Patina truck project

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82sbshortbed

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Clear coat it?
 

Ricko1966

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Rick
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I'm trying to preserve the 50 year old paint and 30 year old rust without acquiring any day before yesterday rust. Clear coat and then scuff the shine off it was just an idea, but then I saw redbeards truck that's why I asked what his mix is. If I can make this thing semi weatherproof it will spend at lot more time on the road and less time sitting inside.
 
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bucket

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It’s a great truck, he’s a lucky guy to have it. I really like that era of Chevy trucks. I have a hell of a time remembering people’s names, but I remember exactly what they drive, haha

Same here. My wife knows not to bother mentioning names of her friends and our neighbors when she talks about them. It's always "the people that drive the ****" or "the house with the **** in the driveway".
 

Turbo4whl

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Jimmy
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350
I've got a 66 chevelle 396 car that looks like it belongs in a high school parking lot in 1980 something, straight,not much rust, air shocks, under dash gauges and looking for an old 2 knob super tuner and some jensen speaker covers to complete the look. I want it to look like it did in 1979 for as long as it can without it degrading. I am afraid to let rain get on it, I keep it garaged 24/7/365 I've thought about clear coating it then scuffing it to take off the shine.

Somewhere in all the junk I have, are a pair of Jensen 6x9 covers I never used. If and when, I may find them, they are yours.
 

Jonny B

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england uk
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jon
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1974
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gmc c1500
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350
Great looking truck.I have just patched my front wings and used a product called RUST SHIELD by JENOLITE.They produce auto resto coatings etc.I have used it on my hood and wings to keep patina and stop rust,no shine matt finish,bone dry and made for the job.Prep-light sanding 1000 grit with soapy water just taking any abrasive rust off and bringing paint colour out,then i used a panel wipe solution to degrease and clean.2 coats of rust shield and looks good.2 1/2 cans did both front wings and hood,guna do rest of truck when i can get her indoors.
 

RecklessWOT

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1987
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V10 Suburban Silverado
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350 TBI
My truck was pure surface rust when I got it and I was worried that driving in the winter would turn into real rust, but I too could not afford a real paintjob. So I sanded all the bare rusty spots down to bare metal, primed, and carefully rattlecaned it. Now I don't have to worry about rust, and with the truck all being close to factory paint scheme I can drive around without people thinking "look at that lowlife in the rusty POS", it just looks a straight old truck with a not-so-great paintjob. I don't randomly get pulled over anymore because the cops no longer think it looks like something a drug addict would drive, and entire parking lots full of people don't stare in disgust as I try to find a parking spot, hoping it won't be next to their car (your average citizen does not take kindly to old beat to **** looking rigs). It's done a great job protecting the metal, after almost 5 years the only hint of surface rust that's even starting to peek through a little is on the center of the roof where I skimped with the paint and the sun/elements have been beating on it the whole time.

The best way to protect exposed metal is to not leave it exposed. If you really want to keep the sunburned paint look I'd at the very least shoot it with some clear coat if I were in your shoes, it doesn't look so bad with your color scheme. That way it will keep its current look, shouldn't get much worse (assuming there is NO pitting anywhere) and you won't have to spend time rubbing oil on it every few months. It will be cool to have the water actually roll off when it rains too instead of just festering on the surface making stuff worse
 
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RedBeard_83

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My truck was pure surface rust when I got it and I was worried that driving in the winter would turn into real rust, but I too could not afford a real paintjob. So I sanded all the bare rusty spots down to bare metal, primed, and carefully rattlecaned it. Now I don't have to worry about rust, and with the truck all being close to factory paint scheme I can drive around without people thinking "look at that lowlife in the rusty POS", it just looks a straight old truck with a not-so-great paintjob. I don't randomly get pulled over anymore because the cops no longer think it looks like something a drug addict would drive, and entire parking lots full of people don't stare in disgust as I try to find a parking spot, hoping it won't be next to their car (your average citizen does not take kindly to old beat to **** looking rigs). It's done a great job protecting the metal, after almost 5 years the only hint of surface rust that's even starting to peek through a little is on the center of the roof where I skimped with the paint and the sun/elements have been beating on it the whole time.

The best way to protect exposed metal is to not leave it exposed. If you really want to keep the sunburned paint look I'd at the very least shoot it with some clear coat if I were in your shoes, it doesn't look so bad with your color scheme. That way it will keep its current look, shouldn't get much worse (assuming there is NO pitting anywhere) and you won't have to spend time rubbing oil on it every few months. It will be cool to have the water actually roll off when it rains too instead of just festering on the surface making stuff worse
I don't get a look of "disgust" at all when people see my truck everyone around here seems to like it and want to talk to me about it all the time. If you saw it in person you would see its not some "shitbox" it has all brand new black interior , everything under hood is new. Rebuilt front end etc. It runs like scalded dog . don't always judge a book by its cover , you'll find yourself missing out on the story.
 

RecklessWOT

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I don't get a look of "disgust" at all when people see my truck everyone around here seems to like it and want to talk to me about it all the time. If you saw it in person you would see its not some "shitbox" it has all brand new black interior , everything under hood is new. Rebuilt front end etc. It runs like scalded dog . don't always judge a book by its cover , you'll find yourself missing out on the story.

Defensive much? God damn, dude, I wasn't calling your truck a shitbox, calm down. And I didn't judge ****, I know your truck is in good shape, I'm not missing any story. Just IME that is how people (in the northeast at least) perceive vehicles that aren't nice and shiny. My truck wasn't ****** either, sounded great, didn't leak a drop of anything or have a dent or missing piece of trim on it. But your average Volvo driving middle aged broad in a grocery store parking lot doesn't see a truck all covered in rust as "cool", to her it looks old and dangerous, nor does she care what's under the hood.

