Houston54,

I had a '51 with 4 rows of louvers punched into the hood. This didn't degrade the integrity at all..if anything, all the little bends make it more stiff.

If you look in the gallery at the '51's, you can just make out the louvers in the hood of 'Big Black'.

When you have a louvered hood, washing the truck also soaks the engine (and all its chrome). Some folks had a sheet metal pan permanently attached to the bottom of the hood with a drain hose leading to the ground.

Make sure who ever does the louvers is a absolute perfectionist as you see them every time you drive, and they must be perfect.


Stuart