86 k10 body work and paint

[Rjckey]

I have a 1986 k10 that I will be starting rust repair/body work on, this will be my first time doing this. I am taking apart the body panels and was wondering if it would be easier to paint the truck in pieces or wait for it to be back together. I am also wanting the frame to be painted and engine bay after the rust is repaired, should I do these two myself or have the same shop who will be painting the truck do it?

 

[Scott91370]

I would (and wish I did) have the frame powder coated. That would probably require the body to be painted off the frame though.
Depending on the paint you're using I would paint the pieces apart so you can get as much coverage as possible.

 

[Ricko1966]

You should paint the truck as a whole. Color,metal flake,and orange peel will vary with humidity,gun, pressure,and temperature. If you paint it in pieces, expect to have to paint the whole truck with a couple of more coats after you assemble it.

 

[mxer147]

I’m currently using the panel by panel approach, mostly because my compressor won’t keep up with the whole truck approach. It’s not a show truck so I’m good with however it turns out. A couple years in the natural elements should result in a uniform look anyway. Anything you can accomplish on your own will save you money, assuming you know what you’re doing.

 

[TotalyHucked]

What did the shop tell you? IMHO, once the rust repair is done, paint or powdercoat the frame and then paint the engine bay, underneath and door jambs. This can be done on separate days/whenever. But the exterior all needs to be painted together at the same time in the same booth for the reasons listed above

 

[Ricko1966]

I’m currently using the panel by panel approach, mostly because my compressor won’t keep up with the whole truck approach. It’s not a show truck so I’m good with however it turns out. A couple years in the natural elements should result in a uniform look anyway. Anything you can accomplish on your own will save you money, assuming you know what you’re doing.

Okay this is a real hack,but may help. Plumb your air hose to a second tank,even an old water heater as extra air storage. Run time on recovery will be longer,but spray time will be longer. Yes a water heater tank is rated for hundreds of pounds of pressure and even has a pressure relief valve.

 

[mxer147]

Thank you Ricko, do you have a hack for a paint booth since I have been using Mother Nature’ paint booth? Never considered a water heater, too late now since I already painted 1/2 the truck. Your problem solving skills are outstanding, I enjoy reading your responses, always spot on.

 

[Ricko1966]

Yes, busy right now but a crude paint both can be made with conduit,tarps,furnace filters and box fans. More details later busy busy.

 

[Ricko1966]

@mxer147 I did almost this exactly except outside it's been 20 or 25 years ago,sorry no pics. But the fittings he says he bought,I just made them,I'll take pics tomorrow,actually probably Sunday,gotta find them and I'm busy tomorrow. You just use the next larger size conduit cut and weld slip the smaller pieces in and sink a self tapper to hold everything.Grind away the galvanizing and do the welding outside. I'll look for my fittings to show you,and put up pics of the fittings,probably be Sunday. Anyway here's a link for you. You actually could just do a lean to style and make less fittings and use less conduit,don't know why I didn't think of that before. http://www.wendels.com/55chevy/booth_constuction.htm

 

[GTX63]

I’m currently using the panel by panel approach, mostly because my compressor won’t keep up with the whole truck approach. It’s not a show truck so I’m good with however it turns out. A couple years in the natural elements should result in a uniform look anyway. Anything you can accomplish on your own will save you money, assuming you know what you’re doing.

I have done piece meal paint work before and yes, it can look just as good as doing it all at once. I'm not talking about custom colors or finishes, but solid everyday colors like white, blue, black, red, yellow etc.
I've had some great shops and equipment and I've had dirt floor carports and 20 gallon compressors. Don't let money or some guys on youtube prevent you from getting a good job done now instead of an expensive job done later.

 

[GTX63]

Okay this is a real hack,but may help. Plumb your air hose to a second tank,even an old water heater as extra air storage. Run time on recovery will be longer,but spray time will be longer. Yes a water heater tank is rated for hundreds of pounds of pressure and even has a pressure relief valve.

A second tank will absolutely help. I'll go a step further; I didn't have the money to drop thousands of dollars on a commercial compressor and the electrical work for a pole barn I put up. So, for about 1/4 the cost of a new one, I built a gas operated generator with a 60 gallon tank, a predator engine, harbor freight air pump and hardware store fittings. It would paint anything and run any tool with outstanding pressure and cfm numbers.

 

[Ricko1966]

Thank you Ricko, do you have a hack for a paint booth since I have been using Mother Nature’ paint booth? Never considered a water heater, too late now since I already painted 1/2 the truck. Your problem solving skills are outstanding, I enjoy reading your responses, always spot on.

I welded together pieces of conduit then slid pieces of conduit inside to make a conduit shed skeleton then skinned it with tarps and zip ties,box fans and furnace filters on 1 end blowing through for ventilation. That post I put up from that other guy,I like his skin better, clear plastic drop cloth and duct tape. If you need pics of the rest of the pieces I can drag them in and shoot pics. But I think just the 2 should give you the Idea.

 

[mxer147]

Thank you Ricko, what do you think about this:

Amazon.com

 

[Ricko1966]

Thank you Ricko, what do you think about this:

Amazon.com

That looks sweet,also looks a lot more expensive,but man that's pretty sweet

 

[mxer147]

Use coupon code "506IBRH7" to take 50% off. This comes with both inflation and ventilation blowers.