Sure I'd get compliments from time to time at gas stations from dudes who were into old trucks and stuff, the young kids at work all thought I should clear coat it and keep the sunburnt paint look, but it made my normal interactions with average people less comfortable. It's nice not to be judged everywhere I go.

And I haven't gotten pulled over in it once since I painted it, though it was basically a monthly occurrence beforehand. Just driving through a small town was reason to get them to follow you long enough to finally wait for a reason to pull you over. Try to avoid a pothole, next thing you know "hey I saw you swerve back there, you haven't been drinking have you? Got any drugs in the truck? No? Then you won't mind if I search it would you? Why wouldn't you let me if you got nothing to hide? No I'm not hassling you or wasting your time, I just want to make sure everyone is being safe. By the way, this thing's pretty old, you didn't happen to forge that inspection sticker on your windshield did you? Let me see the inspection report" etc etc etc. **** got old real quick. I never understood how that was a style, it just makes people look at you sideways around these parts- not like these trucks are old enough to be considered rat rods or anything. But hey if people in your area like it, then that's cool. Florida is a much different place than the northeast.

Not my cup of tea, but to each their own I most certainly wasn't talking bad about your truck (or to you in general, was sharing my experience with the OP). I can respect the fact that you like it and put effort into it, it's definitely a little bit more unique than a vehicle with fresh paint, certainly harder to replicate
 
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RedBeard_83

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Defensive much? God damn, dude, I wasn't calling your truck a shitbox, calm down. And I didn't judge ****, I know your truck is in good shape, I'm not missing any story. Just IME that is how people (in the northeast at least) perceive vehicles that aren't nice and shiny. My truck wasn't ****** either, sounded great, didn't leak a drop of anything or have a dent or missing piece of trim on it. But your average Volvo driving middle aged broad in a grocery store parking lot doesn't see a truck all covered in rust as "cool", to her it looks old and dangerous, nor does she care what's under the hood.

Sure I'd get compliments from time to time at gas stations from dudes who were into old trucks and stuff, the young kids at work all thought I should clear coat it and keep the sunburnt paint look, but it made my normal interactions with average people less comfortable. It's nice not to be judged everywhere I go.

And I haven't gotten pulled over in it once since I painted it, though it was basically a monthly occurrence beforehand. Just driving through a small town was reason to get them to follow you long enough to finally wait for a reason to pull you over. Try to avoid a pothole, next thing you know "hey I saw you swerve back there, you haven't been drinking have you? Got any drugs in the truck? No? Then you won't mind if I search it would you? Why wouldn't you let me if you got nothing to hide? No I'm not hassling you or wasting your time, I just want to make sure everyone is being safe. By the way, this thing's pretty old, you didn't happen to forge that inspection sticker on your windshield did you? Let me see the inspection report" etc etc etc. **** got old real quick. I never understood how that was a style, it just makes people look at you sideways around these parts- not like these trucks are old enough to be considered rat rods or anything. But hey if people in your area like it, then that's cool. Florida is a much different place than the northeast.

Not my cup of tea, but to each their own I most certainly wasn't talking bad about your truck (or to you in general, was sharing my experience with the OP). I can respect the fact that you like it and put effort into it, it's definitely a little bit more unique than a vehicle with fresh paint, certainly harder to replicate

I don't need to calm down and didn't take offense to it . personally idc what others think . I was just pointing out that although it looks how it does on the outside. Its a solid truck. And i do get what your saying cause I get dislikes too the " if you put all that money into it . why wouldn't you want to paint it ?" For me personally its what I like and I honestly don't have the patience to maintain a nice paint job. So Reckless I apologize if that is how I came off. I respect everyone on here and I'm not looking to start **** with anyone . hope there is no hard feelings .have a safe and happy new year brother
 

Big Chip

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I think there's a difference in perception about old vehicles.

If it's old but really shiny it's good.

If it's old and rusty it's junk driven by some low life.

If it's old, rusty but modified in some way it becomes good again.

That's my experience with my truck before and after lowering it. It went from just being an old truck to something interesting even though not much changed.
 

Vbb199

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I think there's a difference in perception about old vehicles.

If it's old but really shiny it's good.

If it's old and rusty it's junk driven by some low life.

If it's old, rusty but modified in some way it becomes good again.

That's my experience with my truck before and after lowering it. It went from just being an old truck to something interesting even though not much changed.


Me and my suburban is "its old, barely any rust, driven by some low life"
 

RecklessWOT

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I don't need to calm down and didn't take offense to it . personally idc what others think . I was just pointing out that although it looks how it does on the outside. Its a solid truck. And i do get what your saying cause I get dislikes too the " if you put all that money into it . why wouldn't you want to paint it ?" For me personally its what I like and I honestly don't have the patience to maintain a nice paint job. So Reckless I apologize if that is how I came off. I respect everyone on here and I'm not looking to start **** with anyone . hope there is no hard feelings .have a safe and happy new year brother
We're all good man. I hope you have a good new year too! Sorry I got kinda cranky, I guess I took it the wrong way. Hah, that's why I'm not a fan of text-based communication, hard to tell tone/sarcasm/inflection/etc.
 

RedBeard_83

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Cory
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1986
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Custom deluxe
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Sbc 350
We're all good man. I hope you have a good new year too! Sorry I got kinda cranky, I guess I took it the wrong way. Hah, that's why I'm not a fan of text-based communication, hard to tell tone/sarcasm/inflection/etc.
I'm the same way . hard to determine tone in a text lol
 

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