So, I like 'em and am keeping them on my IROC for now. My ride is nearly idential to Scott Moyer's seen on this thread below:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...=Hatch+Louvers[/URL]

The dark red metallic car about midway down.

But I'm not here to defend my car or my opinions - I'm happy and secure with both.

My louvers are the factory aluminum kind, not plastic. Question is how the devil does one clean them beyond regular car washing? Were they originally a flat finish? Or were they originally Satin or gloss finish?

If I want to refinish them, should I look for a good paint shop or what about powdercoating them?

I really hope to get them cleaned up and not have to repaint them right now but they seem to be pretty oxidized - they look alright but are just starting to take on a faded-out look.

Any advice on general cleaning and care of louvers?

Thanks all, K

 

Hmm, thats hard to say since they are oxidized. I would recommend washing them with a lusterizer and then maybe a quick detail wax afterwards. thats about as good as it;s going to get. If you have a really good paint job on your car, I wouldn;t skimp on the louvers. I would get them painted to match and clearcoated. Then, you can just wash and wax them along with your car.

Disclaimer - I've never had a set of louvers (altough I wish I did), so I'm really just giving some general input.

 

I hear ya - I'm a little worried about putting wax on them because it might be real hard to get off.

Like I said, they don't look too shabby - to clarify on the oxidization comment I just meant that it's like they might have had a satin finish originally and now they are a flat finish. Still black, I guess to be real technical it's a dark grey/flat black color - does this make sense?

So, mainly asking because I'm nervous about waxing/armor-all-ing/etc them for fear or messing them up.

 

why wouldnt your regular car wash soap & water clean them?...i have a friend & as far as i know he just uses water & the car wash soap on them...i dont think he puts any waxes or anything on them...if it were me i wouldnt use any waxes or armor all on them but i could be wrong on this

 

Yeah, I should have probably said that wax would need to be a last resort. And definately, like Camarogirl said, no armor all. Contrary to popular belief, that high shine armor all stuff really helps fade your exterior stuff. Anyways, like I said, a good lusterizer is your best bet. If you know someone who sells Amway, ask them about lusterizer. They make a product they sell for firetrucks and stuff like that. It will work unbelievably well on our cars and the louvers as well.

 

camarogirl18 - again, my bad communication - regular car wash is cleaning them up just fine - my main concern is that they are begining to fade a little and that is what I'm hoping I can slow down or improve upon a bit. For some reason I've just not been able to clearly state my problem lately - a personal issue, I know ;-)

EYEROCK89 - I'll have to look into this lusterizer stuff - don't know any Amway people - got any other sources?

As for refininshing them, if I go that route, it'll not be a half arsed job. I'm a little afraid that a regular paint shop won't get it right if they haven't done them before - any ideas here? That's kind of why I wish I knew if they were originally flat finish or a satin finish.

Thanks for the help thus far all,
K

 

Well, the easiest thing to do would be to call around to some shops and see if they have painted them or know the correct process to do it. Ask and you shall recieve. ALso, I check on that lusterizer for you and see what I can come up with.

 

ooooooooh ok...gotcha! sorry i dont think i read it right-lol...good luck with it!