try it. They have kind of a "grain" to the surface. Paint wouldn't hold on too long...I'll keep 'em black. I even have my "Chastains" painted satin black. I'm old school (and old) lol

DethVenture

If you got some aluminums and painted them the body color, that'd be so wicked. Love that Gunmetal grey.

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

yea body color would be awesome and gloss black would flow well with the accents. i do like those but they look like the plastics color is fading. not trying to be rude but it just looks off. anywho its a smart idea not to paint them when they have that texture because i also dont think that would work well in the long run

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

IW-33: Yeah, I guess it's gunmetal grayish, but it's actually Dupont pepper metallic gray...it's pretty sparkly in the sun. The pic was taken on my IPhone, so I think that's why it looks just ...gray.

Ask anyone that was at Thirdgenfest, the louvers are pretty black. I have some "Back in Black" stuff, but I'm holding off putting anything on them. I'm keeping my louvers black just like the eighties. No one painted theirs body color back then, not that I think it looks bad or anything.....

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

I was going through some pics I took, and I found a couple that I took last year when I first got the louvers. One kinda shows how they are "textured"...

DethVenture

Pardon my ignorance, don't know if this would work, but couldn't a couple coats of primer cover up that texture for potential painting?

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Well, I could if I really wanted to paint them....but I don't. Just personal preference I guess. BUT - IF I did want to paint them, I suppose thick coats of primer would work...but might get a lot of cracking on ABS. Might be a different story on the aluminum ones though...I'd think it would turn out better and last longer.

EDIT: I really just posted the pics up becauce I've gotten a few PM's about the ABS plastic louvers...and I'll just say it...I would NOT recommend them for a daily driven car. You have to remove them during cold weather anyways (below freezing)...it's in the instructions...but they really do keep your car a LOT cooler if it's been sitting in the sun...

Gordiggz

I wish I could find a one piece setup. I've got the 3 piece aluminum and I almost like them. I was thinking of switching back to a stock wraparound spoiler and no louvers, but now I saw Confuzed1's car, it looks great. And gloss body color would be amazing. It's a nod to the '80's without looking like your stuck in them.

Evils89

I have those exact louvers of the three piece but when i bought them, one of the plastic hooks to keep them together broke, do you know where to find another plastic hook

mygta87

iTrader: (4)

i have 2 sets one plastic, one metal but im missing the hardware to attach to the hatch anyone know where to get it from??

Eric Skayman

You could try Classic Industries, but I'm not sure if they will actually sell you the attachment hardware separate.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Hardware as in the C-clips that hold on the sides or top & bottom pieces that use 2 way tap to hold it to the window on the bottom?

tylercamaro

iTrader: (1)

probably, the c clips are easy to manufacture yourself heck i used socket rails modified to work on a friends whose louvers were all over the place and needed to be held down more.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Ive made a set of hardware, isnt so bad. The pics of my z28 with my louvers on are on here somewhere.....

mygta87

iTrader: (4)

Yea that's what i need the one that goes on the hatch itself. Any idea where to get it from?