LOUVERS

...Latest Photos, Text to follow.

...The Curvature Alignment Revealed. How did I get the Curvature this Accurate?? I placed Both 'Beams', Clamped together, Between Two '4 x 4's', and Stepped on them Jumping 5-6 Times, with My weight at 262 Lbs. Biased towards the Front End. This took a Lot of effort, the Aluminum, although SOFT, was hard to bend. Just what I needed to support 14.7 Pounds of Aluminum, at 160 MPH! When both pieces Must be Curved Exactly to each Other. they must be bent Simultaneously, doing them separately, they would be Impossible to Match!

Next pics, Working on the forward mounting, Hidden. Beams have been shortened to Not show in the Rear...Only the Last Louver will ever be seen in the Rearview. Rubber pads may be used in conjunction with the (2) Magnet, Yoke and Pin, to adjust the final Height of the Twin Beams.

Photos: The First slat to the Mounting, is Fitted. 2nd Slat is checked for fit and Not yet set for Angle.

In the Next Posting of Photos, I will show how All Louvers will be Aligned with 'Absolute Accuracy' !!

Thought you may want to see the Dish Marlin cooked Saturday Night.

'Butcher Shop Pork Chops' 1 Inch thick. Smothered in a 'Caramelized Onion' Cream, Sauce. 3 Chops cut into 6 'Medallions', Sear Very Well on HIGH, Lower to Med-Hi 5 mins per side (NO Pink in the Center), 32 Oz, equal beef/chicken stock. 3 Garlic Cloves, 3 Onions, 4 Heaping Tbs The Best Flour on Onions when Caramelized, 1/3 Cup Whole Cream. Top with Rosemary and Tyme. Cooking time 45 Mins. Season Pepper and Salt.

Marlin can achieve many things beside Building a Pantera and 351C Engines. Loves to cook, as well as Play the Violin, Scottish-Irish Fiddle.

Wait until you see What comes Next!!

...The 'Superior Judge' (Wife), thought the Dish was Delicious!!

Marlin, my wife makes her pork chops very similar to yours.  Best way to prepare pork chops.  I will take an invite next time you make your chops.  Larry

...All mounted to Level with a Lazer Inclinometer.

...Inclinometer is Zeroed on the Level Roof, Slats brought Up to Level. Exposed Rear of deck, not covered is Exactly 5.00", as Calculated. Last Louver Turned-Up Like a Spoiler. Slats 3 through 6, Not Leveled Yet.

@marlinjack posted:

...Inclinometer is Zeroed on the Level Roof, Slats brought Up to Level. Exposed Rear of deck, not covered is Exactly 5.00", as Calculated. Last Louver Turned-Up Like a Spoiler. Slats 3 through 6, Not Leveled Yet.

Looking Good Marlin! Happy New Year!

looks great,looking forward to all in place and leveled up and painted. You are motivating  me to get going on the mock up on mine, see if it merits making it in carbon Fibre. Great work,successful new year already  started for you!

Marlin,

Can you show a rear view and also what it looks like from inside the car? Thanks!

@Rob Fridenberg posted:

Marlin,

Can you show a rear view and also what it looks like from inside the car? Thanks!

...New photos as requested, Rearview and from Inside the Vehicle. (In More than One Posting)

With temporary spacers installed, to photo 'close' angles. Permanent parts to arrive soon.

Rearview from inside Vehicle also through the Rearview Mirror. The Long 'Tube' in image is the Electric Antennae moved out of the way, during work.

Pics, Viewing from Rear of the Pantera, Looking Forward.

The Air Cleaner Box can be seen centered, from inside. Mirror View Sites straight through the Center of the Window, between the Twin Support Beams.

Plenty of Light coming in, seeing Images in Not a Problem!

Questions Welcome,

Thank You   

...To finish Loading:

hi Marlin, those really did take shape after screwing the down, they look great!

So I have a done a little more serious mock up on my louver design, spacing is equal all around, bottom slat a little short, didn't want to cut another piece of wood, so want do you guys think, should I go ahead and order the carbon fiber or not?   Let me know what you think,won't hurt my feelings!

...How about some Great Feelings! In My View, Your Measuring and Craftsmanship is a Lesson in Perfection! I like Mostly the Direct Rearview showing the 3 Louvers Perfectly Horizontal, Very Accurately Spaced and Angled. You NAILED It!!

I think You Out-Did the Lamborghini! Congratulations on Designing an Outstanding 'Triple Louver'! I like to say..."The ONLY One of it's Kind in the Entire Universe!!" Your Design, There are NO Others Exactly Like It!

I think You're ready to Obtain that Carbon Fiber!! Do You have an Design of how to Secure it to the Deck? If Not, Consult an Expert.

Remember! These Panteras can 'Easily' Break 140+ MPH!

Again, Congratulations, Beautiful!! Your Work Well-Done!

Love That BLUE!

Thank You for Coming back and Posting the Photos!! It's a real Pleasure to see Your Pantera! Eye Candy!

Marlin,

Looking great! Looking forward to seeing the finished pics.

I like both designs very much and the ingenuity. Lane maybe your spacing is a little wide for my preference, but then again it looks great from the back. I think that plane line is similar to the Delorean but wider spacing. Although I absolutely hate bringing up Delorean because I have had my car referred to as one a couple times by people that know no better (or can't read DeTomaso) the DMC louvers concept is not a bad one all one peice that sits inside the sugar scoop. Also it appears to open with a similar strut as our decklid. I believe the DMC louvers were originally fiberglass, but I could be wrong.

