Frame on paint job? (1 Viewer)

[85roktoy]

The PO of my rig had a frame on “restoration” about 15yrs ago. The exterior paint job is an 5 out of 10 at best. Runs in the paint, thin areas that are chipping, orange peel, etc. The interior, top, and under the hood is good.

I’d love to have it repainted but don’t want to tare the whole thing apart if I don’t have to. Is a good exterior paint job possible without dissembling everything? What would your technique be? Obviously I wish it was the factory paint be we’re beyond that point.

 

[msapers]

You don't need to pull the tub off the frame but I'd remove the fenders, top, windshield frame, emblems, etc so that you can do a clean job and make sanding easier. You need to block sand all of that paint until the runs/orange peel is gone before you prime/paint it or those defects will exist in the new paint job also. If the current paint is thick enough, you may be able to wet sand and buff it to a pretty respectable finish.

 

[steffan]

no expert but like msapers said, you could block sand/ buff most of that orange peel/ runs and make it look much better. As long as you like the color, I don't see why you couldn't just mask it off, sand it and repaint it. There might be some small defects around the window trim/ edges but nothing you would notice. My paint was almost to that quality when I first put it on - it was a lot of work to go around with fine sand paper and work around the edges to get the runs out but was able to resolve 95% of the issues. I did end up very lightly, going through some of the paint but figured it it was a disaster, I'd just sand it down and respray on the body

 

[Ziffdaddy]

I've only repainted 8-10 cars maybe, but I just did my 76 40 over christmas..After you determine if you're able to wet sand it into shine or if it's just no good (it looks like a pretty poor attempt)..I would strongly suggest pulling the truck apart, minus the tub removal. Your rubber seals all look new -ish? There are so many nooks and crannies in all the bolt together body panels, that a spray alone would be a mess. It would cover rubber, not cover areas you want it to, and peel away in short order. The truck was surprisingly easy to pull apart. My 16 year old helped me walk the roof panel off, other than that, I dismantled it by myself. With it apart, you'll be able to address every hidden area and save your rubber to reuse. I also pulled all the glass out and replaced those gaskets. Using the old parachute chord technique, the glass install is not difficult. I did it alone in my foyer on a furny pad and a spray bottle of water. I just know, from experience, if you half ass it you'll always only be looking at half an ass...not sure if that analogy works at all, but trust me, you'll always wish you'd done it right...you defintely don't want to do it twice.. Good luck!! My first one was Freeborn...I miss that old girl...

 

[Ziffdaddy]

Getting to this point only took a few days of unbolting stuff…end result without any sanding was good enough for me..she should be good for a while now.

 

[85roktoy]

View attachment 3904085View attachment 3904086
Getting to this point only took a few days of unbolting stuff…end result without any sanding was good enough for me..she should be good for a while now.

Looks great. This is what I need to do. I have a great painter lined up but I need to be clear with him on the extent of what all needs to come off to be painted.

Are there rubber gaskets that are supposed to go between the fenders and aprons?

 

[msapers]

View attachment 3904085View attachment 3904086
Getting to this point only took a few days of unbolting stuff…end result without any sanding was good enough for me..she should be good for a while now.

Beautiful. That picture went directly into my inspiration folder with the others that I look at when it feels like the project is dragging.

 

[Ming89FJ62]

Check out the restoration on Arnold in my sig

 

[SteveH]

I just got my '78 painted (and will write up something soon) and spent 40+ hours taking it apart and prepping, fixing rust, removing glass, etc. The result is very nice and was reasonably priced. I also found a good shop who would work with me.

I heartily recommend doing as much tear down as you can on your own. No one cares about your truck as much as you do, short of a 30K+ restoration job, and those sometimes go sideways, too.

 

[Ziffdaddy]

Looks great. This is what I need to do. I have a great painter lined up but I need to be clear with him on the extent of what all needs to come off to be painted.

Are there rubber gaskets that are supposed to go between the fenders and aprons?

I didn’t find them, but I’ve seen people cut thin rubber to put in between…I wish I had done that as they will run and cut the paint fairly quickly. I’m guessing it’s a game of, will the rubber hold water and cause rust or will the scrapes cause rust first? …:-/