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71 -72 B body window louvers #1337395
11/18/12 07:43 PM
11/18/12 07:43 PM
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hemi_harvester Offline OP
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I know Gene Gregory makes them( super nice and super expense) , but I was wondering if anyone else might me making "correct looking" louvers for these cars?

Why I ask is I was on Dale's Cuda shop web site and I see he had some Cuda Louvers in the $600 range.

Was just thinking out loud that this would be nice to have some &1 Road Runner ones in this price range.


There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama & people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good.
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: hemi_harvester] #1337396
11/18/12 10:26 PM
11/18/12 10:26 PM
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If you want the real thing Gene is the only game in town. But I have heard some not so nice coments about his stuff, so get schooled on them before you buy, and you have to finish sanding them to fit. You have to drill two holes in the roof if you use them. Also there are some cheap plastic ones on ebay, but are so bad looking I would rather not have any. My car came with them new so I had to buy from Gene. Good luck,if you need any help just yell.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337397
11/18/12 10:53 PM
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If you haven't done so already, track down Jimmy Boros in MN as he's held the title of key '71-up B-body specialist since Ray Kerkhoven passed away several years ago.

Jimmy is a good guy to deal with and if he doesn't have any louvers may be able to give you some leads.

Ray, before he passed away, had made moulds for both Charger & RR louvers that were quite respectable. If you can find a set of those they would be a great substitute.

Originals have a latch mechanism which is not easy to duplicate, and very few '71-up B-bodies came equipped with louvers (as compared to E-bodies)

Good luck!

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: hemi_harvester] #1337398
11/19/12 12:33 AM
11/19/12 12:33 AM
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Since only 71s could have been ordered with them, they are hardly even seen, never mind for sale. I've never seen any 72 documentation that mentioned these being available.

AFAIK the Charger side pieces, that attach to the quarter, are shaped different than for a Road Runner or GTX.

I'm honestly surprised anyone actually reproduced these to begin with.

I remember seeing an orange 71 RR with louvers and elastomeric bumpers in a magazine years ago. It definitely had a unique look and in a good way.

Mike.

P.S. I remember meeting Ray a few times, must be almost twenty years ago. He had quite the stash of 71-2 B-body parts. He was definitely ahead of the curve there. Too bad he isn't still around. RIP.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: hemi_harvester] #1337399
11/19/12 09:45 PM
11/19/12 09:45 PM
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I won't tell you about a set a friend 'stole' from an E-body guy...

Couldn't figure out why they didn't fit his 'Cuda...

Sold 'em fer less than $100.00...


(Jimmy sold a set still in the un-opened box...

BIG scratch)...

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: RSNOMO] #1337400
11/20/12 04:29 AM
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IF you can find them...hold on to them with a death grip!

They look very nice on 71 b's too. Got lucky with my set...it came with a road runner attached!

Let me know if you need close up pictures or dimensions.





'73 GK6 Challenger Rallye - 340 4-Speed
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71383beep] #1337401
11/20/12 09:04 AM
11/20/12 09:04 AM
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Your car looks even better than I remember!

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: YYZ] #1337402
11/20/12 11:19 AM
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Here's another closer shot of just the louvers.



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Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71383beep] #1337403
11/20/12 11:44 AM
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71birdJ68 Offline
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Who painted the trim around your window glass black?

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337404
11/20/12 04:13 PM
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Quote:

Who painted the trim around your window glass black?




Actually its the 71 only textured trim used on vinyl roof cars.

I do not have any documentation at present to indicate that it was ordered with louvers. I have gone back to the owners up to the 90's and have confirmed that they have been on the car at least that long.

They are the correct type that screw into the car and the inner piece is removal by pushing a spring loaded pin on the lower RH side. The bad part about them is that they leak!


'73 GK6 Challenger Rallye - 340 4-Speed
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71383beep] #1337405
11/20/12 04:54 PM
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Hey thats the ebay car isn't it? Look on the finder tag, it will say j 68 if it came with them. I looked at that car a lot on ebay, if its the same one. I'm not sure but I think they are supposed to be body color. Sure is a nice car.Do you drive it much? But back to what the original poster asked, you will be sick if you put those cheap plastic ones on your car.