Marlin your metal work and ability to create something from an idea to something functional in such a short period of time is remarkable.

Or this one from ProvaMo

Nice work, Marlin Jack!

On Thu, Jan 2, 2025 at 6:14 PM The De Tomaso Forums <alerts@crowdstack.com>
wrote:

...Next Up, A Counter-Sink Depth Gage for 82 Degree Flush-Head Allen SS Machine Screws In 0.090" Aluminum Sheet.

Photo, Proof of Flush. Absolute! Light will Not Show under a Steel Straight-Edge.

(2) Magnetic Mounts for the 'Twin Beams', with Clevis and Quick Disconnects. To Adjust the Height and Hold the Tail Secure. Stainless.

Sweet,they will just disappear, clevis pin allows for no paint damage, well thought out,look forward to finishing!

...Countersunk washers to clear Flat-Head Screw 'Cone' Taper. Cone is .200" Deep. 0.090" is taken up by the Sheet Aluminum. Can't Countersink the 'Beam', that would eliminate much needed threads. So I counter-sink the 0.121" Thick 1/4" Washer, 0.110" Deep, The Just clear...with a couple of 1000th's more, for 'Crush' on the Louver.

Look Close at the Height/Spacer Assembly. With the screw thread into the Beam a Minimum of 0.240" IN, it gives a Height of 0.750", measured from the Beam to the TOP of the Louver, Maximum. If I need more Height, I change the 1" Length Screws for 1-1/4". See Countersunk washers, and (2) Flange Screws, Jam Nut set-up. Easily Adjust the Height to '0' on the Inclinometer At X and Y, and Lock it In!! Job Done!!

...Closer Detail of Full Assembly. All Stainless.

...The Two 'Front' Screws, will just be the 5/8" Flat-Head Screws and One, Countersunk Washer. Also acts as a 'Load Spreader' and relieves the 'Taper'. I can also, Countersink the Top Flange Nut and Eliminate the Washer all together. That would 'Expose' More Threads for adjustments. And a 'Cleaner' Assembly.

...Waiting on the Aluminum Plate for the Forward Mounting. Starting on Positioning Rear Mounts. 1,3,5, and 7 Louvers.

...spending 2 days rejuvenating a Large Coy Pond and 2 Waterfalls...in my backyard. Had it for 20+ years, was Well Overgrown. Working on Night 'Glow' Lighting and New Pumps to run off the Solar array I designed and built 4+ Years ago.

Got in Tonight and was able to work on the Aluminum Plate that Finaly, Arrived.

That's a 0.187" (3/16") Aluminum Plate 4" Wide and 36" Long to be Trimmed to Lock in and under the Inner Ceiling with a 'Bank-Vault' Cloiser.

You'll Notice in the first pic, the screw holes are 'Biased' to Make a Light rise in the Center of Louver #1. This Exactly Matches the Decks' curved Roofline, and locks into the Groove Lip. The #1 Louver ends on the Backside, perfectly Straight, and carries that level to the Other 6 Slats.

The Plate goes forward and butts with little clearance,  into the Ceiling, Flush with-in the 'View'.  The Plate will be trimmed to Clear the Hinges, but left too Long to come out of the Opening. Remember...145+ MPH, that's the Fastest I've ever had Her, and there was More to Go. Primer and paint comes Next. The wing goes back on.

Pics to Follow:

Questions?

Latest Photos:

Here they are in black,I'm leaning towards ordering the carbon fiber,wasn't  sure when just in raw wood, I guess I'm seeking opinions.....still looking  forward  to yours marlin,nice to see unique /updated designs

...In a Word...WoW!! Very Nice. I Like it! I like it a LOT!!

Right now I'm finishing up on the 'Attachment' to the Deck Hinge Pins, all Stainless. And I started Painting the Louvers Yesterday. After Grey Primer, All Backside and Under,  is Flat Black. Only the Top Surface of Each Louvers is GLOSS Black.

I want Minimal 'Shine' in the Rearview Mirror.

Getting Closer, PIcs to follow.

@Lane hawley  - I like the look.  The question I have for everyone regarding Louvers, is there any benefit in having louvers, or is it just the look?  Thanks for sharing.  Larry

@Lardog posted:

@Lane hawley  - I like the look.  The question I have for everyone regarding Louvers, is there any benefit in having louvers, or is it just the look?  Thanks for sharing.  Larry

Ooo, good question. In my case yes.

My explanation is that when you go to the Weber carb set up, the two carbs closest to the back of the car stick out from the protection of the roof overhang.

With open velocity stacks that makes them more susceptible to sucking in and swallowing anything that can fall into the open stack.

With the louvrers in conjunction with the "sugar scoop" roof spoiler, I was able to better protect them from that hazard or at least reduce the likeliness of it happening, including getting water into the stacks while washing the car.

For most that isn't necessary but if you look at Marlin's dual carburetors on a Wieand tunnel ram intake, you can also see that the back carb is out from under the roof as well.

This is the picture with EFI throttle bodies but that is just the evolution from the Webers into this century.

@Lardog posted:

@Lane hawley  - I like the look.  The question I have for everyone regarding Louvers, is there any benefit in having louvers, or is it just the look?  Thanks for sharing.  Larry

i wonder if they would keep air "attached", thus reducing drag and having that air velocity provide improved ventilation from engine.

Lardog,for me it's just for the look, at the velocities I travel at,aero isn't playing a very big part ! Just an old most of the time slow guy