Sport Slats before or after paint?

[TexasEd 165]

I'm thinking of adding the chin spoiler and Sport Slats (Rear Louvers) on my car but not the rear spoiler.  Also might add a 70 grabber stripe.  Looks like a 69 Boss 302 without the writing.

I'm going with the NPD reproduction on the louvers.  Since I am having my car painted I was thinking it might be good to have them fitted before they paint the car.  I am having the rear glass taken out and reinstalled too so I don't know if that creates a problem later. 

It might be nice to save that $600 parts expense until later but then I would be drilling into a painted car.  And then I've had the car since 85 and haven't put them on yet.  Maybe I would not like driving with them after they are installed and then too late.

What would you do?

[RPM 1,141]

I'd fit and drill the holes before paint. I used the chin spoiler from NPD, which fit great and installed easily. 

[TexasEd 165]

40 minutes ago, RPM said:

I'd fit and drill the holes before paint. I used the chin spoiler from NPD, which fit great and installed easily. 

There are two chin spoilers the cheap one in stock and the expensive on not in stock, $114 vs $362.  Is one 3x better than the other one?   

[det0326 171]

Always loved the look of the louvers just never could bring myself to drill the holes in the roof. You and Bob are right tho if you are going to do it fit before paint

[RPM 1,141]

The page I'm looking at has 3 chin spoilers, I'm using the middle priced one.

. 

[jmlay 73]

12 hours ago, RPM said:

I'd fit and drill the holes before paint. I used the chin spoiler from NPD, which fit great and installed easily. 

I second this. In addition I would fit the glass, trim& gasket before positioning & drilling, skip the sealer inside the gasket until the final install.

Have you been in a car with louvers? If not you might want to find someone that has them installed so that you may experience them and their quirks before drilling any holes. I had them on an 82 GT & my 69 Mach1, will not be going back on the Mach1 after paint. In both cases the rattles drove me crazy. Als a pain the rear to  clean the glass. But they look great. :-)

[Brian Conway 247]

The rear window louvers came with my car.  The only plus I can share is that they help to prevent sun fade at the rear fold down carpet.  Given the choice I would have left them off. Brian

[Mach1 Driver 511]

Interesting responses. I agree it looks great and I would do it before painting. The squeaks and rattles probably would annoy me, but man that car looks good with the slats, and its the only car that does. Since mine didn't come with the added rear wing, they just won't look good to me. The chin spoiler is a must! One thing that car needs is a good backup camera. I put one on my C5 and it helped immensely.

[RPM 1,141]

9 hours ago, Mach1 Driver said:

Interesting responses. I agree it looks great and I would do it before painting. The squeaks and rattles probably would annoy me, but man that car looks good with the slats, and its the only car that does. Since mine didn't come with the added rear wing, they just won't look good to me. The chin spoiler is a must! One thing that car needs is a good backup camera. I put one on my C5 and it helped immensely.

Yep, I agree.  The rear visibility is so poor I added a rear camera on the license plate frame. It works pretty well but mine doesn't have enough side view to see all the way to the outer edges. Better than nuttin though. 

 

[Ridge Runner 1,041]

My first 69 Mach 1 had louvers ,rear spoiler and front chin spoiler  . When i bought it back in the early eighties the guy had them new still in the ford boxes ,he said they came in the trunk when he bought the car new . I put them on the car my self ,never really had much trouble wit the rear view but it seems they squeaked against rear glass and i think i put some one sided sticky foam on the bottom to stop it . ,it was just a small piece .

Mine being  meadowlark yellow with black out hood and shaker i thought it really looked great !

[TexasEd 165]

Thanks for all the replies. I did not realize the squeaky noises were a problem. Would probably drive me crazy. My rear valance squeaks on every bump now and I hate it. 
 

is it the gasket or frame against the glass or is it the structure of the louvers?

[jmlay 73]

Both.

[Brian Conway 247]

Gasket around the perimeter and some bumps down the center. Brian

[TexasEd 165]

Ok. Serious second thoughts now. Probably not going to get them. 
 

You all have bee very helpful. 

[Grabber70Mach 101]

I like mine, I'm seriously surprised that most can hear them I don't.  Shoot if the exhaust isn't load enough then turn up the tunes. :)

[EastYorkStang 58]

Have them as well. Never heard any rattles. Make sure the latches at the bottom are tight. Or have a loud exhaust.

[Ridge Runner 1,041]

Nagging wife or girl friend also helps drown all squeaks and rattles ...although the stress level is probably just as high as the squeak and rattle !

[RPM 1,141]

1 hour ago, Ridge Runner said:

Nagging wife or girl friend also helps drown all squeaks and rattles ...although the stress level is probably just as high as the squeak and rattle !

Huh, I've found that squeaks and high pitched noises come from the nagging wife or girlfriend. 

 

[EastYorkStang 58]

On 12/13/2022 at 11:24 AM, Ridge Runner said:

Nagging wife or girl friend also helps drown all squeaks and rattles ...although the stress level is probably just as high as the squeak and rattle !

That's how my car quieted down after they left.