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I will fabricate my own if needed, but I was wondering if any of you knew where I could purchase the hardware for my set? I got them with my car when I bought it five years ago, but pulled them off because they rattled everywhere. They're in great shape, but it's missing one of the sideclips (thus why it was rattling). Any of you know where to go to for this?
My louvers look like this (and no this isn't my car as nice as it is), NOT the newer stuff:
Last edited by DeltaElite121; 05-27-2010 at 08:09 PM.
I have two sets of louvers myself and have been looking for the hardware or pictures of the hardware so I could fabricate them.
Ive posted a thread to no avail looking for pictures of the required hardware,so once again if anyone has pictures they could post of hardware required would be greatly appreciated
If you are talking about the factory Louver hardware I have some that is off due to the car needing a restore. I will be glad to get you pictures of them. It would be next week. My wife has my camera and wont be home till this weekend. Last time I found any of the hardware it was $50 for each part, they were new. So yes if you can make it that would be the way to go. I had to replace 4 parts due to them missing and it cost $200 for them. Send me a PM with your email.
I have two sets of louvers myself and have been looking for the hardware or pictures of the hardware so I could fabricate them.
Ive posted a thread to no avail looking for pictures of the required hardware,so once again if anyone has pictures they could post of hardware required would be greatly appreciated
I've got 90% of the hardware. If he doesn't get around to posting pictures, I will. I'm just missing one of the side clips. Looks like I'm going to be fabricating it, though.
Do a search. I posted pictures of the factory hardware last year or 2 years ago. The factory hardware may not work with those aftermarket louvers.
I'm talking to a CNC machine shop tomorrow to see if I can get them to replicate the factory hardware for me locally. I'll see if I can get a couple of sets made so I can start distributing them out to the people on here that need durable quality parts. In this regard - I'll also be asking them to use better materials in the areas that were lacking (particularly in the sideclips). After that, I'll anodize them at work if I can get our setup up and running again.
How much do those louvers go for that are in the picture?
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When i bought my camaro it came with them and i took them off, what you think the resale on them would be? got all brackets for it.
How much do those louvers go for that are in the picture?
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When i bought my camaro it came with them and i took them off, what you think the resale on them would be? got all brackets for it.
couple hundred bucks. It's been awhile since I've looked at the going rate, but last time I checked it was like $300 if I recall correctly. I could be off, though. That's just what I remember.
Not a couple hundred for those! The factory ones, yes, those, no. They may be worth $75-100 most.
I stand corrected, it was the originals I was looking at awhile back (which is what I have). The aftermarket ones you can get your hands on for $200 new, so your price sounds about right. Changed the picture as I thought something was a little goofy with the one I originally picked. It's been so long since I've seen the louvers as they're stored elsewhere, and have been for years. Pretty sure that's them in the new one, though. Those are the ones I see that sell for quite a bit more.
Sorry it took me some time to get this info. The bolt size is a #10 machine thread for sure. They are ½ inch long on the top mounts and ¼ inch on the lower mounts. Also they are more of a brad that is attached to the mount than a bolt. It will be very hard to fine the nuts that are like the originals but sure someone can find some close to them, which would work just fine.
I can check on having them fabricated at a shop. I am sure it won't be cheap. I would say you would be looking at $25 each or around that for labor. Or if anyone has a better idea let me know. Also they must be made from stainless steel as they have no rust on the mounts.
The louver bolt is called a dzus fastener that fastens to a dzus spring on the brackets. It was used on planes during WWII and after the war guys thought it would work well on cars. I found a couple of sources for them.
www.bryke.com looks like they sells some simliar ones for a reasonable price.
DFCI Solutions, Inc www.dfcis.com/engineering/C121J-H5RevB.pdf looks like they have exact duplicates. I thought I was missing one, but found it. DFCI sounds like some kind of distributor to other companies. I asked how much one would cost and they thought maybe an eye popping $100 unless they can find a cheaper source. I think they mainly sell in bulk and would check to see what company buys that particular bolt from them and would be willing to sell some for a cheaper price. They also sell the dzus springs, but not the brackets. DFCI specs: ST-1200 Line Size 5. I'll get some calipers and measure mine tomorrow, so I can post the results along with some pics. This way I can match to their exact part number.
My louver does not have a name on it, so I'm not sure if it is a factory or aftermarket. I think it is an aftermarket Crager. Here are the part numbers on it: Louver 10027846/618831; bracket 10027843 (FSB); Bolt has "Dzus" stamped on it. I bought ($75) the louver about a week ago and threw some paint on it. It was off a 1984 trans am that had been sitting in a field for about 15-20 years. The sun had really taken its toll, but the back interior looked great due to the protection from the louvers.
I got some calipers and got the following measurements to match up with DFCI engineering diagram.
DFCI Product Line ST-1200
Size: 5
Stud Head Diameter: 9/16'' (14.30mm)
5/32 Key Hex (Allen Wrench)
DFCI Part Number: 121J-H540-Z3C (G = .400; U = .190)
Overall length from top to bottom = .5945 in (19/32) (15.10 mm)
Last edited by cxxm; 07-23-2010 at 10:07 AM.
Reason: picutures
Here are some more measurements of the brackets. I did the best I could measuring with a ruler, so I might be off by mm's. Just wanted to give everyone a better idea of things.
I thought my louver was an after market Crager, but now I believe it is a louver from the factory. In my search for parts I found the factory build sheet for the car that I got the louver from. The build sheet shows DE1 Sun Louver. Checkout my thread www.thirdgen.org/techboard/history-restoration/581792-1984-trans-am-build.html
It is quite possible. I know Crager made aftermarkets, but not sure if they also supplied them directly to the factory. Where did you get yours? Any numbers on yours, maybe there is a pattern?
