Where to find the woodgrain??

[ent72olds]

Gentlemen and possible ladies...getting set to start the winter project of a frame-on body resto of my brother's '70 VISTA. Any ideas or contacts where I could find the woodgrain? Is there a kit or do I have to wing it with a woodgrain contact paper(possibly 3M)...any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[442garage]

Originally Posted by ent72olds

Gentlemen and possible ladies...getting set to start the winter project of a frame-on body resto of my brother's '70 VISTA. Any ideas or contacts where I could find the woodgrain? Is there a kit or do I have to wing it with a woodgrain contact paper(possibly 3M)...any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

New Life Auto Trim (Riverside, CA) - 909-785-7800
- Beaver Stripes & Molding Supply (Phoenix, AZ); 602-269-8000
- J.C. Whitney carries it in various sizes.....312-431-6102
3M (3M Automotive Trades Division, 3M Center 223-6N, St. Paul, MN 55144-1000, 800-364-3577) no longer manufactures the OEM woodgrain because Chrysler and GM have stopped using it. However, they do manufacture woodgrain for the aftermarket and RV industry, but they don't market it themselves. 3M sells it to a company called Sharpline Converting. Sharpline will sell it to you or guide you to a distributor in your area, usually an auto striping or graphics supplier. The woodgrain comes in three colors:
1.Berma Teak #579 (light in color).
2.Marine Teak #581 (darker in color).
3.Cherry Oak #578 (reddish in color).
You should be able to request a sample. It comes in 15", 18", and 30" widths, with lengths from 10 to 50 yards. Some have reported that this woodgrain is thinner than the OEM. (Thanks to Mike Bruyere for the 3M information.)
Bunny Bakers, PO Box 3950, Salem OR 97302. They have many, many types & colors of fake wood, in 54" rolls, from regular grain, cross cut, 1/4 cut, burls etc. They can even do the black lines in Ford trim. They will also send samples.

[Bluevista]

Originally Posted by ent72olds

Gentlemen and possible ladies...getting set to start the winter project of a frame-on body resto of my brother's '70 VISTA. Any ideas or contacts where I could find the woodgrain? Is there a kit or do I have to wing it with a woodgrain contact paper(possibly 3M)...any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Cool, another Vista Cruiser saved from the crusher. I have a '71 two seater, three year one winter project, it will be Nordic blue again in the spring hopefully.
The woodgrain (or applique as the manual calls it) is 3M vinyl as 442garage says and is available but no longer from GM, 3M Di-Noc specifically. NOS stuff comes up rarely and never enough to do a car.
The widths and lengths are very important or you end up with a lot of very expensive waste or the grain not matching on the doors and front fender. There are nine seperate pieces used on each side and one for the tailgate. The fenders are three seperate pieces, doors one each, quarters use four but one is just a little hunk.
I may go with Woodgrains for Wagons in Long Beach CA but still haven't made up my mind, have to check around some more.

I made a crude but effective drawing I will attach (if you promise not to laugh ) that shows sizes and what size pieces would be needed with the wrapping and under the trim. I sent it to them last year at their request to get an idea of what the Vistas needed.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/...cfda2c82_o.jpg

The widest piece shows about 14 inches. They use 18 inch to be sure that it covers and you can wrap it around the edges and go under the trim with not too much waste. The lengths are made individually so waste is eliminated and you don't lose a useless end.
In fact, they just sent me a post card with a Country Squire on it to keep them in mind.

They have a Birch Wood color that is a little light but looks pretty good that I may go with unless I can find better. I have a sample they sent me and it is much darker than the color on their website, but colors are never correct online. The original was more of a dark brown with a walnut grain and what they have now in walnut is mostly for Fords and is too red IMO but the PC color thing could be skewing it.
I was just looking at their new photo gallery and the Cheby looks good, have to find out what it is.

I like their logo... "Got Woodgrain?"

http://www.woodgrain4wagons.com/

Allan

[ent72olds]

Thanks 442garage and amh555 for the quick and thorough responses. If I can't find it now then I must be blind! I will try your suggestions and let you know how I make out. Also, amh555, the drawing is actually very good. Maybe I'll send it to the same guys you did and get some samples. It's awesome to have a network of good people with the same passion for oldses as myself. Also, I'll get some before, during and after pics posted as soon as I have them...

[Bluevista]

Cool, keep up to date, pics with stories are a liked very much here.
I guess the drawing is okay, the printing is a little sloppy.

Whoever you use may want to add a little to those numbers to be sure it covers wrapping around the edges. I have been known to make a mistake or two, , so you may want to double check before ordering anything, maybe with some paper cut to size if you really want to be sure.

Allan

[rocketraider]

Seems like I read in this month's Hemmings Classic Car that Di-Noc is being made again. Trouble is the mag is at the other house.

Seems like I remember some years the stuff was translucent so the woodgrain would take on the color of the car.

[yogi442]

Just received my wood grain from JC Whitney 2 days ago for my project. Three widths with 20 ft length.

[Bluevista]

Let us know how it goes yogi442, need pics. I'm open to anything.

I wouldn't be surprised if it did that rocketraider, the later stuff was thinner. The old stuff is like heavy contact paper and is printed on a tan di-noc vinyl.

The stuff sure protects the bottom of the sides, the tan colored steel edges to protect the woodgrain help too.
I stripped it off and it looked like fresh shiny paint where it didn't take the paint off with it.

Allan

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/...e3f0b48187.jpg

[kurtdaniel]

you might find one on autopartswarehouse.com..i purchase most of my oldsmobile and cadillac parts there..