Last edited by 71 RR- J68; 11/20/12 05:06 PM.
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337406
11/20/12 09:23 PM
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Omg think i need to add some weight to the rear of my car

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: sogtx] #1337407
11/20/12 09:32 PM
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Window Louvers come with the textured trim.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: scatpacktom] #1337408
11/20/12 10:41 PM
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I have a FACTORY, louver Road Runner, and it has regular polished trim just like all the others. But for those who would like to put them on their car, you have to do a lot of sanding and finishing to make them look right, no where near bolt on. And from what I remember most cars were body color except black and white cars, and maybe a couple of others. But even after all the work, a 71 with airgraber and louvers, you just can't beat that for looks.I've owned my car sense 74 and never get tried of looking at it.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337409
11/21/12 12:18 AM
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Quote:

Hey thats the ebay car isn't it? Look on the finder tag, it will say j 68 if it came with them. I looked at that car a lot on ebay, if its the same one. I'm not sure but I think they are supposed to be body color. Sure is a nice car.Do you drive it much? But back to what the original poster asked, you will be sick if you put those cheap plastic ones on your car.




Yeah it was on ebay twice. both times no one hit his reserve. One guy came within $500 I guess but he never called and asked. If he did...I would not have owned it.

he was a real nice guy and took great care of it.

I drive it quite a bit. Flat out one of the best driving mopars i have owned. Starts easy and cruises beautifully. My family has really enjoyed it.

No J68 on the FT though...



'73 GK6 Challenger Rallye - 340 4-Speed
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71383beep] #1337410
11/21/12 12:22 AM
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Just because it didn't come with louvers, who cares. That and an air grabber are two of the best looking things that can be put on one. I'd take it, that is if I didn't already have one that has eat me out of house and home.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337411
11/21/12 03:00 AM
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Quote:

Just because it didn't come with louvers, who cares. That and an air grabber are two of the best looking things that can be put on one. I'd take it, that is if I didn't already have one that has eat me out of house and home.




Believe me I ain't complaining!


'73 GK6 Challenger Rallye - 340 4-Speed
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71383beep] #1337412
11/21/12 10:02 AM
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Theoretically '70-71 Plymouths with rear window louvers were to receive textured rear window trim (E+B body) as one would not want to bring attention to shiny trim underneath satin black louvers.

How consistently the trim got installed is another issue entirely.

It is surprising that the Dodge designers missed this detail as Dodge was technically more upscale than Plymouth....

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: YYZ] #1337413
11/21/12 10:55 AM
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Louvers were a 71 only thing, 70s had a whole different body line. And from what I've been told only black and white cars got black louvers. I've seen a orange car with orange louvers, so the black trim would stick out like a sore thumb. It would be nice to know when the holes were added to the roof and 1/4 panel, were they drilled after the fact or stamped during the panel mfg. process.We found evidence that my car was taken off the line and had some more paint work done, but don't know what or why.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337414
11/21/12 10:58 AM
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Quote:

... And from what I remember most cars were body color except black and white cars, and maybe a couple of others...




According to the info from the Road Runner Nest:

Backlight Louvers (J68) were body color on the following colors:

GB5 - True Blue
GF7 - Sherwood Green
JF6 - Sassy Grass Green
EV2 - Tor-Red

On all other colors, louvers were flat black.

Backlight louvers were N/A on cars registered in the state of Pennsylvania.

Backlight louvers required G31 and G33 (Left and Right Chrome racing mirrors) or G36 (Painted Racing mirrors, L&R)


This leads me to believe that my car probably was not an original louvered car because it has the standard LH side mirror, but without the BS there is no 100% sure way to tell at this point.

I am surprised that FC7 was not listed as a body color option for the louvers.

I have scene a B5 GTX with body color louvers and painted bumpers and the car looked absolutely bada$$!


'73 GK6 Challenger Rallye - 340 4-Speed
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337415
11/21/12 11:47 AM
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Quote:

Louvers were a 71 only thing, 70s had a whole different body line. And from what I've been told only black and white cars got black louvers. I've seen a orange car with orange louvers, so the black trim would stick out like a sore thumb. It would be nice to know when the holes were added to the roof and 1/4 panel, were they drilled after the fact or stamped during the panel mfg. process.We found evidence that my car was taken off the line and had some more paint work done, but don't know what or why.




To clarify, '70-'71 E-bodies, '71 B-bodies

As far as I'm concerned Chrysler was fairly sloppy with how they handled louver-equipped cars, particularly E-bodies.

Theoretically, E-bodies should have Rivnuts in the roof where the louver hinges would mount (much like the ones used for outside mirrors).

However, I had an original J68 '71 Challenger coded for and equipped with louvers (and backed up by the original fender tag & build sheet), yet there were no Rivnuts in the roof - just some small, crudely punched holes to hold a sheetmetal screw.

Oddly enough, another Moparts member across the country wound up with the car built immediately after mine (1 VIN number off), identically equipped and with the same deficiency with respect to the mounting of the louvers.

Ditto for Challenger rubber bumpers - they generally don't show up on the tag, just the build sheet.

So it's not implausible that the same kind of sloppiness carried over to the B-body lines. Did the EL5 car come with louvers from the factory? Maybe - but we'll never know for sure...

