Changing paint color

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WarDamnEagle

WarDamnEagle

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Anyone changed the color on their 4Runner or pickup and, if so, did you try to do something with the engine bay? When (still working it) we get a new fender and door for the 85 4Runner my son who is driving it has requested that we change the color. It's currently creme and we're thinking about a dark green (maybe like the limited edition FJC Army edition). The fiberglass top would stay black.

I know that the doors, jambs, etc. aren't that hard to do; just have to remove some interior trim but what about everything else, like the engine bay? Seems like a lot of trouble to do it correctly. For all I know, you really need to remove the body to do it "correctly"?

Experience and/or opinions welcome.
 
while i like the green,
i would leave it creme colored.

1. creme is pretty uncommon (at least around here) and doesnt look bad. i kind of like it.
2. no matter what color you paint it, you will always be able to tell.
3. no paint job is going to be as good as the toyota one, unless you take it completely down to a bare shell like you were saying.
4. it seems to me like resprays dont last as long especially if the tape joints (where old paint meets new) is in an area that sees and sun/rain/wear and tear

if it were me, i would leave it alone. if it needs to be painted because of differing colors on replacement parts i would maybe go the route of repainting the whole truck the same color it already is.

it will look much better (as i am sure creme paint has some dents dings and scratches, and fading as its 25 years old) and it will be much easier to do. you dont have to pull door jam trim or engine bay stuff cause its usually still in pretty good shape.
just need to get all of the exterior stuff off, (lights, blinkers, grill, bumpers etc) which is much less tedious than the whole thing.

in short, it will do WONDERS for the truck just to have new paint on it, regardless of what color it is. matching it just makes it that much easier on you. same benefit less work.
 
i did not try to do anything with the engine compartment, that area would take a
lot of prep, and degreaser. i did do my door jams, originally scuffed them with scotch brite, the paint chipped so when i did the camo i sanded them with a mouse sander, the paint is still chipping, but i think it has to do with a bad job when the PO had it painted. because where it chips off it is a bright Toyota red.
 
bryan89 said:
while i like the green,
i would leave it creme colored.

1. creme is pretty uncommon (at least around here) and doesnt look bad. i kind of like it.
2. no matter what color you paint it, you will always be able to tell.
3. no paint job is going to be as good as the toyota one, unless you take it completely down to a bare shell like you were saying.
4. it seems to me like resprays dont last as long especially if the tape joints (where old paint meets new) is in an area that sees and sun/rain/wear and tear

if it were me, i would leave it alone. if it needs to be painted because of differing colors on replacement parts i would maybe go the route of repainting the whole truck the same color it already is.

it will look much better (as i am sure creme paint has some dents dings and scratches, and fading as its 25 years old) and it will be much easier to do. you dont have to pull door jam trim or engine bay stuff cause its usually still in pretty good shape.
just need to get all of the exterior stuff off, (lights, blinkers, grill, bumpers etc) which is much less tedious than the whole thing.

in short, it will do WONDERS for the truck just to have new paint on it, regardless of what color it is. matching it just makes it that much easier on you. same benefit less work.
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Can't disagree with any of that. It was painted once before about 10 years ago. Just a single stage urethane job.

I'll probably just stay with the creme. The 17yo will be getting something different to drive when he goes off to college in the fall anyway. Then this one will go to the youngest who turns 15 in March.
 
If I didn't like my current color, this is the time to change it:

CabOnly.jpg


but fortunately I prefer red so it's staying that color. Engine compartment is getting painted too, it's all de-greased already. The only thing I'm not painting is the underbelly, it's got a healthy coating of grease and gear lube.
 
Replacement door and fender arrived yesterday so I drove around to a couple of shops that were recommended after making several calls that ended in frustration. It's amazing how many shops (as in most) do not do all over paint jobs. Anyway, I may have talked myself into changing the color to Toyota fusion sun yellow.

It's not that much more money and everything will be done except the engine bay below the inside lip (so the top few inches will be done). The top will stay black.
 
Went by the paint shop today and the 4Runner has made it from the body shop to the spray prep area. It should see the inside of the spray booth by the end of the week. These guys found dents and dings that I never knew existed.
Paint shop 001.webp
Paint shop 002.webp
Paint shop 003.webp
 
Whats the ball park cost on your project? Dont really need specifics if you are uncomfortable posting details.

