evil1
Registered User
When I was in process of restoring my car in 06 i wanted to do something different but keep it subtle, the hood was missing something and I was not real big on what was out there for fiberglass replacements, its all been done before. I try to create things that are one of a kind wile keeping it looking like it was done at the factory. With the first hood I cut down the sides of the peeks in the center then across too the center on a five degree angle dropped it down 1 1/4" so the opening lands just in front of the rad. when closed, then made a duct on the air intake side. It's funny how many people see it and ask if it came that way from the factory or if it's glass? Anyway I've been working in this new shop for going on two years, when I found out he had a Pullmax I was like kid in a candy store. The machine is amazing, with the right set of dies and skill level you can create any detail in sheet metal. This one originally
came from a navy ship yard or from a navy ship not sure, my boss is the third owner but it still has the USN. serial# tag on it he does know that it was made in the forties. he has added a few modern upgrades to it for better control and ease of use.This was my first attempt at louvers on a hood. My boss was not to sure if it was going to work out, top surfaces are not easy. Also the hood on our cars has a lot going in that zone, first it has a crown in the center then it starts to flatten as it flows back then at the rear edge it has a slight flip up the rear edge also has a curve so to cut a louver straight across would look stupid most likely flatten the crown and end up warping it out of shape, game over. My plan was to cut them on a five degree angle to keep with the flow of the back edge and give some style to the overall look. Too keep from doing to much damage to the crown I figured to keep a 1" gap between the two rows to help hold the crown and 3/4" on each side so not to put high spots in the peaks. The die does three things, first it creates a fracture line once that is done you change the stroke of the machine and it starts punching the louver as you slide the work piece along the fracture line. when you reach the end of the fracture there is a lever on the bottom die that you pull (or push depending what end of the louver you are) this turns the lower die and forms the corner of the louver. after that you are done now you have to line up for the next one. I punched a total of 38 louvers it took about four hours and a full day to make a jig too support it in the machine. They are hot off the machine as you see them. They still need to be filed,the edges are like razors and some hand plenishing to remove tool marks. Thanks for taking a look.
Mark
came from a navy ship yard or from a navy ship not sure, my boss is the third owner but it still has the USN. serial# tag on it he does know that it was made in the forties. he has added a few modern upgrades to it for better control and ease of use.This was my first attempt at louvers on a hood. My boss was not to sure if it was going to work out, top surfaces are not easy. Also the hood on our cars has a lot going in that zone, first it has a crown in the center then it starts to flatten as it flows back then at the rear edge it has a slight flip up the rear edge also has a curve so to cut a louver straight across would look stupid most likely flatten the crown and end up warping it out of shape, game over. My plan was to cut them on a five degree angle to keep with the flow of the back edge and give some style to the overall look. Too keep from doing to much damage to the crown I figured to keep a 1" gap between the two rows to help hold the crown and 3/4" on each side so not to put high spots in the peaks. The die does three things, first it creates a fracture line once that is done you change the stroke of the machine and it starts punching the louver as you slide the work piece along the fracture line. when you reach the end of the fracture there is a lever on the bottom die that you pull (or push depending what end of the louver you are) this turns the lower die and forms the corner of the louver. after that you are done now you have to line up for the next one. I punched a total of 38 louvers it took about four hours and a full day to make a jig too support it in the machine. They are hot off the machine as you see them. They still need to be filed,the edges are like razors and some hand plenishing to remove tool marks. Thanks for taking a look.
Mark