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: YYZ] #1337416
11/21/12 02:50 PM
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Yes and some could be differences from plant to plant. Now the B bodies don't have hinges like E bodies, and my car had rivnuts in it. What does EL5 stand for? Some of the guys over on road road runnernest might know about this.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: scatpacktom] #1337417
11/21/12 02:59 PM
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Quote:

Window Louvers come with the textured trim.



My 71 Charger R/T came with louvers from the factory. It has the stainless window mouldings. I personally have never seen the textured black mouldings on a factory louver car before.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: demon] #1337418
11/21/12 03:25 PM
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EL5 is the code for Butterscotch/Bahama Yellow which is one of the cars being discussed in this thread

Only Plymouth seemed to bother with the textured trim for louvers - not Dodge. (Challengers don't get special trim with louvers, only 'Cudas)

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: YYZ] #1337419
11/21/12 03:36 PM
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Quote:

If you haven't done so already, track down Jimmy Boros in MN as he's held the title of key '71-up B-body specialist since Ray Kerkhoven passed away several years ago.

Jimmy is a good guy to deal with and if he doesn't have any louvers may be able to give you some leads.

Ray, before he passed away, had made moulds for both Charger & RR louvers that were quite respectable. If you can find a set of those they would be a great substitute.

Originals have a latch mechanism which is not easy to duplicate, and very few '71-up B-bodies came equipped with louvers (as compared to E-bodies)

Good luck!




My buddy had a set for sale at Carlisle this past July that he removed from a '71 318 Charger and the only person that was even remotely interested in them was Jimmy. He paid some good money for them.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 70440+6bbl] #1337420
11/22/12 06:34 AM
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I have scene a B5 GTX with body color louvers and painted bumpers and the car looked absolutely bada$$!

Like this one

7471921-P7015417.JPG (608 downloads)
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: PasiR] #1337421
11/22/12 11:13 AM
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I wonder if that is a factory louver car, the trim is polished and not black. I have seen that car before. They really look good body color, but then again so does black like the car above. I kinda don't like the wing, makes it too cluttered looking, kinda what do I look at first the wing or the louvers. There was an orange car in Year Ones catalogue once with body color louvers. I remember when I saw my car in 1974, I was 19, the car was Black, with louvers and air grabber, very sinister looking, I just had to have it. Paid $1400 or $1500 for it can't remember.

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71birdJ68] #1337422
11/22/12 11:28 AM
11/22/12 11:28 AM
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The EL5 car was purchased out of Canada by a friend. It is original paint & didn't have spoilers or the rear window louvers at that time, he added them. I was with him when he picked up the car & when he drilled the holes. The louvers are reproduction by a guy out of NV that found them to be to labor intensive to continue.

My 71 RR came with both spoilers & rear window louvers. Polished trim on the back window.

7472080-fromRoy487.jpg (343 downloads)
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: PRPLHAZ] #1337423
11/22/12 11:31 AM
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another pick from during the resto

7472085-fromRoy462.jpg (910 downloads)
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: PRPLHAZ] #1337424
11/22/12 09:50 PM
11/22/12 09:50 PM
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Quote:

The EL5 car was purchased out of Canada by a friend. It is original paint & didn't have spoilers or the rear window louvers at that time, he added them. I was with him when he picked up the car & when he drilled the holes. The louvers are reproduction by a guy out of NV that found them to be to labor intensive to continue.





PRPLHZ - are you saying that the EL5 car has had 2 tours of duty in Canada? If so, I'm curious what the approximate dates were?

btw - your GY3 car looks awesome!

Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: PasiR] #1337425
11/24/12 02:42 AM
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Quote:

I have scene a B5 GTX with body color louvers and painted bumpers and the car looked absolutely bada$$!

Like this one




Yep...like I said BADA$$!


'73 GK6 Challenger Rallye - 340 4-Speed
Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: PRPLHAZ] #1337426
11/24/12 02:49 AM
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Quote:

The EL5 car was purchased out of Canada by a friend. It is original paint & didn't have spoilers or the rear window louvers at that time, he added them. I was with him when he picked up the car & when he drilled the holes. The louvers are reproduction by a guy out of NV that found them to be to labor intensive to continue.

My 71 RR came with both spoilers & rear window louvers. Polished trim on the back window.






WOW! PRPLHAZ you have a PM!

Well one question answer with much more questions to follow.

It just proves that it truly is a small world when it comes to mopars.


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Re: 71 -72 B body window louvers [Re: 71383beep] #1337427
11/24/12 01:17 PM
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Yes, the car came out of Canada about 10 years ago, was in Michigan for a few years, then back to Canada (Ian) for a few years, then Dante bought it & owned it for several years, then to the guy that ebayed it this past summer.

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