NLA Panels update?

[The Volkswagen Ranch]

Does anyone know if NLA has responded to our “ comments” about their interior wood panels warping in drier climates, and added changes to their production process to improve the product? I am going to need to replace the NLA panels the PO put on our Westy that warped ( and rolled up!) 3 months later after we bought the bus! Thanks, Bob
_________________
1963 Convertible (Lizzie) and 1964 Convertible (Patience) 1976 Westfalia (Winnie)

[ivwshane]

Not that I’ve heard of.

I have some of their panels but I haven’t installed them. The back of the panels is very cheap plywood. I was planning on sealing them first before installing them but I think I read that that doesn’t help.

I should add; in wood working it’s common practice to apply a veneer to the back of a panel to help reduce warping. I wonder it you could add a cheap laminate to the back of the panel, although it would increase its thickness slightly.
_________________
77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab

[The Volkswagen Ranch]

I’ve read everything i could find in the forums, and from what i’ve read you are correct. I am thinking the solution just might be to get some 3/16” plywood at home depot, find the” latest and greatest” laminate to be an acceptable match to the laminate on the cabinets ( not the over priced NLA stuff.... there are other very close options) glue it to the plywood and do a really first class finishing job on it. Really like the OEM look of their product, just wish they’d get it right.
_________________
1963 Convertible (Lizzie) and 1964 Convertible (Patience) 1976 Westfalia (Winnie)

[ivwshane]

[The Volkswagen Ranch]

And... then another option is to use the same stuff i used on my kick panels I just made . I think it is called “ pressboard”. This would solve the warping problem, the thickness with the laminate glued on would be 3/16” or even a little less.
_________________
1963 Convertible (Lizzie) and 1964 Convertible (Patience) 1976 Westfalia (Winnie)

[The Volkswagen Ranch]

And... then another option is to use the same stuff i used on my kick panels I just made . I think it is called “ pressboard”. This would solve the warping problem, the thickness with the laminate glued on would be 3/16” or even a little less.
_________________
1963 Convertible (Lizzie) and 1964 Convertible (Patience) 1976 Westfalia (Winnie)

[skills@eurocarsplus]

wish i had taken photos now....

working on a vanagon now and the panels on the slider/hatch/long wall had a basket weave 'wallpaper' on it much like the late bay headliner.

on the back side of the panels had this crazy "wall paper" that had strands/thread running in it, much like reinforced packing tape.

it for sure was factory, no doubts there. i have to wonder if it was to help with the panels warping

i literally just brought the old ones to the dump otherwise i would have snapped a pic
_________________

[The Volkswagen Ranch]

So I decided to write an email to the Bus Depot. They wrote me back that they are not aware of any production changes in the panels as of when my email was received. So, I am not going to purchase. I will work out the pressboard backing with laminate surface. Just need to find out who has samples . My local HD does not have any wood style samples. They said, “ go and look online”. Just hate it when I get that response. Bob
_________________
1963 Convertible (Lizzie) and 1964 Convertible (Patience) 1976 Westfalia (Winnie)

[Magion]

Here are my 5 cents.

I bought only one panel from NLA VW and it was the rear hatch panel.
Yes initially as moisture changed the panel warped. But as time went by the panel is now nice and flat and I have not seen any changes.
_________________
1975 Westfalia in Brilliant Orange
1995 Westfalia in Caribbean Green