So I just took 8 year old PUI door panels still new in the box never installed, out of the box for the second time. The wood grain trim appears to have been effected by the heat of the garage and wrinkled up. I’m going to call PUI Monday morning and see what they will say. Since I cant find the receipt and I bought them 8 years ago I doubt they will be very helpful. So my options as I see them would be to try to repair the trim or replace the trim or the complete panels. If PUI isn’t helpful and I can’t repair the trim and I need to replace the panels I will be using Legendary.

Does anybody have any suggestions on repairing the trim? I was thinking of trying some heat to try to soften the glue and start to work it back flat again, but it doesn’t appear to be glued. It looks like it’s just stretched out and the chrome mylar strips are holding it. I also thought of carefully cutting around the edges then try to glue it down flat. Any help or ideas are appreciated.

 

That doesnt look good. Maybe try laying it out in the sun check it every 15 mins or so, but i suspect its just going to bunch up again.

 

Yeah, I have them in the sun now, so far no noticeable change. I also thought of trying to slide some sort of filler between the door panel material and the wood grain, that’s when I discovered the indentation that goes around the edge of the wood grain is bonded to the door panel. I might be able to get a filler inside the middle section and stretch out those wrinkles some, but the one inch border outside of the bonded indention would still be very wrinkly. I’m hoping PUI steps up and either let’s me ship them these panels back so they can replace the wood grain, or gives me a big discount on some unassembled panels, then I can transfer over the top rails an other pieces.

 

I have found when dealing w a problem situation like this if you tell the company what it would take to make you happy it frequently happens.

IE “ hoping PUI steps up and either let’s me ship them these panels back so they can replace the wood grain, or gives me a big discount on some unassembled panels, then I can transfer over the top rails an other pieces.”

Anyone can see that should never happen they should step up lets hope they do.

 

If you can live without the heat bonding stripes, you could also cut your own replacement using 3m wood grain vinyl stickers. They still sell a bunch of different simulated wood grains. I found a great one for my 66 98.

As I recall, it’s generally sold in rolls mainly intended for the outside of wagons like the vista cruiser.

 

Ack. Good luck and sorry that you're stuck with that very common issue from their door panels. I always mention PUI's garbage bag woodgrain wrinkles every time I can when people here or on Facebook Olds groups ask where to buy door panels. Never PUI.

Terry

 

Here's the stuff I used for my '98. Very very close match the original dash woodgrain. Color, burl, pattern, everything

3M DI-NOC WG-430 MARINE TEAK WOODGRAIN 15in x 36in Vinyl Film Series

3m Di-NoC wood grain vinyl. Good stuff to replace door panels in a '66 98


I suspect that the woodgrain pattern is different in your Cutlass/442, but at least this is a start to your search.

Good luck with PUI and/or where ever you wind up on this.

Chris

 

Yep. I had a set of PUI door panels do the same thing years ago. I didn't use them. But your panels look good except for the woodgrain. It would be worth trying what cfair is suggesting.