Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Been working on and off on my vent project and have come to the point of making and fitting the louvers. Could really use input from someone who has actually seen one up close or better yet has photos.

Have got the functional geometry mostly worked out and sized for my slightly different shaped casting. Need to refine the fit slightly but before going any farther with remaking the lovers to something looking decent and working on the knob assy have a question on the shape of the individual pieces and how the louvers fit together.

I have photos of different units in the car but they are all taken at an angle. From what I see, the louver shape appears to be different between units. First question is were they different between years or models or is the angle the photo was taken causing them to look different.

What I see as different is mostly the center slat and inside edges of the others. The top and bottom louvers have curves on one edge to fit the casting but on one or two photos the center louver also appears curved like they were all the same stamping with round corners on both edges. That would make them look like the bottom photo when closed. On another photo the center looks more square and would look more like the top photo. Anyone know which is correct.

Second question is do they overlap as I show in the top photo or do they meet more edge to edge like the bottom and then how tightly do they close. Are they mostly a directional function and really don't move more than a few degrees or do they actually work at laying flat which could be considered shut.

Any help would be appreciated, particularly a decent photo looking straight down at the vent closed.

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I really could use a second opinion. Am trying to make louvers and from these photos of an original taken at an angle think the corners on the 41-2 vent are probably rounded. Since it appears there are no straight on photos available the question now is how much round.

Made the first fit attempt freehand just for feel and might be too much rounding but can anyone give guidance based on the photos. Apparently the 40 vent has no operating handle and the blades are more squared on the ends and have limited range. The later ones are thought to be different but the question is did they round the corners when adding the knob.

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First off, beautiful work on your casting!
I don't have the personal knowledge on the louvers but, have been watching with intense interest as my son and I want to do something similar with a 1707, we know it wasn't available
but we are approaching from a "what if someone during the summer of 39 had said I'll order a twelve if" and they had been willing to modify the same units they were readying for
the 18th series.
JSL

A little progress on the vent. Here is the first one painted, usable and complete with louvers. I may use it or may use the next one if it is better.

Anyone care to speculate how the originals were finished. I painted this one because of the casting but looking at the few photos I have they appear to be different. One looks chromed, one natural pot metal and one where the center might be painted to match the upholstery with the bottom and top lip chromed.

Didn't have a good feel for how the lovers on an original looked or worked so this is my interpretation. They do close smoothly though. There is a possibility the next louver blades can be laser cut instead of freehand. Still working on that idea and improving how I do the the crude castings.

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I never saw your request for photos until now. Here is mine.
It is from a 1940, so there is no handle on the side. Each louver swivels individually.

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Thanks for the photos and confirming the difference between 40 and later vents. That is the first photo I've seen showing the underside. Mine is slightly different but too late to change it now. I went with the later style and the knob controlling the louvers since Clippers didn't arrive until later and probably would have had the knob.

That one looks to be painted all the same color including the top and bottom lip. Any idea if stock or if maybe it was repainted at some time. If stock, the color looks to be sort of like the same grayish shade as some of the evaporator units but hard to tell.

Original paint on this (what's left of it). Color is same as steering column and evaporator. We had a 1942 Clipper with origiinal a/c, and the vent was all one color on that one, too.