bigblack68 - yes - we figured out a solution for the louvers.
i was gonna do what you did - except with a piece of stainless steel (to look all shiny and pretty). but i was unable to. because my hood is sloped a lot more than yours(its a 67-68 hood), the clearance between the bottom surface of the hood (at the front louvers) and the top surface of the center fan shroud was actually too small to allow anything to go inbetween them. i was amazed at how close the two come, and didnt believe it until i saw it with my own eyes. it would be possible to slip in a stainless steel sheet, but it would require some welding to the hood, which would ruin my current paint job.
i actually ended up sealing each louver individually with an inexpensive flexible adhesive. its a clear adhesive you can buy at walmart. i placed painters tape on the top surface of the hood at each louver, then smeared adhesive to the bottom. then, i waited less than 24 hours, and removed the painters tape (just when the adhesive was goey, but not solid). i have to still try to paint it. so, its not done yet. still in the works. *but*, my engine is finally dry! time for the chrome!
68 stepside, the reason that i removed the orange paint in the first place was not only because it was flaking, but also because the orange color of the paint didnt match the red of my truck. now, it sounds like everyone here is calling it "red" and not "orange" paint. but, if you put it up against my truck, its definitely orange. my biggest question is how do i know what the proper color would be? is there a paint color/code i can go by?
thanks!
jewels.