I am in the same boat, I need new hood, both front fenders (not sure if that is what they are called), driver door, and the rocker panel underneath the driver door. I also want it taken down to bare metal.
 
^FWIW you rarely should ever take things down to bare metal. Prep is everything here and the factory sealant and primer coat are the best you'll find. Check out some body work forums for more info in case you need it clarified. :steer:
 
NorCalBorn-

Does this include if you are doing a resto? I am just wondering because lots of the hot rodders and muscle car guys take them down to metal and do show quality paint jobs.

Now I am not in the market for a show quality paint job but I figure a good paint job will set me back 5 grand with the body work and that's if I do most of the prep i.e. taking the DA to it and getting down to bare metal.

I am considering having a guy here in AZ that does some of the muscle cars that come through Barrett Jackson to do my paint.

He basically said I bring new hood, new fenders, and a new door, and a new rocker panel and he will do the job for 5k but I have to strip it down to bare metal. He said that the quality would be that of a very nice daily drive that just came off the showroom floor. I think I am paying extra though for a couple extra clear coats because sun here kills clear coats.
 
I won't know exactly until it's all said and done but roughly $3k, maybe a little under. That was with me sourcing the door and fender which cost me $500 shipped from California. I had a hard time finding the door that I needed. I could have gone new aftermarket on both the hood and the fender for less money but I was told by several sources that they never fit perfectly. That price includes spraying the top and everything else black that's on the exterior. I've talked to the actual paint guy several times and he's into restoring classic cars. I have no doubt that he will do more than I intended.

The shop uses the BASF Diamont base, clear system. It's not BASF's most expensive paint system but one under it.

He's also going to spray all the interior plastic pieces that I removed for $150.
 
WarDamnEagle said:
He's also going to spray all the interior plastic pieces that I removed for $150.
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cool....whats the process on that? can you pry any good tips out of him for spraying plastic and getting to hold up?

are you goin to go back with the classic brown???
 
bryan89 said:
cool....whats the process on that? can you pry any good tips out of him for spraying plastic and getting to hold up?

are you goin to go back with the classic brown???
Click to expand...

They scuff it with a scotchbrite pad after a good cleaning (simple green??). You don't want to sand it or you will remove the texture. They then spray it with an adhesion promoter and then follow with a topcoat that has a base made for flexibility.

I was going to do it myself with SEM products but I couldn't match the brown. And yes I'm going back with the original brown as the dash area is in great shape and I didn't want to pull all of that apart as well. To be honest, I don't know what I would change the interior color to if I did change it from brown.
 
NorCalBorn said:
^FWIW you rarely should ever take things down to bare metal. Prep is everything here and the factory sealant and primer coat are the best you'll find. Check out some body work forums for more info in case you need it clarified. :steer:
Click to expand...

I can't agree with this. Maybe on the newer trucks, but not something in my vintage.

I have a brand new OEM tailgate in the factory Toyota box sitting in my basement right now ($25 on eBay, yeah baby). I also have one OEM bed "skirt" part (that it turns out I don't need). The primer is very thin, I can scratch it off with my thumbnail.

I haven't started sanding my cab yet, but I know a lot of it will go down to bare metal. I have a body shop guy advising us on the project, that's what he says should be done.
 
Not the greatest photo as it was through a plexiglass window. I couldn't go into the booth as he had just sprayed a coat. So far it's been sealed, painted with 2 coats of white, and 2 coats of yellow. He said one more coat of yellow and then the clearcoat coats.

The doors, hood and tailgate were in another booth.
Paint shop 004.webp
 
*Sorry guys, I just saw the posts about the "take it to primer or metal" logics. I'm just still getting used to the new waterborne paints and after getting my right fender and hood+cowl+part of door allocated into the estimate (rock truck a couple months back plus wheeling damage) for blending I stand corrected.

Apparently with all the new style paints the only way to get that "Showroom" level quality is either a ton of prep work plus sealing plus finish work or take it down. One of my customer's shops is doing a couple of jobs referred over from Brizio's and I gotta admit that although not "show car" level like other's Roy handles, they're even nicer than the showroom stuff. Not bad and I should've snuck the chance to get pics.

:D I.O.W. I learned something today. ;)

As for the pic above, all I gotta say it that truck's future is so bright you gotta wear :cool: .
 
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