Legendary vs. PUI Seat Covers and Door Panels
 

Swapping out my old PUI door panels and seat covers with Legendary replacements. The door panels were from the mid '90s and the seat covers from 2004-ish, so I'm not sure how they compare to PUI quality today, but there's a noticeable difference between the two.

Door panels: the PUI units are much puffier and less rigid than the Legendary replacements. The Legendary units are more like I remember the originals.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567443

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567505

Legendary panel installed:
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567550

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567581

The Legendary seat covers have deeper pleats, but still not quite as deep as I remember the OEM covers. Overall the vinyl and materials are thicker and much better quality than on the old covers. You can see where the PUI cover was starting to split, the construction on the Legendary is much more robust in that area so I don't anticipate that happening with these.


PUI cover - notice that lack of depth in the pleats.
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567803

PUI on the bottom, Legendary on the top
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567838

The PUI covers were tearing near the back corner:
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567861

Legendary covers look more robust in that area with thicker padding on the side.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567907

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581567949

Will post some more pics once I get them installed, but they look like a nice upgrade so far.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581568038

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1581568064

Very nice upgrade I'd say. And you just decided me on what brand I'll be getting. Legendary looks WAY better.

I inherited "Distinction" (from OPGI) interior panels and covers when I bought my car back. I have already installed the bucket seat covers and definitely don't care for them. I have a Legendary bench seat cover on my ELCo and the difference is night and day between the two. Legendary will be going into the Goat.

Legendary here too...

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1581614710

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1581614934

That looks absolutely OEM ... maybe better.

Greg,
Did you buy the complete kit for your door panels or did you use the original upper frame?

I used my original uppers. They were surface rusted but completely solid and cleaned up pretty well with some phosphoric acid. They are attached by a method most won't be able to duplicate. Maybe you guys have seen it but there are square shaped holes punched through the metal upper and the four points...think the four spaces in an 'X' are imbedded into the heavy cardboard panel.
For some reason, I can't attach a pic right now. If I could, I wouldn't have been so wordy.
Anyway, I started looking for some type of rivet that would work and ran across some two piece rivets that are usually used in leatherwork. Like the rivets you see in a belt where it folds over the buckle, purse strap, etc. All you need is a drill to make a row of new holes, a small hammer and a solid base for an anvil.

I reused my uppers with the PUI panels and used short pop rivets to attach the cards. I bought pre-assembled panels from Legendary figuring they had the proper machinery and materials to do a better job than I would. Pricey for sure, I suppose that's the laziness tax.

I'm up in the air about my door panels, The OEM pieces look pretty good, a bit of mildew, but are solid. I kinda like that old car smell :)

If you like them I see no reason to change them. I only dyed my rear seat cover because it was in good shape. The rest I replaced.

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Unfortunately my panels were all baked in the California sun. Thanks Greg for the ideas. I have a spare set of panels, maybe I'll practice with the Distinctive Industries set and see how it looks. If I fubar it I'll buy the preassembled. :smash:

Greg- how does your original rear seat cover compare to the Legendary covers in the front? Specifically curious how the pleats compare. My memory is of the pleats being more squared and a little deeper, but I could be wrong. That memory comes from spending hours with a toothbrush trying to clean the seats when I got the car ;)

I think they match perfectly in pattern. Also, the SEM dye matched the new Legendary stuff absolutely spot on. Had to get it from TCP Global as SEM told me that their codes didn't go back that far.
I'll try to post pics again later tonight.


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Try this again...
Ok, all of this except the console cover came with my car and I dyed it all. The cover was new and black. SEM makes a good product. It has lasted for 8 years with no peeling or chipping.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1581732032

The 'rivets' I used..

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1581732436

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1581732705

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1581732943

Plot twist - it turns out the old seat covers are from Distinctive Industries. Huh. Now that I think about it, I remember ordering them from OPG and being really unhappy. Maybe because I was expecting PUI.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1582562364

I uncovered an interesting technique when disassembling the seats. Rather than hog ringing the listing wires to the upper seat frame, the upholstery shop attached a few inches of muslin in several places, fed that through the foam, pulled it tight and hog ringed it to the frame.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1582562600

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1582562632

Got the rear seat and part of the passenger seat done. Got a few blisters from clipping old hog rings and installing new ones, and my upper body is getting a work out from all the stretching. They're looking good though. Legendary has a number of install videos on YouTube that were helpful.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1582562657

Your progress is shaming me, I'm uncomfortable, I need my safe space :)

I have an anxious 12 year old urging me to complete this project because car show season is approaching. Also, the longer parts sit out in the garage, the more questions my wife asks :D

Legendary here....no issues really!