Also, by "key" do you mean the 5/32 allen wrench to take the dzus bolts on and off?
I found mine on e bay a few years ago I think I only paid 30 for them . Lucky enough someone here on third gen had the hardware and gave it to me , but no key , in the owners manual page 46 , looks like a steel tube with a round end. Number I will have a look tomorrow and jot them down.
Forgot to add mine are for 82-85 and 87-90 , even though I have an 91 I still like them .
I have the hardware pieces if anyone wants them. My louvers broke and flew off on the drag strip so I left it there. Jacked the hardware, so if anyone need them, PM me.
Sorry to necro the thread, but I recently picked up a set from a guy who said he had the hardware, but didn't. I was wondering if it were possible to make the hardware, or are there places that sell the parts? I have the same set as the OP does.
bringing back an old thread. Delta, did you ever get hardware fabbed up?
I recently picked up a set of stock louvers and the hardware he gave with them is nowheres near stock, so will not work.
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the Pics FUNIROC and Cxxm posted are very helpful, but wondering if you were ever successful in getting brackets made/replicated.
Upon some digging.. they still make the stock louver hardware.. I have quite a few contacts in GM and they found out for me they are still built to order... However they are quite expensive.. you would be looking at around 60-85$ per hardware piece.. meaning around a grand total of 550$....
I noticed they sell rear louvers with hardware in the Classic Industries Firebird catalog. Page 183, a couple of their part numbers for reference are W1333, W10518, there are a bunch of different part numbers. Anyway it is a long shot, and not sure how different their louver is from what you have, but maybe the company they use has hardware that might work for yours.
I have the hardware pieces if anyone wants them. My louvers broke and flew off on the drag strip so I left it there. Jacked the hardware, so if anyone need them, PM me.
i hate open ended year old threads...but i used the search function as a newb should and i am here. Did anyone find a source for these fasteners? ive seen a few here and there but am uncretian of the size, part #, ect.. any info is appreciated.
I'm talking to a CNC machine shop tomorrow to see if I can get them to replicate the factory hardware for me locally. I'll see if I can get a couple of sets made so I can start distributing them out to the people on here that need durable quality parts. In this regard - I'll also be asking them to use better materials in the areas that were lacking (particularly in the sideclips). After that, I'll anodize them at work if I can get our setup up and running again.
I'll keep everyone posted.
I know this is a long shot, but I am looking for the hardware for the louvers. Did you ever have any made? Do you know where I might find some?
I know this is a long shot, but I am looking for the hardware for the louvers. Did you ever have any made? Do you know where I might find some?
i found some but never ordered as sold the car.
i cant remember what the end looks like but think this is close. If you search dzus fasteners the have all kinds of quarter turn fasteners.
I just installed a set of GM louvers and have an adjustment question.
Are the two metal stiffener bars that run from top to bottom on the plastic side bits supposed to touch the window glass?
Mine touch in a few spots and I'm afraid it will scratch the glass. GM Louvers on 1986 Iroc
Not sure what you mean by stiffener bars. There are two rods that run from top to bottom where the ABS meets the aluminum slats. Those rods should pop out of a rubber holder and swing down to allow the louvers to be raised for window cleaning. They are support rods.
There's also an area on the ABS , directly next to those support rods, that should have a thin piece of rubber to isolate rattles (Flat piece seen in the pic to the left of the hinge). That part of the louvers do sit on the glass, but the strip could be missing. Mine lost its adhesive properties a long time ago and needed to be reglued/taped.
Hey, the stiffener bars are U-shapes channels that run from top to bottom of the louvers on the plastic side parts and are about 3ft long each. They are parallel to each other..trying to see if they are supposed to touch the glass or be fully off the glass.
Not sure what you mean by plastic side pieces, but I think I know what you mean by stiffener bars. If each slat/louver was a stair step, those stiffening bars would be the stair stringer, right!??? Mine have a slight bit of some sort of foam tape on 'em, and I can only imagine that it was intended for them to sit on the glass. It's mostly worn away, but it wouldn't be too hard to find some soft replacement tape. I'd be more concerned about rattles than scratches. ...thought constant friction could possibly cause wear spots I guess.
I was missing one original dsuz fastener and used a Moroso 71340 that is almost an exact replacement. It is a few thou longer than original and has a slotted head. Pics for comparison. I painted it black before installing.
Also added some thin foam to the metal strips that touch the glass per the post above. Zero rattles. The foam was tape backed sound deadening stuff I had from Raam Audio cut into strips about 3/32 wide.
I'm talking to a CNC machine shop tomorrow to see if I can get them to replicate the factory hardware for me locally. I'll see if I can get a couple of sets made so I can start distributing them out to the people on here that need durable quality parts. In this regard - I'll also be asking them to use better materials in the areas that were lacking (particularly in the sideclips). After that, I'll anodize them at work if I can get our setup up and running again.
I'll keep everyone posted.
did you ever get these made? I am looking for set thanks
05-26-2010, 12:59 AM
In this picture you will see a plastic washer around the fastener bolt that keeps it from falling out of the louver when it is not in the bracket.
In this picture you will see a plastic washer around the fastener bolt that keeps it from falling out of the louver when it is not in the bracket.
If you look closely you can see the "DZUS" stamped on the bolt in this pic.
If you look closely you can see the "DZUS" stamped on the bolt in this pic.
